Please help! My husband and I are being relocated with the military and need to put in our bid as to where we'd like to be assigned. I've never been to any of the 3 base options, so I am in desperate need of advice. Our main interests in making a decision are quality of life and overall day-to-day living expense. The choices are Bangor, WA, San Diego, CA, and Norfolk, VA. Any feedback concerning weather, things to do, job availability and anything else we should know is welcomed. Thank you in advance!

San Diego

Do you have Kids? Is school a concern? You must be a navy wife! I personally like San Diego..weather is # 1 reason why. If you move to San Diego, are there certain areas you husband may be deployed? (like only the Pacific?).

I was a child in San Diego while my dad was in the Marines at Camp Pendleton. My memories are of a beautiful place with great weather. As an adult, that is where I would pick for the weather ,things to do and being a little more interesting . Good luck!

I was a Navy brat born and raised in San Diego. I have not lived in Norfolk so I can't comment but I have visited there. So-so, but I would have to say San Diego wins hands down. Great weather, Military friendly as I recall. You don't say if you work outside the home, but if your husband is employed through the Military then the employment situation will not effect you. Job availability as you mention is not good there nor has it ever been but that depends on what field you are in. Economy is not good anywhere these days, so I would choose the nice weather, over all quality of life should be good for you. My son recently joined the Navy after months of school he was given 5 choices. One was San Diego. He chose Puerto Rico. I of course tried to convince him of San Diego because we have relatives and family there. But he is happy with PR. We live in the East Coast. He just wanted out of cold weather. I think your family would be happy with S.D. Good luck.

san diego is a fabulous city to live in. however, when i lived there, there was a shortage of housing for the military. it is my understanding that some people had to rent/buy off base and the housing is VERY expensive. they were really struggling on a military salary. there is also low vacancy.
tons to do in san diego and you are close to disneyland (2 1/4 hours -annual pass is actually pretty cheap), palm springs - 2/14 hours, vegas - 5 1/2 hours, drive down the coast of mexico for dinner - 1 hour...

San Diego, should be an easy choice. Norfolk is pretty backwards, especially when compared to SD. However, Norfolk can boast easy access to a variety of great places: 1.5 hours to NC's outer banks (awesome), reasonable drive times to both DC and NYC (and everything in between). Great fishing and crabbing in the chesapeake.......Norfolk is lesser known but has some great things to offer.

For those who asked - I currently work as a professional in sales and marketing, but would like to look into changing fields. Maybe something in media or event planning. We're not planning on kids for a couple years, but it never hurts to know about schools. Being employed outside the home is important to me as I'm very career-minded. I've lived in NYC for the past 3 years. Is San Diego similar expense wise? Thanks again!

I am sure others who are presently living in S.D. or have been recently can answer this question. When I lived in S.D. it was always high but not as high as other areas, for example the Bay Area. Salaries were also less as a result. I certainly wouldn't think it could be any worse than N.Y. City.

I've been to all 3 istallations and think that Bangor is very nice, too.
Of course you have to enjoy the Pacific NW weather but you don't indicate where you are from so manybe this is not an issue. There's a lot to do in both SD and Seattle. I personally love SD and would try to go there... one things for sure, I'd avoid Norfolk like the plague!

You're going to be in a big shock when you encounter the low salaries in San Diego. Employers know that people love living in San Diego and they're willing to take advantage of that fact. Some of the lowest salaries in the nation in comparison to the cost of living.

A friend of mine has been in the marketing and media industry for the past decade. He's been out of work (other than a few low paying consulting gigs) for the past 9 months. Several of his friends in the same industry are also searching for new employment. You'll be lucky to find a job in any industry. Don't get your heart set on a new dream career.

Yes I would have to agree with sdresident. Salaries have always been less in this area. People settle for half the loaf of bread to live in S.D. It has been this way for years. Good luck in finding employment in that field. You may find the job but do not count on a large salary. It will be nothing like N.Y. This would be my calculated guess.

Military families get moved free at tax payers expense. You are so used to getting free services that you don't realize that the rest of us have to pay to move. Your husband should get moved for free and the rest left up to your own finances like everybody else. I spent over $1600 when I moved 4 years ago. Quit whining about the amenities they have at the new locations and give me $1600 for my move.

San Diego is great but a couple of things to keep in mind.

1. School districts vary a lot. ex, Northy County is much better than SD Unified.

2. Expensive to live and huge shortage of military housing. You'd probably get an allowance to live off base, and then have to make up the usually considerable difference.

Otherwise, it's a very family and military friendly town, with tons to do for all types. I'm sure your kids (if you have them) would love growing up here.

Message to quit whining:
Talk about whiners, and I do mean you! Just thought I'd give you an education on the life a military family. The men and women in our armed forces deserve all the help they can get and this was also the case before 9/11 I might add. Most military wives are left alone for long periods of time to raise their children. I understand it's a personal choice, but be grateful for people who make these sacrifices. The conditions under which many of our active duty men and women live with and endure everyday is far from luxurious. You shoud try carrying around at least 50 lbs. of supplies on your back. Again, a personal choice, but thank God someone does. There are so many military operations all over the world that never make the headlines, but you can be sure that the men and women who carried them out did so in the rain, mud, snow, and sweltering heat just to name a few. These families also have to move many times over the course of years of their service. They deserve whatever perks they're provided.

Well said Susan. I couldn't agree with you more. I'd like to add that military personnel donot receive exorbitant salaries either. Military families (just as civilian) are very creative with budgeting for food, clothes, and even decor for their homes. Yard sales and hand me downs are very popular amongst them.

Well said Susan. You are so right. Being from a military family, and a former military wife myself you have no clue what the life is like "quit whining". You need to walk a mile in there shoes. How dare you even make such a horrible remarks.

This is so pitiful - Fodor's makes a big stink about now announcing their deletion policy and here goes on a lame relo and military thread. Since when is this travel??

The Pacific Northwest is a beautiful area. I'd give anything to have an opportunity to relocate up to that region. After years of dealing with rising housing costs, low salaries, traffic and rising crime, I'd love to move away from San Diego. I'm hoping that the job market improves one of these days so that I can find new employment elsewhere.

First, I agree with Rick and Susan above.

I have traveled to Bangor military base as a consultant. It is far away from Seattle, ~ 1 hour. The closest cute little town is Brisbane island (if that is the wrong name, sorry). It is small, reminded me of new england states somehow. You can take your car from Seattle to the islands on a ferry which is quiet and relaxing. Seattle is an awesome town with good food and hangouts. The island of Bangor has lots of big warehouse stores like costco. The housing is cheap, due to the rainy weather. People get that depression desease up there because the days are short and dark in the winter from rain.

San Diego has a very good quality of life I hear.