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?)

please please please post about here. this is our first choice to go and i don't know anything about it

Housing:
I'm not sure about housing. We bought a house. I do know that they have housing in Jackson Park, on base (PPV) and some on Bainbridge Island.

Schools:
Since I homeschool, I really didn't keep up with which school is better.

Shopping:
I do my grocery shopping at the Bangor Commissary and Costco. It is reasonable. They do have Mall here. It is a typical mall, not really big but I have seen smaller. I enjoy the shops here in Poulsbo and in Silverdale.

Cost of living:
It is average here or at least I find it to be so.

Military Community:
I don't have much to do with the base since we are on a shore command. There is plenty of things to do with MWR. This summer they have free movie day that the theater and $1 bowling after 12:00 p.m.

Recreation:
There is so much to do. We've been going on hikes to the Olympic National Park. So far we've been to Hurricane Ridge, Marymere Falls and Sol Duc. It is a beautiful drive and lots to do and see. The Olympic Game Farm is a fun day for the kids and adults also. Mt. Rainer, etc... If the city is more to your taste then Seattle is just a car or ferry ride away.

Weather:
It wasn't as rainy as I expected or at least in my area it wasn't. I find it to be mild here but since I'm from Louisiana and have lived the last 7 yrs on and off in CA and HI this really isn't hot for me. It took me a few weeks to get used to the cold weather but overall it's been great here.

Overall:
I enjoy this area. It is beautiful. While I'm not sure I'd make it my forever home, I am enjoying my time here. We may even do another tour here.

do you know of any close universities? basically i'm looking for a liberal arts school (i'm a psychology major, biology minor). the only two that i have found that are close to the city of bangor is pacific lutheran and st. martins. university of washington has a bothell campus that's more geared towards liberal arts. the universities in tacoma don't have the programs i need. they are more forestry/earth science universities.

Housing:
My husband and I just moved into Jackson Park about a month ago and so far we really like it. The house is nice and big for the two of us and all the appliances are new! And we have a huge kitchen!!!!


Schools:
We dont have kids yet so I'm sorry but I can't help you there. AS for colleges its kinda shitty. Sorry. But there really aren't any close by. I don't recomend you go to Bothell thats about um 3 hours away. But UW does have seattle campus which is only an hour ferry ride and about maybe 15 or 20 min bus ride or car drive. My best advice is to do a serious search on line and see what is closest or the best for you. If you aren't going to work but instead just go to school, I recomend UW Seattle and take the bus. It cost to much to get your car over on ferry. Basically anyway you look at it its going to be a bit of a communte. I'm in the same problem myself so I feel for ya. PM if ther is any way I can help you with the schools or at least give you an accurate travel time.


Shopping:
If you are smart about it you can save a good amount of money. We shop at the Bangor and Bremerton Commisery(sp) depending on where we are at the time, we also have a membership to Costco. As for malls, um well its kinda small. But then again our mall from back home was rather large. But it gets the job done.


Cost of living:
Average or low compared to where you are from. Obviously the pay in jobs reflects this.


Military Community:
We haven't really gotten involved. I mean we have friends who are Navy and who are not Navy. But if you have kids I get the impression there is lots to do family oriented.


Recreation:
There is tons to do if you like outdoors. We haven't gotten a chance to hike, bkut I really want to and you can rent kyacks from the base really cheap or a boat. In the winter there are mountains galore!! So if you like to snowboard or ski (I snowboard) there is a ton to do. It may rain on the peninsual but its always snowing in the mountains (bonus)!!


Weather:
So far its been nice, then again I haven't lived through the rainy season yet. But If your from the North East its about the same. Except instead of snow its rain. And it rarely ever goes below freezing in the winter.


Overall:
I really like it. I'd stay here more, but if dh relists I'd love to go somwhere different just to see the world. Oh and the people are way nicer then people on the east coast! Hope this helps. Again please pm me if there is anything else you want to know. :)

Hey Gabrielle, have you been to any of our get togethers? you should really come and hang out. the girls are fun. i live in jackson park to!:hi

Housing:
My husband and I just moved into Jackson Park about a month ago and so far we really like it. The house is nice and big for the two of us and all the appliances are new! And we have a huge kitchen!!!!


