Hubby has to check into a deployable unit soon. I keep telling him I want to move to NC, but he is absolutely in love with Cali. I have no idea why I want to move to NC, I've never ever been there or Cali for that matter, so ladies...which is better and why?
Re: USMC Wives -- Cali or NC?
I am from the west coast and absolutely HATE Washington DC. The weather is really crappy and super humid, I have never been to NC but since its kind of close to DC I figure it will be about the same. My husband and I grew up in Oregon (I have lived in about 8 states though) and the weather over here seems about the same as there, cloudy one day-nice the next. And I don't like that. California is nice, mostly always sunny days, and hot days you don't have 80% humidity along with it.
I am tend to go for drier climates than wet ones.
Where have you lived though?
::Butting in (I'm an Army girl and Army wife)::
I dated a Marine for about six and a half years and went to see him when he was at CP Lejune for his logistics officer course. I didn't see much that I liked, but it's unfair to say that NC is boring, because it really isn't. There is a lot to do in the surrounding area and if you're willing to drive, you can always see Wilmington, or check out other parts of the state. NC is actually a pretty state and I think it may get a bad rap from others who have never been there. I've spent time at Bragg down in Fayetteville and while I think parts of that town suck, I've had the good fortune of having friends in the area who have shown me other towns that are fun to be in.
I can talk about Cali all day long. I picked up and moved 3,000 miles from NYC to San Diego and it was the best decision I ever made in my life. Depending on what he does, he may get stationed closer to San Diego or he may end up at Pendleton, which is north San Diego county between Oceanside and San Clemente. There is also 29 Palms which is not fun unless you like the high desert. Not to knock it but I like beaches and city.
San Diego was tons of fun. Depending on where you are, you can have an early chilly morning (marine layer coming in from the Pacific) or if you're living a little further east, it can get warm (was about to say HOT, but that's relative). The closer to the ocean you are in San Diego, the better chance you'll see the 75 and sunny we always talk about. Further inland, it can get into the 90s sometimes. There is a lot of beach to play with, and if you get stationed there, you can go onto the Coronado Navy base's beach, which is open to DoD only.
Oceanside is ok, but I never had a great experience up there. San Clemente, however is just awesome. It still has that SoCal vibe even if it isn't San Diego.
I miss San Diego terribly. I got transferred to San Jose last year for my DoD job. SJ is ok, but if I can find my way to San Diego, DH and I will take it in an instant.
I hope that helps!
::Butting out::
Army Girl, been in since Feb 2003 married to an Army Man, in since 1990.
Others have pretty much covered NC. The humid part and the pollen in the spring are the two things that stand out in my mind from our time in Virginia. Well, that and the food...I think I put on 20 pounds with all the Southern cooking.
We're in San Diego now. The weather out here is wonderful. No freezing winters, sunny most days, and the humidity that is in the Carolinas...yeah, that's not here. The COL is high, but the housing allowance takes that into consideration. The only downfall I'm really seeing to living here right now is the distance to loved ones (we're both from the East Coast) and the job market out here.
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CALI FOR SURE! Yes I'm bias because its my homestate, but we're curently stationed in Washington DC and we hate the east coast! I have met many wives that have moved to and from NC and they always complain about humidity and bugs. In SoCal the worst you'll need to worry about is Santa Anna winds...and what to wear to the beach
Ashley E.
USMC Wife est.9.5.9.
est.09.05.2009
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