Will PCS to one of three places, probably. NY/AL/ND

Am an Army Civ employee - and I am looking for a new home prior to my DEROS this october. Took some interviews and things are starting to line up - biggest question is a potential job at Fort Drum.

I'm a little worried - worried is too strong of a word - about Drum because I don't want to feel isolated or cut-off from things like civilization. While i love winter and dig snow (and shovel sometimes) I am not really looking to be cold 9 months of the year - anyone with long-term experience there care to weigh-in?

AL is fine - would take that job no problem when/if the offer comes down. Huge (comparatively)metropolitan area, but the weather is just about like here or seattle (hometown) in that the weather rarely changes. I like real seasons so it's not ideal in that regard. BUT it's close to the mountains too....well, close to "mountains".

ND is iffy - talk about being cut-off - BUT it puts me closer to really nice overlanding/offroading places (The mountain west is where I hope to retire in about 10 years (civilians have to do 30)).

Pay for all three is about the same.

Being or feeling isolated is a big deal for me because I am not getting any prettier in my late 40s and I do hope to trick some lady into walking awhile with me; having few options here (because german women know american men tend to leave, and american women are 400lbs and/or entitled in large part - at least half) so I'd prefer a place with at least numbers in my favor.

Anyone have feedback, constructive or otherwise?

 

Where at in North Dakota?
-Minot, run. Fargo isn’t bad..

As you see I wrote a bit and deleted, as I thought I saw AK.

 

no worries. Yeah - minot. Thing is, i have to go somewhere - at least for awhile. Will have no mandatory service/time obligation as my current unit will pay for my move.

 

Well if you can swing Alabama, I would choose that. You will hate your life at Minot, I promise you that. As with drum. I’m assuming Alabama would be a few places, decent weather.. Airports for travel, surrounding states, good ole bama women.

 

I wont hate my life anywhere - i'm a civilian employee. I stay inside, inside-the-wire.

I think i'll play it like that - but I need 'bama to offer the job for me to accept. Same with any. If they all offer I'd probably prioritize like this:

Bama:
Pros - Women with accents. Warm summers and fall. Big-city amenities.
Cons - terrible weather most of the time (for me, terrible = unchanging/similar weather). May be too socially conservative for my ideas (I know when i lived in southeast 'bama - even as a conservative-minded person - it was uber conservative to the point people thought i was a liberal).

NY:
Pros - I love the winters. Small-town appeal perhaps. Promotion. I have friends within 3 hr drive. Canadian women.
Cons - it's two steps from being BFE. NY taxes, laws, policies.

ND:
Pros - country life. Easier driving to moutain west - where i wish to live someday. Diversifies my resume for other jobs.
Cons - Literally BFE. Ice. Wind.

Thanks RD, for your input.

 

I would probably go the AL route. Wasn’t a huge fan of GA when I was stationed there but it’s likely better then the other options. When you’re about 5 years out from retirement, then I would look for something closer to where you plan/want to retire. It’s a lot harder moving and getting settled when your far from where you want to retire to. I retired out of HI and knew I would move back to MT. It would’ve been nice to be able to look at houses and network for the next job, and would’ve had we been closer. It’s not really practical to fly to interviews or to look at houses. Some do but not worth it to me. Also take I to account weather and cost of living. The MT, WY, Dakotas area isn’t always as cheap as one night thing. Also forgot how obnoxious cold winters can be. For me, family was here so it didn’t change anything. Without family, we might’ve ended up somewhere else. Just some food for thought.

 

thanks, shane.