Schools:
We dont have kids yet so I'm sorry but I can't help you there. AS for colleges its kinda shitty. Sorry. But there really aren't any close by. I don't recomend you go to Bothell thats about um 3 hours away. But UW does have seattle campus which is only an hour ferry ride and about maybe 15 or 20 min bus ride or car drive. My best advice is to do a serious search on line and see what is closest or the best for you. If you aren't going to work but instead just go to school, I recomend UW Seattle and take the bus. It cost to much to get your car over on ferry. Basically anyway you look at it its going to be a bit of a communte. I'm in the same problem myself so I feel for ya. PM if ther is any way I can help you with the schools or at least give you an accurate travel time.


Shopping:
If you are smart about it you can save a good amount of money. We shop at the Bangor and Bremerton Commisery(sp) depending on where we are at the time, we also have a membership to Costco. As for malls, um well its kinda small. But then again our mall from back home was rather large. But it gets the job done.


Cost of living:
Average or low compared to where you are from. Obviously the pay in jobs reflects this.


Military Community:
We haven't really gotten involved. I mean we have friends who are Navy and who are not Navy. But if you have kids I get the impression there is lots to do family oriented.


Recreation:
There is tons to do if you like outdoors. We haven't gotten a chance to hike, bkut I really want to and you can rent kyacks from the base really cheap or a boat. In the winter there are mountains galore!! So if you like to snowboard or ski (I snowboard) there is a ton to do. It may rain on the peninsual but its always snowing in the mountains (bonus)!!


Weather:
So far its been nice, then again I haven't lived through the rainy season yet. But If your from the North East its about the same. Except instead of snow its rain. And it rarely ever goes below freezing in the winter.


Overall:
I really like it. I'd stay here more, but if dh relists I'd love to go somwhere different just to see the world. Oh and the people are way nicer then people on the east coast! Hope this helps. Again please pm me if there is anything else you want to know. :)

There is plenty of shopping you just gotta DRIVE either to Seattle or Tacoma !!!but there is a ton of shopping !

Universities...

I'm not married and I haven't been dating him long enough to answer any of the other questions... but I can comment on universities...

Try looking into Tacoma Community College. That's where I'm currently at. I do know that they're going to turn it into a 4-year college within the next couple of years. And they have a pretty decent sociology/psych program, which is what I'm currently working on. They also have a TCC campus in Gig Harbor, which is 30-40 min. away from Silverdale.

PLU and St. Martin's are both a bit of a drive... you should definitely look into Olympic College... sometimes they'll partner up with other schools so you can earn your degree there.... I know TCC does that with Evergreen State College.

UW Tacoma is also shaping up to be a pretty decent school. They've completely revamped the campus and it's turning into a pretty nice area in town. The only drawbacks to commuting to Tacoma... bridge traffic. And next July, the toll booths are going to open... which means it'll be $6-7 roundtrip.

Anyway... online classes are always an option... that's what I'm doing so I don't have to battle bridge traffic.... :)

Housing.... I live on Bangor sub base housing. I live on the west side. The housing looks nice the yards are well landscaped. I would say it is a safe place. The things I dont like are ,they are ran by a PPV and IMO the ppv sucks !!!!! They are sometimes rude they lie and I have known so many people have a hard time getting the allotment stoped and getting there money back when they move out. If you are a chief and up they did build some nice homes and they are awsome!!!!!! If I got one of those houses That would be the only reason I would stay on base.

Schools..... There are 2 Elementry schools that kids go to that live on base, Couger vally and clear creek. My son goes to clear creek ,he is only in kidergarten but we like the school so far. The only bad thing is is that Silverdale doesnt have all day kindergarden. The schools in Bremerton do offer full day kidergarten though!!

Shopping...I live the super walmart in Poulsbo, which is sonly about 10min outside of Bangor base. I get my food there. IMO the commisary at Bangor isnt all that good of a deal. I have heard Bremerton commisary is better.

Military community.... There is alot of military here. I havnt really gone to to many functions but there are a lot!!

recreation..... There are alot of things ,like fishing ,skiing,kyaking,hiking.

Weather.... It rains alot, the summers are not to hot. It gets dark in the winter about 4:30 pm and in the summer it doesnt get dark till around 10:00 pm

Overall... I dont really like it here, but I know alot of people that love it and would never leave.

There is plenty of shopping you just gotta DRIVE either to Seattle or Tacoma !!!but there is a ton of shopping !

