Posted on Sep 30, 2015
What are the three biggest factors influencing where you live after transitioning from Active Duty?
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Are you more likely to live somewhere you've lived before? How much does your spouse or other family influence the decision? Perhaps: "I'll go anywhere I can find a job"?
Transition
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Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 21
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I have a few more years before I'll drop my retirement packet - but when I do, my transition will be based on job offer (pay vs local cost of living), Veteran friendliness (state tax on retirement? etc...), and family (proximity to my daughter and if i'm in a relationship at the time - where would she like to be).
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Family (my family is two hours away, wife's family is in town), spouses job (emotional investment) and too many reasons to pick a third and final one.
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Getting away from military towns, getting out of the south, and states that don't tax military retirement and have no property tax for Purple Heart recipients.
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CDR (Join to see)
Did someone provide a list of states that don't tax mil retirement pay, or are you doing your own research (i.e. Google search)?
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GySgt (Join to see)
Doing my own, mostly settled on WI since that's also where I'm from, but it is a very veteran and retiree friendly state. Especially if you are a WI resident before you retire.
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Where I may get the best transition support and where I can recieved proper medical assistant and where I can be more emotional and mind at ease! My wife knows whats best for our transition.
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1). The Job Market in Southern California
2). The beautiful beaches and weather
3). Available housing
2). The beautiful beaches and weather
3). Available housing
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Sgt Tom Cunnally
In CA the money moved from Southern California to Silicon Valley in Northern California.But the cost of living in the Bay Area is unbelievable...
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CDR (Join to see)
Even if the cost of living is high? Or if housing prices are high? Or if there are no jobs available?
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1. Where the kids are
2. Where the wife wants. See #1.
3. Safe, pleasant location with a reasonable commute.
2. Where the wife wants. See #1.
3. Safe, pleasant location with a reasonable commute.
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CDR (Join to see)
Regarding #3 -> Did you pick the job before you settled on a home, or did you pick a home and then decide on a job?
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Col Joseph Lenertz
#3...had a home about 60 miles from the job I got...and after 4 years I couldn't take the commute anymore, so moved to a new home to have an easier commute. Ended up being closer to the kids too, after the kids graduated college and found jobs.
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CDR (Join to see) I had trouble coming up with three so I am submitting my top four.
1) Cost of living including taxes on military retirement income
2) availability of employment in chosen field of work,
3) climate, environment, availability of leisure activities that we would enjoy - good restaurants where food is reasonably priced, sports venues, music venues, theaters, etc.
4) sufficient healthcare facilities
1) Cost of living including taxes on military retirement income
2) availability of employment in chosen field of work,
3) climate, environment, availability of leisure activities that we would enjoy - good restaurants where food is reasonably priced, sports venues, music venues, theaters, etc.
4) sufficient healthcare facilities
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Before cI chose to stay in Anchorage I looked at several areas.
(1) Employment Opportunities - Regardless if the economy is doing well or not so well, people are hired and fired all the time. I research the industries of interest to understand where the opportunities are. Then network my way in. Coffee, lunch, professional organizations, and volunteer work.
(2) Professional Networking - The area outside a duty station is different from post to post. Some communities outside the base do not offer much, others are filled with networking opportunities like Anchorage. Networking helps get jobs through the hidden market.
(3) Adaptability - Can the family and I adapt better where we are now or start from scratch somewhere else? If we move that means Professional Networking goes back to the start line as well as Industry Research. This can be a deal breaker if the family prefers to live somewhere else.
If I could add a 4th point it is Quality of Life. Outdoor activities is part of the Alaskan way of living; summer, winter, rain or snow it does not matter we still go fishing and hunting with the families.
Work to live or live to work.
(1) Employment Opportunities - Regardless if the economy is doing well or not so well, people are hired and fired all the time. I research the industries of interest to understand where the opportunities are. Then network my way in. Coffee, lunch, professional organizations, and volunteer work.
(2) Professional Networking - The area outside a duty station is different from post to post. Some communities outside the base do not offer much, others are filled with networking opportunities like Anchorage. Networking helps get jobs through the hidden market.
(3) Adaptability - Can the family and I adapt better where we are now or start from scratch somewhere else? If we move that means Professional Networking goes back to the start line as well as Industry Research. This can be a deal breaker if the family prefers to live somewhere else.
If I could add a 4th point it is Quality of Life. Outdoor activities is part of the Alaskan way of living; summer, winter, rain or snow it does not matter we still go fishing and hunting with the families.
Work to live or live to work.
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CDR (Join to see)
It sounds like the decision was benefits of staying vs. risks of leaving?
(Based on my experience with Anchorage, I'm sure being near The Moose's Tooth pizza and beer--Quality of Life--was a contributing factor.)
(Based on my experience with Anchorage, I'm sure being near The Moose's Tooth pizza and beer--Quality of Life--was a contributing factor.)
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CDR Terry Boles
LCDR Jason Wilkinson
MAJ Raul Rovira
Yep, Moose's Tooth pizza on a winery night is a treat. If you are into the great outdoors, hard to beat Alaska. My very good friend just PCSd to Elmendorf and discovered the lifestyle and quality of life, bought a house outside of Anchorage and plans to retire there when they try to force him to PCS.
However there is something to be said about selecting a location based on employment opportunities if one still has plans to work for some time after retirement. Sure doesn't hurt for it to be the Anchorage area :)
MAJ Raul Rovira
Yep, Moose's Tooth pizza on a winery night is a treat. If you are into the great outdoors, hard to beat Alaska. My very good friend just PCSd to Elmendorf and discovered the lifestyle and quality of life, bought a house outside of Anchorage and plans to retire there when they try to force him to PCS.
However there is something to be said about selecting a location based on employment opportunities if one still has plans to work for some time after retirement. Sure doesn't hurt for it to be the Anchorage area :)
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MAJ Raúl Rovira
Jason, spot on. The quality of life here is amazing. I'll share that I purchased land about 7 minutes to post from the Boniface gate. It is centric when considering school, post swimming pool, and access to the Glenn highway.
I don’t miss any opportunity to Network in establishments like Moose's Tooth or the Glacier Brew House.
I don’t miss any opportunity to Network in establishments like Moose's Tooth or the Glacier Brew House.
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CDR (Join to see)
MAJ Raúl Rovira, I know quite a few people who don't want to leave Alaska once they've visited. Glacier Brew House is another fine establishment (been there, bought the t-shirt).
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CDR (Join to see)
#1 - How well you prepared. If you prepare well over time, you can live almost anywhere you choose.
#2 - What environment you want to live in. Location, family, schools, mountains, beach, etc
#3 - What you want to be doing. Work, truly retired, in between
#1 - How well you prepared. If you prepare well over time, you can live almost anywhere you choose.
#2 - What environment you want to live in. Location, family, schools, mountains, beach, etc
#3 - What you want to be doing. Work, truly retired, in between
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CDR (Join to see)
I agree that people who prepare CAN live anywhere. I'm interested in the details to your second bullet: What environment you want to live in. I COULD live in North Dakota, but neither my wife or I WANT to.
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