Moving... advice?

A while back I posted about a change in careers because it had looked like my job wasn't going to last--and we just heard the official word yesterday that our concert band in Ohio is being cut (along with several others). Luckily, everyone will keep their job and move to another band to fill in spots through attrition rather than just getting pink-slipped or asked to cross train. And for that, I am EXTREMELY grateful! I still have three years left on my contract, so Ill still plan to take prerequisite classes during my enlistment wherever I end up moving, just in case they end up really getting chopped down further.

So, I get to move to another band... most likely choices are St. Louis or San Antonio. Other possibilities are Colorado Springs or San Francisco (Travis AFB). STL and San Antonio will have spots to fill sooner, so if I put those high up on my list Ill have a good chance of ending up there. The plus side to STL.. best friend lives there, nice group of people (and I could live downtown STL and take the train to work. Awesome)... Down side, Ive lived in the midwest forever, and it would be nice to be someplace new. Down side to San Antonio, its the Air Force Basic military Training base and the job would probably be more strict/Air Force-y. And that particular band has much less capability to tour/travel. I do have some contacts there and could perhaps teach/freelance. Also, I do have some extended family in Texas and it would be a new area/fresh start/new opportunities, no winter. :)

So, I could put one of those two high up on my list and try to get there sooner rather than later.

However, I would LOVE to live in Colorado or California, but those spots will be overages, not filled as quickly, and Ill have to wait longer to only MAYBE get orders there. (year and a half). Colorado would be my first choice, I love the state, the group is really fantastic. There are six flute players that will be moved as a result of restructuring, so its been funny getting in touch/'meeting'/emailing each other trying to figure out how everyone can perhaps end up happy with an assignment. And luckily my last choice, Langley VA, is first choice for two others so I will not end up going there.

The planned restructuring is going to be bumpy, and although I personally am happy to move out of Ohio (and keep my job), Im not looking forward to the uncertainty of the next year. guess Im just venting, and trying to control a situation over which I have absolutely no control!

If anyone has insight into the areas/bases that would be great. Thanks for the listening "ear" (eyes :)

Jen

When I moved after I graduated college I looked at moving to San Antonio and Charlotte, NC. I ended up moving to Charlotte mostly because it was a 1 day drive to my family in Ohio vs a 3 day drive. My husband was in San Antonio for basic training, but only ever got to go into San Antonio for one day, so he really doesn't know much about it at all. Sorry I couldn't help you any more than that.

Glad to hear you at least are keeping your job even though it means a move. Good luck.

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Originally Posted by Syndirelah

A while back I posted about a change in careers because it had looked like my job wasn't going to last--and we just heard the official word yesterday that our concert band in Ohio is being cut (along with several others). Luckily, everyone will keep their job and move to another band to fill in spots through attrition rather than just getting pink-slipped or asked to cross train. And for that, I am EXTREMELY grateful! I still have three years left on my contract, so Ill still plan to take prerequisite classes during my enlistment wherever I end up moving, just in case they end up really getting chopped down further.

So, I get to move to another band... most likely choices are St. Louis or San Antonio. Other possibilities are Colorado Springs or San Francisco (Travis AFB). STL and San Antonio will have spots to fill sooner, so if I put those high up on my list Ill have a good chance of ending up there. The plus side to STL.. best friend lives there, nice group of people (and I could live downtown STL and take the train to work. Awesome)... Down side, Ive lived in the midwest forever, and it would be nice to be someplace new. Down side to San Antonio, its the Air Force Basic military Training base and the job would probably be more strict/Air Force-y. And that particular band has much less capability to tour/travel. I do have some contacts there and could perhaps teach/freelance. Also, I do have some extended family in Texas and it would be a new area/fresh start/new opportunities, no winter. :)

So, I could put one of those two high up on my list and try to get there sooner rather than later.

However, I would LOVE to live in Colorado or California, but those spots will be overages, not filled as quickly, and Ill have to wait longer to only MAYBE get orders there. (year and a half). Colorado would be my first choice, I love the state, the group is really fantastic. There are six flute players that will be moved as a result of restructuring, so its been funny getting in touch/'meeting'/emailing each other trying to figure out how everyone can perhaps end up happy with an assignment. And luckily my last choice, Langley VA, is first choice for two others so I will not end up going there.

The planned restructuring is going to be bumpy, and although I personally am happy to move out of Ohio (and keep my job), Im not looking forward to the uncertainty of the next year. guess Im just venting, and trying to control a situation over which I have absolutely no control!

If anyone has insight into the areas/bases that would be great. Thanks for the listening "ear" (eyes :)

Jen

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I hear you on wanting to get out of Ohio especially this part of it. I'm glad you get to get out of here and keep your job. I have nothing constructive to add, so I'll just say this:
I'm a little change-resistant, but I'd rather move somewhere where I have some contacts and someone to show me around once I get there.

