Sally!

What are the pros and cons to living on base? This is the current topic of discussion in our household. I am sort of leaning towards wanting to live off-base while hubby wants to live on-base. Can you paint the walls of on-base housing in bright, bold colors? And plant lots of flowers in the yard? Etc? What do you veterans think?

[Phoebe]

Although I am not military, I have a good friend who has lived in several AFB in DC, Dayton, Biloxi and Mobile, AL. I know the policy was when I last saw her that you could paint the walls as long as you painted them back to neutral when you left the place. Is that still true?

Jennifer

[DCJenn]

Couldn't tell ya! It was never an option for us- there never was any housing available for junior officers. (you may want to check with base housing, because it's rare that there's enough housing for the junior officers)

There's usually a mighty long waiting list and there's priority in how the spotsare filled. Not to mentio that there are specific quotas as to each kind of housing- couples, w/1 child, w/2 children, etc. and never ever do they allow a married couple with 2 children live in a place for a couple.

Good luck!

Jenn-

PS- during the first gulf war, the Washington Post ran an article on the housing at Fort Myer. (you know, home of Arlington National Cemetary and arguably one of the most famous posts in the Army?!) They interviewed Alma Powell, (Colin's wife) who took the reported on a tour of the avacado colored kitchen, the shag carpeting and water stained ceilings. Needless to say, Congress soon appropriated funds for housing. That said, they're (wisely) starting with the elisted personnel first. Base/post housing is still pretty awful in some spots.

February sounds good to me! Come on down!!

It will be almost exactly 1000 miles to move....and I was wrong, they actually do get some snow! Last year they had 1/10 of an inch in Jan and 1/10 of an inch in Feb! That is the kind of snow that I can live with!!!

We are figuring on trying to find a house off base...seems the wait list is anywhere from 6-18mths. The cost of living is actually about the same as it is here in Kansas City, maybe a little higher, but not to much.

It looks beautiful there...here is a link. http://www.destin-fwb.com/

[houseelf]

Congrats Matt & Claudia!

You know that the Barnetts will be a-crashing your little sun-filled party way far away from the tundra. Enjoy!

Kelly

[peggyfromwastate]

matt! my word but that is so gorgeous! about time you all had something go your way!