relocation help

[froggywife]

hi everyone, well i recently posted that my husband got his orders to VA. well last night he came home and informed me that some slots opened up in Hawaii. Initially i said no just because we had been so set on VA, but then i thought about it more and i just dont know. We wanted VA because it's closer to home and the housing is more affordable there. But in HI if we lived on this island other than awahoo (Sorry no CLUE how to spell it) we could afford a house there. The drawback would be that my husband would have to take a ferry to work everyday and he said he probably would just only come home on weekends or something. But he said that in HI they dont get sent on as many trips as he would in VA because it's more expensive to send them in HI, so most of the training is just done there. So i am so confused, HI would be beautiful. VA just sounds so boring next to HI or CA. I just dont want to miss out on an opportunity of living in HI....i mean i guess we could always try to get there at another point in time if my husband stays in. But then VA seems so much more practical. What would you do? i dont think we have much time to decide. In fact i think a decision had to be made today. So what do you think VA or HI?

[A62]

Froggywife,

First I think Frogwife can give you lots of info on Hawaii. They were there for awhile. I will tell you what my son told me becuase I ragged on him about his "tough" duty. What he said was "you have to remember, it is an Island and not very big at that. eventually it gets old." Good luck to you and your husband where ever you go.
A62 out

[froggywife]

thanks, i agree about it getting old. I had never been to CA before and coming from the east coast it seemed like a dream. But after a year i have to say it's getting old. It's still so nice and i'll be sad to leave, but i guess beauty isnt everything....I have never been to HI but i'm sure i'd like it, but like you said things get old and there i'll be 5,000 miles away from my family. So VA just seems more practical, but like i said i dont want to miss out on an opportunity either.

[lisa]

Froggywife,

First I think Frogwife can give you lots of info on Hawaii


So can Doug....he was at SDVT-1. I'm sure he'll be on tonight so shoot him an email or look for him in chat. Good luck to you & your husband wherever you decide.

[frogwife]

But he said that in HI they dont get sent on as many trips as he would in VA because it's more expensive to send them in HI, so most of the training is just done there.
My husband left SDVT-1 in the summer of '01. He was easily gone around 75% of the time during the four years we were stationed there. That included two six-month deployments, but also so much of his training was done on the mainland. All the good schools were on the mainland. They did very little training on the island. It was very difficult, and being so far from the mainland made it even more so. That was the single hardest thing about being stationed there.

That said, there are many positives to living there. If you like warm weather, that's the place to be. Oahu is crowded, though. I'm not sure which island you are thinking of living on, but keep in mind that all your military support networks that I'm aware of would be on Oahu. And YOU would be very isolated living on another island, it seems to me. You would be away from his job, and the support of the command. That's something you should think about.

Living in Hawaii took a lot of adjustment for me. In some ways it is like living in a different country as far as attitudes and customs. But it was also a wonderful experience in some ways (I can actually say that now that it's behind us). And there's a good chance we will go back eventually. Which is okay, now that I know what to expect.

I love Virginia, by the way. Personally, I would pick Virginia, but that may be because I've lived both places. Good luck, whichever you and your husband choose.

[frogwife]

I will tell you what my son told me becuase I ragged on him about his "tough" duty. What he said was "you have to remember, it is an Island and not very big at that. eventually it gets old."
A62,
Yeah, but your son sure made living there look like alot of fun in his wild single days. At least to us old married folks.;)

[Wazz]

Frogwife
You are a wealth of information. I concur with you that Hawaii living is an expectation higher than the offering. However, my trips there was just passing through.

But Virginia.....To me any town is the same that has a Freeway/Parkway within it. It is just another city. But once your into the outlying areas of Virginia it is calming. So many trees. And in the Fall....Being a California native I used to think those calender picutres of the colorful trees were retouched. But in the Fall it is breathtaking with an early morning cup of coffee.

Between Hawaii and Virginia, I choose Virgina.

[frogusn]

My God, finally an intelligent question.

Only factor here for you is, Do you have children?

If yes, go to VA

If no, go to HI.


Why?

The HI School system is so bad your kids will have to go to private school. Your COLA will not cover the extra cost. The Va Beach Public School system is very good (Kempsville, Cox, Ocean Lakes).


HI without kids is an opportunity that you will cherish - remember it's only for a limited time - you WILL move later. You will love it, as in "a nice place to visit, but wouldn't want to stay there" I have lived in Japan, Philippines, Guam, San Diego, and grew up in VA. Wife regrets never having to live in HI and now wants to vacation there (Big $$$) .

My $0.2 worth Good luck and hang in there.

[froggywife]

Thanks everyone for the advice. It was really helpful (: I think we are probably going to stick with VA though....i may regret it, but going to HI just seems like a huge gamble. I'm sure i'd like the weather and the scenary, but it is soo far away. We dont have any kids yet, not sure when that will happen, not ready for them. I wish i just had it in me to say, let's go to Hawaii, but i know it wouldnt really be a vacation. If i happen to get homesick while hubby is away I cant just hop on a plane and go home to MA to see my family for the weekend. I could do that in VA though, so that's what we're going with. I know way more people on the east coast. and if he decides to stay in longer we could always try to get HI another time. and does anyone know why they didnt pick FL as the east coast place for the SEALs to be? i just think it would be much nicer than VA (:

[frogwife]

and does anyone know why they didnt pick FL as the east coast place for the SEALs to be? i just think it would be much nicer than VA (:
No, I don't know why they didn't, but I really think once you get here you'll be pleasantly surprised. Virginia Beach is a great place (Wazz's dreaded freeways withstanding). Keep a positive attitude and you'll both do fine. ;)

[Smith03]

I think that Florida has fewer bases in general because there are fewer protected bays and alot of the coast is REALLY shallow. If SEAL missions are launched on aircraft carriers or by submarine they would need deep ports...One of the moderators lives in Florida and may be able to give some more insight.

