relocating to PAX

been reading posts on here for a couple of months now, and I am praying its not as bad as it sounds, real estate prices high, heck I am from Calif. lousy internet, well, I am still on dial up, hospitals are bad, uh oh, I have a bad heart, yikes.... cell phone service lousy, go north of the base on 235 and it is red light hell, ok, I am not a praying man, but maybe I will just pray that it isn't as bad as it sounds, now is AAA in the area, I am about to renew my membership, and can anyone recommend a good cardiologist, I may be making him a rich man if the move doesn't me first
....ok, I must have said something wrong, I am married and it is her job that is moving us, I don't doubt that I will adjust just fine, grew up a military brat(AIR FORCE) and live amongst many cultures, even if the wife will be there working on a air force project, hoping I can get a job on base too, am an autocad drafter, so something will pop up

(Edited by David196042 at 8:49 pm on April 9, 2002)

vicos on 7:57 pm on April 9, 2002[br]The price of REAL ESTATE is relative.  If you're from San Francisco or LA, you'll think the prices are cheap here.  If you're from the midwest or south, you might find it expensive.

The only other advice is that if you're currently single, get married or find a girlfriend BEFORE you get here.

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Listen to Vicos!  He is right on the money!  BRING YOUR WOMAN WITH YOU
If you love to fish and hunt, you'll have fun though.

Southern Maryland, like anywhere else, is what you make of it.  An hour from DC, an hour and 45 minutes from Baltimore, you can be at the ocean in about four hours, to the mountains in the same if not quicker.  It's still somewhat rural but not everywhere as there are several pockets of development.  The work on the base is great and always on the cutting edge of technology, at least for me.  As far as women, when I've been looking for one I've found one.  Currently not looking and no plans of it.  I have been here on and off over the past 45 years, not my entire life, moved here with the parents in '57, lived for a couple years as a kid in Rhode Island, and spent 12 years moving around the country and overseas from the early 70s to the mid 80s when I returned home.  I have seen a lot of changes and it is nowhere near as bad as some of the other places I have lived or visited.  You need to judge it for yourself and look for the best.  You might just find it.

David...

All these guys (I assume as they all referred to women) are correct.  Depending on where in CA you are coming from real estate prices may look like a real value to you.  If you are curious about what the RE market is like here, you can visit my website attached to this post to see some homes for sale in this area.

I have been here for 12 years and just very recently RE prices started climbing.  Southern Calvert still offers the best RE values in the area.  Prices in St Marys tend to be higher.  Yes I am a real estate saleswoman FYI.  If you have questions you can email me.  As for a good cardiologist...honestly depending on how your condition is, many people from this area prefer to go to John Hopkins (the hospital not the doctor).  However I believe that Calvert internal medicine just brought a cardiologist on board and I feel comfortable with that group of doctors.

If I can be of any help, please email me...and really, it isn't so bad, but I can tell you cellular service does indeed STINK royally here..

cell phone service lousy, go north of the base on 235 and it is red light hell, ok, I am not a praying man, but maybe I will just pray that it isn't as bad as it sounds, now is AAA in the area, I am about to renew my membership, and can anyone recommend a good cardiologist, I may be making him a rich man if the move doesn't me first

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Hi David...  I moved here from Cleveland Ohio in Oct 2000 and I must say that I have seen the area grow and change rapidly within that time.  The Lexington Park area is really terrible for getting around (lights, construction, farm tractors thinking their still on the farm roads.. and people driving vehicles still thinking they are on 495 beltway, more cops in the area than donuts... lol, no decent pubs, NO MALL except shopping squares, etc).  However, there are alot of good things too.  I have to say that alot of the locals here are nice people.  You didn't mention which area  you plan to move too.  Yes, cell phone service is the worse.  TV cable is the pits too.  AAA?  Well, unless you do alot of commuting up north to DC or Baltimore area, don't think it will be much use here.  I live in St Mary's co. and know very little of Calvert co.  So mgorfain can help you out for the Calvert co area.  As Ken said, it is what you make of it... just like anywhere else...  As far as the Cardiologist... I would go with mgo's suggestion and look into John Hopkins or a Walter Reed... both are up north and quite a travel (one hour or so), but I think you'll be better off for specialists and service...