Totally agree! I am not to fond of the Tacoma mall but Seattle or fed way area is GREAT! The SPO (Seattle Premium Outlets) just north of Seattle is just amazing:) Tons and Tons of outlet stores:yahoo

Housing:
i love the housing... moreso west then east... bit i like easts location more... west is just so far tucked away... on a nice day you can take a walk to get s a few things at the commissary, you dont want to walk 2 miles with food ya know!!


Schools:
sorry cant help here.. no kiddos... i hear clear creek is great


Shopping:
commissary is great, it really is cheaper... NEX depends what your buying, but its nice... albertsons has their 10 for $10 sales and thats great, NOT for regualr priced shoping though... the mall is close, i work there and i love it... other shopping not to far... super walmart in polsbo is AWSOME i live there lol!!!


Cost of living:
to me its not that high, i hate taxes here they are high, and gas is alot.. cheaper OFF base at am pm, then on base (AM PM doesnt take CC just cash or debit)


Military Community:
not much to say on this yet...


Recreation:
you can totally stay busy without driving far!!! but a day in seattle is always fun!!!


Weather:
not too bad soo far, havent been here THAT long yet... but i love it...


Overall:
i love it here... its just really far from our family... thats my issue with it!!! lol

Well I do not know much about the things you have asked, but I live in the east housing and I love it here. The housing is really nice. we have a fenced front and back yard, tons of room and everything inside is nearly brandnew.

As for shopping, I have been trying to find good places to go myself. Everything good here is so spread out.

I myself personally do not like it here. Its hard to meet people and make actual friends outside the internet. The weather is not too bad, but I just do not care for it here.

Housing:
I haven't lived in housing here in a very long time. I believe for the most part the housing is pretty decent though. Renting I believe is fairly affordable. We did have a hard time finding a house big enough for us. Right now availability is pretty good overall. In the past, when we had more ships here, it was harder to find a place. Years ago, we had a 9 month wait for Jackson Park. I'm not sure what the wait is now.


Schools:
My kids attended Esquire Elementary. Was nice enough school. Only dealt with the school 1 year. Our daughters went to Fairview Junior High and Ridgetop Junior High. Fairview was okay. It's an older school in need of some work. Ridgetop is a newer junior high and we liked it overall much better. All our kids attended Olympic High School. We have been happy with the school for the most part. It's smaller than the other high schools, is very culturally diverse and celebrates its diversity. More close knit I would say than the average high school. Central Kitsap School District is made up of primarily military kids. The local college here is not bad. It just started a 4 year nursing program and recently a physical therapy program. It has branches all over the area. You can also get a 4 year degree or better at Olympic College with Old Dominion University. My sister-in-law got her masters in science and math at Olympic College/Old Dominion. I believe they work with other 4 year schools as well. There is also college classes available on base but I don't recall the name of the school


Shopping:
I like the Bangor commissary best since it was remodeled. Bremerton is okay but doesn't seem to have the same selection as Bangor. I think the prices are better there for the most part but there are good deals in town. The Poulsbo Super Walmart is good too. The NEX on Bangor is decent but besides not paying sales tax, I don't see how the prices very too much unless you are into designer labels. Bremerton NEX pretty much sucks as far as I'm concerned. It is small, and has a limited selection. We have discovered the furniture selection for the area is small too. Bangor does not sell furniture. Keep in mind, McChord Airforce Base and Fort Lewis is less than an hour away. The shopping there is much better in my opinion. The mall here is okay. Fairly small, crowded and hot. I avoid it as much as possible.


Cost of living:
I think the cost of living is pretty good here. Nothing is too outrageous.


Military Community:
I think there are a lot of resources available, plenty of entertainment options for the military family. Free or very cheap movies on base. Bowling, swimming, tours. The community in general is pretty supportive of the military.
Check out this link.
http://www.navylifepnw.com/site/172/NBK-Resource-Centers.aspx


Recreation:
There is so much to do close by and across the Sound. Too many to mention. We take advantage of what Seattle has to offer. Pro sports, concerts, museums, plays, musicals. There is so much!


Weather:
The weather here isn't typically too bad. Some people think it does nothing but rain, but it isn't so bad. It can be damp during the winter, but not usually too cold. We have a couple days of snow usually every year but it doesn't stick around long. Spring and summar are great. It isn't usually humid or extremely hot in the summer. It is very pretty here in the summer especially.


Overall:
This is our second time here. We've lived a total of 10+ years in this town. We love it here. It helps though that I grew up on the Oregon Coast and DH is from Seattle. So it is like home for us.