If you had to choose...

[basilosaurus]

Here! We don't want to leave!

I'd do Japan again, but I'd prefer a different base. One not so isolated, cold, rural, jobless.

[kpol]

I liked Ft. Lewis since there was so much to do and Seattle is awesome but it has it's major drawbacks.

I'd also go back to Gordon because the weather was awesome but we were only there for 9 months and missed most of the summer.

I'm not a huge fan of this one, but we haven't been here too long so my opinion will probably cahnge.

[brandienee]

I wouldn't mind staying here. Or going back to Florida, as much as I really hated life when I was there the first time. I think that it deserves another chance.

[crimewatcher]

Well we have only been at this one together. But if I can cheat and pick from his past places I'd pick Colorado Springs in a heart beat.

[pesci]

I cannot wait to PCS. Not to be dramatic, but this place has to be one of the crappiest AF bases in CONUS. I loved our 3 previous assignments, though. I would go back to Okinawa in a heartbeat.

[Dumbledork]

He did Basic and AIT at Lost in the Woods. We've been at Bragg ever since though, nearly five years. He'll be here at least another two.

I'm so ready to go somewhere else. Anywhere.

Some friends of ours left earlier this year for Germany. They'll be there for about a year and then move to Italy. I'd like to offer up a prayer to the PCS gods to please let us do that. If we have to stay in the States, I think I'd be happy with anything but California. Colorado or Hawaii would probably top my list.

[Deleted]

Keesler! I loved it there when I was on business. Who knew I just didn't like the place because of the person I was married to?

[basilosaurus]

pesci, do you mind saying where you are now? I want to know to avoid it

I've only visited Oki and wasn't terribly impressed, but that definitely goes higher on the list than most conus locations. Here's hoping for a 4th overseas tour in a row!

[pesci]

Sept 10, 2012 21:15:21 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

pesci, do you mind saying where you are now? I want to know to avoid it

I've only visited Oki and wasn't terribly impressed, but that definitely goes higher on the list than most conus locations. Here's hoping for a 4th overseas tour in a row!

Lucky! Kadena was our only overseas tour, so maybe that's why I loved it so much. I'm at one of the smaller bases in NM.

[verycontrary247]

We've only been stationed in Charleston and Norfolk.

Norfolk wins.

[basilosaurus]

Oh, god, if it's where I think it is, that's very low on our list, pesci.

[beans]

Um. Does this one count? H hasn't pcs'ed here yet. But anyway, I'd still pick Albuquerque (kirtland) It's actually a really cool city and some really great restaurants and things to do. Plus my family is 6.5 hours away and H's is 6.

I could imagine what it would take to ever get me back to Fayetteville. A lot more than would ever realistically happen.

[Dory1988]

29 but I'm biased

[basilosaurus]

OK, so what's so great about 29 palms? Isn't it in the desert? Fairly isolated? That sounds like hell to me.

[G22]

We've only been to Vandenberg, CA and Malmstrom, MT.

Vandenberg totally wins.

[dancingpanda]

It would be either 29 or Japan.

Killer hit it on pretty much why 29 is great. Yes, it's hot and isolated. But I hate humidity, so I'll take 120 degrees dry heat over a humid NC summer. There is actually quiet a bit to do in the area even though it's a small town, you just have to know where to look. Also because the base is so isolated, the base is really good about taking care of and doing stuff for their Marines, Sailors, and families. The community is insanely supportive. The radio station follows the buses from the Air Base, and they tell you where they are. The people in Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, and 29 Palms will come out to the highway and wave, the people in their cars driving down the road honk their horns and wave. Then right before the buses get on base, the radio plays The Boys are Back in Town. When I was there, 29 had the best homecomings.

I think you build better friendships there, because it is so isolated. It does suck if you want to work, because work is very limited. I spent most of my time volunteering, and I was able to teach dance one year while there.

If you like the outdoors there is quite a bit to do, and everything is a few hours away. Vegas, SD, Big Bear.

[Dory1988]

I'm with KC and Dancingpanda on the 29 thing. I have a feeling how much I miss the place will hit me when we get back tomorrow.

KC I wonder if the units going down hill is just a "thing". We heard the same about the unit DH was with before he went to the hospital.

[basilosaurus]

Yep, that still sounds like hell to me Different strokes, different folks. Along that line, there are people who despise Hawaii and can't wait to leave. I don't get that in the least.

[dancingpanda]

Sept 10, 2012 23:40:54 GMT -5 Stan said:

Sept 10, 2012 20:50:30 GMT -5 crimewatcher said:

Well we have only been at this one together.

But I'll cheat too and say Okinawa. The distance would be amazing. H's current MOS doesn't exist there as a permanent party station though. He spent 4 years there, and I'm jealous.

It's very likely H will remain here his entire career as B billets for his MOS can be very rare.

ETA: The isolation making for great friendships is what H said about Oki. That's the one thing I don't like because I don't want my friendships limited to spouses. But I feel like I'd get a lot of chance to travel in SE Asia, and I'd be down.

To your ETA- It really depends. While in Japan, not all my friends were military spouses. I befriended DoD teachers, expats, and locals.

[basilosaurus]

I think being limited doesn't necessarily make for better friends. You make the best of the situation, and make friends quickly, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're people you'd normally like, and you know you'll never stay in touch once you move. But, you could be in a bigger place and yet make surprisingly awesome friendships in the mil community that are lifetime friends.