....ok, I must have said something wrong, I am married and it is her job that is moving us, I don't doubt that I will adjust just fine, grew up a military brat(AIR FORCE) and live amongst many cultures, even if the wife will be there working on a air force project, hoping I can get a job on base too, am an autocad drafter, so something will pop up

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Ya got a wife... whew!  Least you won't be another one... lurking for a women... lol  The base is constantly growin.. but I must say.. it is very competitive...  My lady moved from So. Georgia a year ago and without any fed service or a degree... the base or contractors won't touch her!  Perhaps with your wife's inside influence, you may get lucky... However, I thought that too.. but my hands are tied....  Good luck in your move and I hope it is enjoyable for you... crossing the USA is really quite astonishing.... also, if you have cats, leave them there... there are already too many in this county.....

[quoteDarby, try not to read anger in my post, because there is none.  Just a matter of my experience (as most) will differ from others.  I really think you should try to paint a more positive picture of your new home…even if it is temporary.

As much as I loathe living here, it's not because it's a horrible place...it's because I don't fit.[/quote]

Anger? you're blunt, as I am.... you have some good points.. but not everyone agrees with them... and I paint the picture as I see it... and I also included that there are ALOT of good things about the area.  I am like the news, details at 7, but the good points are on next week... you wouldn't know that cause remember, you don't have time for TV!  lol  

We all didn't just land in Vietnam here and it don't take someone with 7 plus years to figure out alot of things... I live 20 miles south of the base.. guess what... there is NO cell service and I have a 1 year contract until I can dump "CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW!"  

As far as the farm tractors... cariblue... when was the last time you drove to Leonardtown from Great Mills?  When the last time you drove south Rte 5 from Lex Park?  I wasn't bashing farmers... I am stating a point of "GETTING AROUNDTHE AREA... Please stay with the subject!   If you don't see the tractors on those routes, perhaps you are one of them zipping down the road like you are on 495 beltway..

You're satisfied with your cable TV service?  You are ONE in a few in the area!  Bless you.....

Yes, the base is competitive, but I would say that anyone else has as good a chance as I did finding gainful empoyment.  I don’t have a degree or history of federal employment.  I do have drive and ambition.

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Hmmmm.  When was the last time you were seeking employment on this base coming from off the street with no degree?  Your drive and ambition will get you to the gate guard....  but no further!  Enof said bout dat!

Lastly, I am not unhappy here.. and I am a pessimist and a very blunt one at that.  If you think I am painting the wrong picture.. wait 2 years from now and READ David's post to someone moving here!  Wanna know something?  When my employer informed me I was going to Pax River Naval Base... I said who the what?  I jumped on the internet and guess what I found?  www.somd.com was one... I used as a resource for property... the other was St Mary's Today newspaper... I started reading and reading.... Scared the be-gee-bees outta me!  And I was moving from Cleveland, which was rated as one of Americas most crime infested cities!

have a nice day!  

actually, I don't think it will be to bad, as far as real estate, my bro lives in the San Fran area and my parents live in Ls Angeles county, so I know how bad it can get, for now, I am moving from Franklin, Ohio after 3 yrs here and 20 yrs in Sacramento, Cal, before that, I only expect to be there for a few yrs at most with the wife climbing career the ladder as she is. for me, well, if regular work doesn't pop up, I have become pretty good at finishing basements and other remodelling work, so I will keep busy, and I really appreciate the input from all of you, I like to hear the pos and neg, and Darby, I am somewhat of a pessimist also, so we might well see eye to eye on alot, and like you, I will make the best of it as I can, but this is a good place to vent frustration  and giv praise when it is deserved so you all will
see me here quite a bit.