Smith

[Wazz]

Froggywife
The original S&R's, NCDU's and UDT's did start out in Florida. But at the end of WWII the Teams were reduced to 4 Teams of approx 80 men each. Two Teams in Virginia Beach and 2 Teams in Coronado. Then when the Korean War started they started building up theTeams, and eventually moved the UDT School from a split of Virginia and Coronado to only Coronado. Ah yes, land of the cold water and waves that look innocent. Looks like a resort, but only on the other side of the jetty by the Del.

[A62]

Yeah, but your son sure made living there look like alot of fun in his wild single days. At least to us old married folks.;)


Yes he did. LOL One reason he really enjoyed it there at least for awhile was the opportunity to do some exotic hunting and fishing. He got a goat over there from some island and has mounted it. BTW, he is now doing taxidermy for a few extra $. Does a pretty good job. Got a picture of him rappelling down a beautiful waterfall.

Wish we could havevisited while he was there, nut it wasn't in the cards. Like Wazz, my only experience with Hawaii was going over and coming back. On the way over we landed at The big commercial airport, everyone headed to the bar. The bums closed it down on us, nearly had a riot.LOL Way back was on a C-141 and landed at Hickam.
A62 out

[Wazz]

On the way over we landed at The big commercial airport, everyone headed to the bar. The bums closed it down on us, nearly had a riot.LOL Way back was on a C-141 and landed at Hickam.
A62 out


A62
See, you rowdy Army personnel are just uncouth. We Navy personnel always hung out at Monique's Tea and Cakes Teahouse.

Oh! Those waitresses at Monique's...and that really neat tattoo parlor she had in the back.

[A62]

neat tattoo parlor she had in the back.


I'll bet that ain't all she had in the back.LMAO.


See, you rowdy Army personnel are just uncouth.


Gee, I always wondered why, on my commisioning papers, it said "commisioned as an Officer in the Army of the United States", never said nothin about a gentleman.LOL BTW, had more fun at Hickam. Was with a USMC Master Gunnery Sgt who was in before you LOL. He was a very ineresting person. To this day I wish I could find him and buy him a dozen or so brews.

You take care, elder Frog, I like that.
A62 out

[DMANN]

Ok i know alot about hawaii because before i had any thought of going military i was gonna move there so maybe i can throw a couple things in. One you will be very far from family so dont expect them to visit you too often. Its Very expensive especially rent/owning which you actually dont truly own the land your on hawaii does. Its very very humid there. And in paradise there are still punks you have to always watch your stuff. And if your white and dont fall into there (lifestyle) you will be called a haole eventually you will think its your name. Haole=white or someone who "acts"white.... And you basically have to learn a new language called pidgin or you will be like what the hell did thay just say... So unless your young and wanna do nothing but surf and hang and live paycheck to paycheck it might not be the place for ya but for me if i cant get into the navy then you know were im going even with all the bad points i pointed out. I love the ocean thats enuff for me.

[SEALwriter]

I live in Suffolk, Virginia and work at NAVSTA Norfolk....just a few miles from Little Creek...so if there is anything you need to know about the area, etc....don't hesitate to ask....I'll do what I can to help you make your move easier. Do you know when you'll be coming to Va?

Michele

[froggywife]

Hi thanks! well i've never been to VA so I"m pretty cluless about it. I think I will be there the beginning of July, my husband has to find a place first, then I'll go down. I have tons of questions about things down there, lol. Where are some of the fun places to go? How about shopping areas, what are the best places to go for that? Oh and are there any dog beaches?? that is important because one of the first things i want to do when i get there is get a dog. There's a realy nice dog beach here but i dont have a dog so it doesnt do me much use other than to just look, lol. Well thanks so much for offering to tell me about VA (:

[SEALwriter]

There are many fun places to go and boy! do we have shoopping malls!!! There is Busch Gardens Theme Park in Williamsburg which is about 45 minutes from Little Creek and Kings Dominion Theme Park in Richmond which is 90 minutes from Little Creek. As far as houses.....The cities that make up the Tidewater area are Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, and Suffolk. Houses in Suffolk are priced very modestly and have land with it...all the other cities the houses are priced good but you get very little land, so it depends on what you are looking for. If you want, I will pick up some real estate mags and send them to you priority mail...just email me (SEALwriter@navyseals.com or mfowler@ncis.navy.mil) and I will be more than happy to send them.

As far as shopping...once again all the cities have great malls except for Suffolk...but we do have one that is only 25 minutes away in Chesapeake. I live about 45 minutes from Little Creek and work at NAVTA Norfolk so anything I can help you with, please email me and I will email my phone # and you can give me a call if you want. Virginia Beach and Norfolk allows dogs on the beaches and there is "Dog Park" in Chesapeake that I know of. When will your husband be getting here? If he has any questions tell him to feel free to call or email me...when you get here, We'll have to get together with our husbands and go out to dinner one night and meet! I feel the start of a great friendship! If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask!

Michele