San Francisco is certainly a wonderful place but Travis AFB is not in SF. It's in Fairfield. It's about an hour to an hour and a half from SF depending on traffic. I would rate Fairfield about the same as living in Jersey somewhere outside of Manhattan. The train (BART) around the bay area doesn't extend out to Fairfield although Amtrak does of course. On the weekends traffic through Fairfield sucks because of everyone going in and out of SF.
Good luck on your adventures!! Moving is always stressful but it can be quite an adventure too.

Out of curiosity, what is your plan after your contract expires? Are you planning to continue with your education or will you reenter the civilian job market in some way? Are any of the locations available to you for transfer better or worse with respect to these future plans or do you necessarily plan to move to another state again once your contract expires? If it were me, I'd keep my long-term plans in mind in considering where to go next, and I'd consider the economies of these potential places as part of that analysis.

Scott AFB is nice, the area is VERY affordable, and STL has great culture, parks, nightlife, etc. If you have to take a transfer, it's really not a bad place at all.

Lackland on the other hand, yuck!

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Originally Posted by Syndirelah

Savra, thanks for the info, do you know much about Fairfield?? Ive heard good things about the base, is the surrounding area nice? good trails, hiking, etc? My sister lives in Tahoe and frequently travels to San Fran, so that was another incentive for me to try and move there.

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Not sure about trails, but there's a lot of good road riding out of Fairfield. Head over to Vacaville and up to Napa, etc. There is a lot of open space out there, so I imagine there are also good trails.

And Fairfield is about 1/4 the way between SF and Tahoe (closer to SF).... You would be on your sister's route.

My riding partner just retired from the AF reserve (nurse), and I could ask her more about the base if you like.

I think @maillotpois might be able to get better info than I have on Fairfield. I usually just drove through it and thought of it as the horror parking lot on I80. Generally, that area is geographically wonderful. Like Maillotpois said, its' relatively close to Tahoe which has excellent hiking, mtb and even road riding as well as other areas on the foothills. The UC Davis campus (not far from Fairfield) is a huge bike campus. Mt. Diablo is great for MTB as well as the hills between Fairfield and SF area. Levi Leiphenheiner road rides around Napa so you really can't go wrong there. A LOT of people tour down highway 1 along the coast as well as along the wine trails in and around Napa, Sonoma, Dry Creek etc. I do know you could road ride through small roads all the way to Antioch and along the river probably to SF.
:)

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Originally Posted by Syndirelah

Pax, thanks for the positive feedback on St. Louis! Others have said similar things, my hesitation is only to seek more of a change--although that particular base/band is a good place to be. The thought of being near mountains or without winter is alluring with the other bases, Id like to live near a park or some good trails. I really recoiled at the thought of living near hte Basic Training base at first, but people DO say good things about San Antonio... but Im not totally convinced....

Indy, Im really not sure what my plans are after my enlistment ends. I may end up really liking this assignment (Ive not enjoyed being in Ohio), and re-enlist... I will most likely have to extend for two years due to retainability rules. But I AM thinking about places I would like to be, should I want to go back to school (where I could qualify for in-state tuition). California is expensive and I definitely don't make a lot of money, same with CO.

Savra, thanks for the info, do you know much about Fairfield?? Ive heard good things about the base, is the surrounding area nice? good trails, hiking, etc? My sister lives in Tahoe and frequently travels to San Fran, so that was another incentive for me to try and move there.

Owlie, hahaha. Yeah, Im relieved to have a way out of these parts... I couldnt imagine staying here more long term. Luckily it hasnt been an expensive place to live. I would have the most social network in STL, an old prof. lives in Texas and could possibly set me up with outside gigs, etc. I know less people in CO and CA.

Thanks Koronin, I bet you're glad to live in NC! (Love it there!).

Thanks for all the advice, definitely have lots to think about....

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Thanks, I do love NC. Although I will say living in eastern NC is totally different than living near Charlotte (which is more or less western NC). I like eastern NC well enough, esp being close to the beach, but I actually prefer western NC. Of course my husband prefers eastern NC, but he grew up in Fayetteville, NC and then spent 10 years in the Air Force at Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro, NC (all eastern NC).

Muirenn, Wow, didn't know you have been here and aren't really too far away. One reason I wish gas prices were lower, I'd spend a lot more time in Wilmington or Raleigh. We've got two bike shops now. The one on hwy 17 that's been there forever and a new one downtown that hubby and I both love. The new one is where we got our new road bikes. Which reminds me I need to get the pictures of his bike to post.

you could do worse than San Antonio. It's not as cool as Austin but is still a nice place and the hill country is beautiful.

marni

I vote for the place with friends. Those are hard to come by.