Hi David....  it's nice to see that you are taking all this info in with an open mind...  I am sure if I asked that question on here, I would probably get the same degree of opinions.  Additionally, when I was informed of having to move here.. there were quite of few associate employees that have been here and their bottom line statement was.... you're gonna love it or hate it... and the one thing you must live by down there... if you aren't a good ole boy... or if you don't rub-in with the good ole boys down there... you won't go far... and they were referring to empoyment on the naval base....  Again, good luck in your move and if ya need any local info.. shout about and I am sure we can all help.....

cariblue!  may I ask?  Do you read the replies before you hit the reply and swing your keyboard?  lol  Don't take offense, but I think you are the one missing points when you reply...  First, I didn't say you never watch TV.. I wasn't implying that... I referred to your "you have better things to do"

I am aware why there isn't cell service down there and yes, it was my choice moving there.  I got the cell phone before moving down there, so!  enof said bout dat!

The position I hold on base is for a contractor…off base.  I landed this job about a year and a half ago.  Before that I held 2 other positions on base, which was also for contractors…off base.  I’ve always been able to get past the gate, but that’s not where I found the job…I found it off base.

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(throwing hands to the sky)  Hmmmm...  Well let's see, my lady has applied over and over and over with many of the contractors... even one very large one, who's lead recruiter found out where I work... and tried his damnest to do something for her...  oH!  she had plenty of interviews and is very good with people and has an awesome resume!  They play games unless you know someone or you're VERY lucky.  A year and a half ago cariblue?  Try right now (meaning.. just move here and be a stranger)!  You'll get swallowed just like she has.... enof said bout dat now, k!

“Lastly, I am not unhappy here..”
You sound like you are.

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Nope.. already said it a fews times that I am NOT unhappy here... again, you should read before replying.... I stated I am a pessimist!  I know there are many people that hate my kind... but I come from a long history of "seeing is believing"... I have seen the turning points of all walks of life (been military since I was 17 and done 14 years... fed gov since that)... in all parts of the world... so I am by-god realistic!  Again, there are lots of good things about and around this area... Boating and fishing are it's main attraction.... lots of great people... Sure there are things to do... depends on what you like...  I think David didn't read between the lines or expected everyone to say, "you'll love it here.. HURRY UP and get here!"  He's heard facts and wants to know opinionS... not just one...  have a nice day  

David,

    As a recent transplant from Buffalo, NY, and soon to be ex-Southern Marylander (I'm leaving to return to Buffalo in a week), here's a few tips from my point of view.  You may or may not like it here depending on what your tastes are.  Naturally, if it's city life you crave then expect to pay for nice accommodations that are centrally located.  If it's country living you desire, expect to pay for the bucolic splendor.  If you don't like driving...your SOL.  I live in Calvert County and it's not all that bad.  I personally didn't like it here.  But to reiterate the point that cariblue made, not by its own merits but rather because of personal preferences.
    I wouldn't say that real estate is quite as bad as SF or LA, but, I would be skeptical about sinking alot of money into a house now because low-interest rates + high demand = overinflated market.  I have no idea what Franklin, OH is like, but I suspect it's cheaper than SOMD.  G'luck and I hope all goes well for you.  Cell phone service is non-existent in Breezy Point.

BTW, Ken....are those times at rush hour?

Regards to all.

David, I have been here almost twelve years and came from California (Bay area) as well.  I moved here by choice and was not "sentenced" by job or military and I found that like it here!  I came here with an open mind thinking, "I'll give it six months and if I don't, I'll go back".  Now that I have acquired of friends (locals and not), a house, dog, husband, and child... I'm not going anywhere.

There are times that I get "bored" but all you have to do is make the best of it.  We have 2 motorcycles, several friends have power boats and my sis & bro-in-law have a catamaran.  We can also get in the car and go somewhere out of the area if we feel like it.

Life is what you make of it... enjoy it while you can....

Bye, Bye,

What's rush hour?  It's how long it takes me unless something impedes my ability to move.

Cable here is strange on Sunday I flip through the channels and see FOX has its football game on,  go to CBS and there is no football on but instead Golf.  Now I understand that there are some people that would rather watch Golf than football, but both CBS stations?  That just doesnt make sense, wouldnt the channel want to have the higher rated program on?

Yes.