Dh retires this summer after 20 years in the Air Force (YEAH!!!). So we're looking at becoming civilians for the first time in a very long time. That in itself will be quite an adjustment. We had planned on staying here in Colorado. Dh does have some job opportunities here he's looking into. But he's keeping his options open and we may end up moving. He talked to an old friend yesterday that he worked with 10 years ago and his friend said he had the perfect job for him in Huntsville, Alabama. I dont' know if they'll hold it six months for dh or not, but with the salary and cost of living difference from here and there, it would be wonderful!!! He also mentioned a job in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We're open to most anyplace, but we want to stay away from really big cities. Moving to a new place is always exciting, but we really do like it here. Of course, being military and moving as often as we have, I think we'd adjust easier than most. So does anyone know anything about Huntsville or Albuquerque? Like I said, those jobs probably won't wait six months, but from what dh's friend said there will be more (he mentioned one last year in Tampa). Oh, decisions, decisions...

By Mrsheidi on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 - 01:53 pm:

i just moved from huntsville! we are actually trying to sell our house there...you can get a house for REALLY cheap. i would look for a house in madison though. better schools and area for that matter. most houses are completely brick!

where may i ask is he going to work? there are a lot of ex-military opportunities out there. my dh is ex-military as well and now works for a government contracting company out here...i can email details if you'd like! my email is in my profile.
my dh was a General's Aide and, after 4 years, got out of the army.
there ARE companies to avoid and my husband can send you some "behind the scenes" things...
Huntsville was fun though!! i miss the cost of living for sure!! i was born and raised in colorado (Parker and Boulder areas) and i know the difference in the cost of living!!!

By Cat on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 - 02:18 pm:

Heidi, no kidding about the cost of living difference!!! For what we paid for our house here, just outside Colorado Springs, we could get something REALLY nice in the Huntsville area. Dh said he looked up the median housing prices and it was around $90K. Here you can't even get a shack for that. Thanx for the tip about Madison and schools. That's a huge concern for me. Especially with Robin.

My dh is a computer crime investigator for the Air Force. If this job (or another with this company his friend works for) pans out, I'll let you know. It'd be nice to know the companies *not* to work for. If we stay here he'll be working as a contractor for the same group he's working for now.

I saw in your profile you lived in NC. Dh was raised in Raleigh and his family still lives there. I love NC. Not sure I want to live in Raleigh, though!

Thanx for the info.

By Cat on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 - 02:20 pm:

Oh, we moved out here from Maryland 3 1/2 years ago. We were at Andrews AFB (this time--spent time in Laurel years ago). Where in MD are you?

By Jelygu on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 - 02:25 pm:

I have lived in Huntsville all my life. It really is a great little city, and I like it here a lot. I agree about living in Madison, but southeast Huntsville is wonderful also (where I live). In fact, the high school my son will go to (Grissom) is ranked #1 in the state!
Houses are priced nicely and are really nice!
If you do decide in the future to come here and look for houses, you should let me know. I can tell you the "ideal" neighborhoods

By Cat on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 - 02:40 pm:

Thanx, Jennifer. If we do end up moving there I'll probably take you up on that offer! My kids are in 4th and 6th grade now, so high school isn't that far off. We'll really need to focus on good middle and high schools. Elementary will only really matter for one more year, and that's for Randy. He'll do well most anywhere. Do you happen to know what daycare costs are there? Dh is concerned I won't be able to make as much there as I do here. He's probably right, but I think I can still do okay. That's if I decide to continue being a family child care provider somewhere else. It'd be nice if I could do something part time.

By Mrsheidi on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 - 03:01 pm:

We live in Abingdon, MD actually! :-)

By Cat on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 - 03:39 pm:

You're WAY further north than we were in MD, Heidi! I bet it's nice up there. We didn't really like the part of MD we were in. Too close to DC. (imho, of course )

By Mrsheidi on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 - 05:02 pm:

Yeah, when DH was a General's Aide, he had to travel to the pentagon a lot and he HATED DC traffic. It can really be unreal.
I wanted to mention...before I forget...*smile* that I have a great recommendation for a pediatrician in Huntsville. Now that I'm in MD, I REALLY REALLY miss him!! (Insert song here- "Don't know what ya got, 'til it's goooone"...)
I'm not sure he's with the pediatric group anymore bc I noticed that his name is no longer on their website, but their practice is GREAT!!!
Huntsville Pediatrics
click here for their website
And, they are open on weekends!

By Cat on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 - 05:32 pm:

Thanx, Heidi! There's a pediatric psychiatrist listed on their website. I don't know what insurance company we'll have with dh's new job this summer. Hopefully on they'll accept. It's be nice to be closer that 40 minutes to our pdoc! Ours is great, but it is a drive and there aren't any closer. We'll still have military insurance, but I didn't see it listed. LOVE that they're open on weekends! Having been with the military so long, we're used to having to be places between 8-4, M-F. It's going to be a whole new world.

By Sue3 on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 - 05:32 pm:

I think you guy`s should just move to Clarksville

By Feona on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 06:28 am:

Don't forget to look at the area schools. Some are so bad you wouldn't believe it.

I think you can look at an areas schools online.


for example

lynbrook new york school district reports cards

in
google to get statistics on schools.

By Jelygu on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 07:49 am:

I'm not positive about day care prices... my mom watches my son on the fews days I work. The next time I talk to my friend who has a baby I will ask her

By Cat on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 09:25 am:

Lol, Sue! Maybe Clarksville, TN. We really don't want to be closer than an hour or two from our families. Too much drama with my brothers and dh's sisters.

Feona, schools are one of our big concerns. We're in good ones now, but when we lived in Maryland they were awful!!! That's definately one thing we'll look at.

Jennifer, thanx for checking for me. Whenever is fine. We've got six months, and that's if they hold the job for dh, which is unlikely. Possible, though. I don't think I'd mind living in AL.

By Mrsheidi on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 09:59 am:

Be careful when you check on schools online...they always say the wrong teacher/student ratio bc they don't take into consideration that special needs teachers only have one student. But, instead, they just compile the # of teachers/# of students. It might say 25/1 ratio and the ACTUAL classroom could be 33/1.
I would ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS go by word of mouth...I taught for 5 years and schools' reputations usually stand true.

By Cat on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 - 12:17 pm:

Well dh is going to talk to his friend again, get his resume together (which I've been telling him for months to do!) and see if there's any way they will commit to giving him this job. We do realize it's 6 months out, but if they'll commit, it'd be great!!! Wish us luck.

By Jelygu on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 - 12:25 pm:

Good Luck!!

By Tunnia on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 - 12:30 pm:

Good luck from me too!

By Tink on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 - 01:37 pm:

Best of luck!

By My2cuties on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 - 02:09 pm:

Good Luck!

By Conni on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 - 04:37 pm:

Cat, have you lived in Alabama before?

By Cat on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 - 05:24 pm:

Thanx, all!

Conni, we haven't lived there before. It's in the northern part of Alabama. I don't think I'd like southern Alabama, or anywhere near the southern coast, for that matter. Having lived in Panama, I think we can handle the heat and humidity. We really do love Colorado, but when we take into consideration the cost of living and the difference in salary they're offering as opposed to the same here in Colorado, the difference is incredible. We really couldn't pass it up. I know money isn't everything, but I really want to be able to focus on Robin and his education at this point. I need more free time for that and if we stay here I won't get it. We'll have to wait and see what happens.