Or maybe I'm weird in that I separate the people from the location and how I react to each. My best friendships came from a place I never want to return to.

[imhischeeseburger]

I would stay here on Camp Pendleton. I hate, hate, heat and summer is my least favorite season, so 29 Palms sounds like hell to me. Before here H was stationed at Kings Bay for 3 years and it was okay (close to family.) Also I lived with H in a 600 sq ft apartment in Jacksonville NC for 6 months. I don't think I made the best of my time there, but I don't really want to go back. It wouldn't be awful I suppose.

[dancingpanda]

Sept 10, 2012 23:46:00 GMT -5 @88mangoes said:

Meh. I didn't hate Little Rock; there was definitely fun to be had there. Certainly wouldn't want children in the area. Anchorage is nice, but we'll be here :forever:, in mil-speak, and I'm already saying winter can suck it.
I don't think OCONUS is in the cards for us next round. 29 Palms would be my hell- I cannot handle life being completely centered around the military (I know, I know).
We'll keep looking.

That's the thing though, my life wasn't centered around the military. I have friends that are locals. They keep asking when I'm coming back. Most of the things I did in the area weren't all military either. The Hi desert is full of stuff to do that's not military. The base just does a good job of having things for people to do.

Sibil, my friendships weren't out of isolation. My friendships were about us sharing the love for the same thing. Dance, theatre, outdoor activities, etc. It's just all the people there I connected with really well. Maybe it was a fluke, maybe not. I don't think it was, because I do the same thing at all the bases I'm at. Maybe I'm just good at making friends. I currently work in a itty bitty town, and I have a bond with the people there is different than with my Military friends, and I have a close group of mil friends. Maybe it's because it's two different lives.

[basilosaurus]

My isolating experiences were overseas, in towns without expats, without english speakers. So that's my perspective when I say that. Small towns in America (or oki, which is relatively large, and american) could be different, although I'm very much a city girl. I thought Omaha was too small! I don't think I'm explaining myself well, though, because I don't mean to deride friendships just b/c they're from an isolated location.

But, in general, I think that quality of friendships are flukes and not dependent on location. Where I was in Japan was really weird socially when I was there, but by the time I left there were cool people. That's why I separate them from whether I think a location is good. I know that the next time I might go there the social circle could be entirely different.

[krista]

I would give anything to go back to Hawaii. I would also happily return to Ft Hood or Ft Sam Houston. I love Texas. I would be devastated if we had to go back to Alabama. And we're not at an Army base now, and I'm pretty happy that we'll never have to come back here.

[Jam]

I want to stay at JBLM forever. It's beautiful. The weather is perfect this time of year and there's SO MUCH to do. 4 hrs to Vancouver, 2 hours to Portland, 35 minutes to Seattle. Love love love.

I'd love to live in San Diego though. Sounds toasty. I really wanted to go to Bragg but having been there to visit, it's too Hooah for our taste and we like where we live better lol.

[pennylane]

We've only been in FL, Pensacola & Jax... so I would stick with where we are now (in Jacksonville).

[audette]

I've lived at Bragg, Lewis, FLW, and I'll add Hood to that list, as DH was stationed there when we met (although we didn't start dating until he ETS'ed and went back to college - the other bases are post-wedding and after he returned to the military after college).

The only one I _wouldn't_ choose is FLW. Hated the place. Actually, hate isn't a strong enough word. I despised the place. The other locations all had enough good things to them that I could overlook the bad things and make the best of our time there. I really enjoyed Bragg, and would happily go back. Lewis has been pretty awesome, and is the base that is closest to my family, so it's almost overwhelming with awesomeness. I still have a lot of friends near Hood, and would enjoy getting back down there, even if the heat kinda sucks.

But, yeah, the only good thing about FLW was that I got to fly out of a really cute airport (SGF - springfield/branson) when I was travelling for work. It was tiny, and had free wifi and cheap, close parking, and was never, ever, ever busy... It was great!

[NomadicMama]

With DH, we've lived at Fort Irwin, Fort Lee, NoVA (Pentagon) and now Wiesbaden. The only post I would really rather not return to is Fort Lee. Petersburg/Colonial Heights wasn't awful, but DH's other assignments were much better.

Once I made friends (and we moved on post after living in the nearest town, 40 miles away, for six months while we were on the waitlist), I really enjoyed Fort Irwin. Life is slower there. When DH was home, it was "family/home time". We had cookouts, met up with our friends with dogs and enjoyed life without the hustle and bustle of city life. It was difficult with our families being east of the Mississippi, but such is life.

I'm enjoying Germany and I think that I'll enjoy it even more when DH returns. But, I don't think we would want to live here more than three years.

Northern Virginia is "home" for me. It's where I lived when I met DH. It is where we will likely settle when DH retires. It is a great metropolitan area. It is expensive and far from perfect, but DH and I have both spent many years there. Hopefully, when we return, we will have the incomes to support the lifestyle we'd like (I greatly prefer to live close to work or close to the metro--either of which is more expensive in NoVA).

[amaristella]

I would love to go back to New Hampshire. I can see myself putting down roots and living happily there for a long time.

[bettydraper]

I'd stay here (Bragg). I loved CO but his unit was the worst. Kind of made a beautiful place miserable. We had a short stint in TX and I wasn't a fan of that part (west).