Moving into Base Housing with a baby

Teyaka - posted on 02/17/2009

Hill is the first base that my husban and I lived on. I really like living on base. Not only am I close to everything, but I love my house. It's older compared to some of the other ones around, but I love how I can't hear my neighbors. I have a big backyard and decent front yard. As far as rumors, I've learned to look at the base as a huge high school, there is always going to be rumors (some true and some not). You'll quickly see for yourself who to hang out with, who gossips about everyone, which person is nosey, and all that good stuff. I recommend you sorta keep to yourself for a second and be kinda selective of who you call a friend... like I said, living on a base is like high school.

Catherine - posted on 02/17/2009

We are stationed on Eielson, we live on base. We live in a two bedroom. Like you said, with only having one child you qualify for a 2 bedroom, however they can put you in a 3 bedroom if one is open and a 2 bedroom is not. There is actually 3 units on my street that are opening up right now. This is my first time living on base as we had a 3 bedroom house off base in Grand Forks North Dakota. The housing that we live in is great. The yard is not to big but not to small. There is a huge play area between the backyard that has playgrounds and sand boxes for the kids. I really like living on base. I haven't had any drama problems, that is something that I was fearful of too. Living on base is nice considering North Pole is like 15 min away and Fairbanks is about 30 min away. There is a new BX opening on Friday which is great since the one now is very small and cramped. If there is anything else you need to know just ask.

Leigh - posted on 02/04/2009

Hi melanie,,We are in the navy and own a house in FL, then we've had to rent out on two different occasions when we had to live onbase here in Maine. Yes it is smaller and from my experience the size of the unit does matter to the size of your family. BUT it depends where you move to?how many military houses there are? and size of waiting list? If there is a lot of vacancy and not many people moving there, you might be surprised as to what you can get.  As far as neighbors and meeting people,,,I sorta like housing rather than our house in a regular neighborhood! Because there is always someone to talk to,,eat lunch with or other wives to go shopping with! I like the support system that housing seems to have!!  As far as infidelity,,it happens no matter where you live , and all the time,,people that live in housing just get caught more, because most the spousesare stay at home mom or dads and there is nothing better to do than watch out the window all day and GOSSIP,,And USUALLY thats all it "really" is,,GOSSIP!!!!  I just choose not to associate with those types of wives!! You'll enjoy it, just choose your "friends" wisely!,  Leigh (navy wife for 14 yrs)Maine

Kim - posted on 02/03/2009

I moved into base housing when my youngest was 1 week old. We've been here for about 2 1/2 months now and I love it. I'm not sure how many bedrooms you'll qualify for it really depends on whats available. If you only qualify for a 2 bedroom and there are none available, they will give you a 3 bedroom if they are available. My husband actually applied for our housing while I was pregnant so he had to get a prescription from the dr stating my due date to get us a 4 bedroom house. It's been really great for my oldest son...he nevers wants to leave. There are so many kids around that sometimes he gets disappointed that he can't play longer. He also is in love with the snow, but is sick of now because all he wants to do is go play at the playground with his friends. My husband has introduced me to some of his friends wives so we get together with them and have play dates. Honestly I do more here than when I lived back at home. Good Luck!

Jennifer - posted on 02/03/2009

I have lived off base and on. I love living on base. I feel a lot better when he deployees or not home for a couple does because of work. We mainly kept to oursevles. Our neighbors have been great. So we talk and get to know them and then the other people that live on base from my husband work place. We have a 3 bedroom because we have 2 kids. It all depends on the housing they have waiting and where you are going. I know one of our friends got a 4 bedroom with 2 kids and another one got a 3 bedroom with no kids. And about going into other people house when the wives arnt there depends on how you trust the spouse or how comfortable you are. I have had other husbands in my house when my husband was on deployement to help move something or even watch the kids so I could go to the doctor. It all depends on how you handle it. I think that rule is a little childish.

Michelle - posted on 02/02/2009

I don't think infidelity or any of the other bad things you have heard happen more frequently in base housing than living off base.  I think that you are kind of watched more closely, so more folks (aka your husband's co workers and chain of command) know your business.  Think of it as living in a REALLY small town.  I am not currently in housing but I have lived there before.  Just make sure nothing you do can be misconstrued...like the lady that mentioned not going into each others homes if just the husband is home.  

Nicole - posted on 02/02/2009

If you were going to Ft Drum I would strongly advise living off post, the housing is really not very nice visited about 2 weeks ago, other bases that I have been to have beautiful housing and have a far shorter waiting list, I wanted to live on post but after my experience with the housing management it has really soured me to the experience. I am new to the Army thing and have been a little less than thrilled, but perhaps it will get better.

Courtney - posted on 02/02/2009

I loved Eielson! We lived off base but most of our friends lived on base. Eielson was like a huge family and as far as infidelity I didnt know anyone who experienced this on base. In fact on base would be the worst place because if anything gossip is the biggest thing about living on base and everyone knows everyone's info. So if anyone was naughty....someone would know and tell.

Amanda - posted on 02/02/2009

I loved living on base, and having everything so close was a HUGE bonus for me. If you ask politely, you may be able to get that 3BR unit afterall. Good luck with the move!

Jenna - posted on 02/02/2009

i just left post housing, it can be both. I enjoyed some friends but don't over share keep your personal life yours! it's great there is always something to do, you'll probelly like it

Melanie - posted on 02/02/2009

Thanks Ladies for your help!

Traci - posted on 02/02/2009

On base housing is not that bad...you will always hear horror stories about it but personally I love the fact I live on base and I am close to everything. The only people I will associate with are some neighbors and the people my husband works with and or moms I meet during playgroups or sport functions. Other then that I keep to myself. You will be fine! Now with qualifying for an amount of bedrooms just depends on how many kids, what base your going to, and sometimes rank.

Kari - posted on 02/02/2009

Ok... well first off you'll met tons of people. You'll know who and who not to associate with pretty quick on housing. My friends and I have like an un-spoken rule that if one of us shows up at the other's house and if only the husband is home we don't go in until the wive arrives or not at all. And visa versa for our husbands. On post you never know who will run their mouth. And it's not that we don't trust each other to be alone with our spouses, its just something we have always done. I have a 1yr old and we qualified for a 3 bedroom on post. We have lived on and off post and I perfer living on post. I know a lot of people who have lived on post in AK and no one has complained about it. So I think you should be ok.