please note, all of these questions are generic and will be asked for all locations so some may sound silly. The questions underneath each area are only there to help you think. Please feel free to skip things that don't apply or to elaborate on things that I did not mention.

Housing:
(How is military housing there? Which area did you live in and did you like it? Is it affordable to buy or rent in town and if so what areas would you recommend? Any additional thoughts?)


Schools:
(Which schools did your kids attend? Did you like them? Did your kids like them? How do you think the school system was overall? Any schools you would recommend over others? Did you go to college while you were there? If so, which college and how did you like it? Any additional thoughts?)


Shopping:
(How are the commissary and NEX? Do you shop there or out in town? What stores are available out in town? What is the local shopping like? Malls? Any places you recommend? Any additional thoughts?)


Cost of living:
(What is the cost of living like? High? Average? Low? How did it effect your family? Was there anything special you had to do to make ends meet? Any additional thoughts?)


Military Community:
(How is the military community? Are there resources for family and spouses? Any likes or gripes? Additional thoughts?)


Recreation:
(What is there to do in the area for adults? For kids/families? Is there anything within a few hours driving distance?)


Weather:
(What's the weather like? Mild? Seasonal? Hot? Humid? Rainy? Cold? Are there seasons?)


Overall:
(Would you go back again? Why or why not? What are your main likes and gripes?)

Housing:
(How is military housing there? Which area did you live in and did you like it? Is it affordable to buy or rent in town and if so what areas would you recommend? Any additional thoughts?)
Yes there is military housing. We live in Jackson Park. It is off base and in between Bremerton and Bangor bases. JP is not in town it is it's own little community with only a mini-mart, gas station, CDC, chapel......but normal eating/shopping is 10-15 down the road. It’s fairly nice with quite a bit of new units. The neighborhood is fairly clean and well kept (of course there are always some less kept up than others). Decent houses out in town are fairly expensive to rent or buy; especially the ones comparable to housing.

Schools:
(Which schools did your kids attend? Did you like them? Did your kids like them? How do you think the school system was overall? Any schools you would recommend over others? Did you go to college while you were there? If so, which college and how did you like it? Any additional thoughts?)
The school district in this area is Central Kitsap http://www.cksd.wednet.edu/ There is an elementary school right here in Jackson Park housing. I have no complaints thus far. The Youth and Teen center is right next door if your child will need it before/after school.

Shopping:
(How are the commissary and NEX? Do you shop there or out in town? What stores are available out in town? What is the local shopping like? Malls? Any places you recommend? Any additional thoughts?)
The commissary and NEX are just ok on both Bremerton and Bangor. Jackson Park is about 15 minutes from each. Prices there are a bit cheaper than Safeway. Silverdale has a Mall with Macys, Mervyns, Sears, and a few others. There is a ToysRus and Target near as well as Olive Garden, Red Lobster, and Applebees. There is also Costco in Silverdale and a new Walmart Supercenter in Poulsbo about 25 minutes away.

Cost of living:
(What is the cost of living like? High? Average? Low? How did it effect your family? Was there anything special you had to do to make ends meet? Any additional thoughts?)
Cost of living is average. I grew up in a very low cost of living area and then went to Hawaii where COL is high. I’d say Bremerton/Banger area is somewhere in the middle.


Military Community:
(How is the military community? Are there resources for family and spouses? Any likes or gripes? Additional thoughts?)
The military community is great. Lots of support and programs for family/spouses. There are some job opportunities in the area. However, if you take the 1 hour ferry ride to Seattle there is a much better job market. If you know (or suspect) you will need childcare you need to be put on the waiting list. The wait can be fairly lengthy at times.


Recreation:
(What is there to do in the area for adults? For kids/families? Is there anything within a few hours driving distance?)
The mountains are quite near and there is a good long snow skiing season. Lots of boating and camping in the summer. There are also many summer programs for children.


Weather:
(What's the weather like? Mild? Seasonal? Hot? Humid? Rainy? Cold? Are there seasons?)
The weather is very mild. The winters are long and cool but hardly below freezing for more than a day. It just stays cooler for a lot longer, around 40-50 for about 9 months. Mid-June to Mid-September temperatures are around 80 maybe 90 on some days. Very few houses have air conditioning. Sleeping with the windows open is comfortable. Also, there is some humidity but its not overwhelming.


Overall:
(Would you go back again? Why or why not? What are your main likes and gripes?)I do like it. I wouldn’t come back only because I want to experience something different. I don’t have any gripes about Bremerton so far.