Moving to VA

JJEH

JJEH

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Well, it's official..... somewhat. But we are moving to VA.

We finally decided last night over the phone (she's still out of the country). I wanted to stay here in OK a little bit longer to take advantage of my career but I've decided against it.

She's done in ~18 months and we'd like to get close to either the Richmond- or the Norfolk area. She's almost done with her BA degree and she's got 20 years experience in logistics.

I'd like to stay in LE but we'll see what the future holds.

I'm feeling good about it and I'm excited.

Any insider tips are appreciated. I like looking for houses online :)
 
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StakeOut said:
Care to share the reasons for choosing Virginia?
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My wife loves it, I like it too, her battle buddy lives there, good to exceptionally great career opportunities for the both of us, love the ocean, no tornadoes like here, milder summers so my mother can come visit us, good gun laws, nice architecture, better education system than OK, and I'm sure many more... :)
 
Since the areas around DC are deep blue, the overall state is more purple as regarding guns; so check out the laws. Coastal areas are still susceptible to hurricane forces, so be aware when looking at property as far as elevation, drainage, etc.
 
There are a lot of LE vacancies here in Va. There are some nice areas between Norfolk and Richmond as long as you avoid the cities. Places like Gloucester, Mathews, York County, Poquoson are great places to live. West Point is nice if you like smaller towns with great schools. With experience in logistics one of the military bases would be a great place for her to start looking for a job.
 
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Virginia is a state offering much natural beauty, many historical and cultural sites, and a generally mild climate. As others have noted, the further away from the DC area you are able to stay the closer to reality you might be.

Best wishes for your upcoming change. I am sure you will find interesting opportunities to round out your career.
 
JJEH said:
My wife loves it, I like it too, her battle buddy lives there, good to exceptionally great career opportunities for the both of us, love the ocean, no tornadoes like here, milder summers so my mother can come visit us, good gun laws, nice architecture, better education system than OK, and I'm sure many more... :)
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Change that to FEW tornadoes. I live deep in the Blue Ridge mountains and we had a small tornado come through about two months ago. No one was hurt, but a mess of pine trees and a few outbuildings were destroyed.

Still, it beats places like Alabama and Oklahoma.
 
Glad your coming our way. We live around Richmond and have some friends that are LE and the wife is a Real Estate agent for the area. Any help we can provide we would be happy to oblige. Just send me a P.M. for any info you may need about relocating to the surrounding areas.
 
Dinwiddie county sounds like what you may like. Near Fort Lee, Defence supply Richmond and Fort Pickett witch is run by the Va National Guard. South of Richmond, hour and a half from the beach. Still rural and good schools. I live in a poor county just south of there. Don't go any farther north than Fredericksburg.
 
Moved to VA 21 years ago from PA. Job related. We live 20 miles south of Richmond and we're not leaving. Belong to two gun clubs and do a lot of fishing and a little hunting. Whole bunches of history in the area starting in 1608 at Jamestown. Great people. A tornado did tear off a Walmart roof in Colonial Heights about 30 years ago though. Lost 14 trees in a hurricane about 10 years ago but I love it here anyway.
 
Thank y'all for your comments. We ended up in Oklahoma with the military. We never intended on staying here, until I got my peace officer certification. I've looked around and we thought about staying but in the end we have no roots here.

I've been to VA once but my wife was there several times and she loves it. I know she does. And I love history, country living and the relative short distance to the ocean.

I know she will get a great position at Ft Lee or Norfolk. I just would like to stay in LE.

We haven't decided where we want to live but we will look around in those ares mentioned above in other comments.

Thanks again and keep your comments coming :)
 
JJEH said:
.... relative short distance to the ocean.
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You might be careful to put elevation above sea level on the priority list when choosing a home site near tidal waterways.

I was at Langley for a retirement party a couple of years ago, and my friends quarters were next to the base commanders, right on the waterfront. There was a berm built across the access to the lower level of their home, which was unusable due to flooding, and the streets regularly had standing water at high tide.

My nephew on Long Island's waterfront was flooded three times since Hurricane Sandy, and recently raised his property about four feet with 60 truckloads of dirt.

I lived in Lynchburg for a couple of years and enjoyed the mountainous part of the state. Good luck with your relocation.
 
Okay, so "elevation" has now become my favorite word. Thanks for reminding me. We do have flash flood here in SW OK but it's all manageable for us. Nothing too serious. Until people drive through those low water crossings... the phrase "turn around, don't drown" makes sense. As stupid as it sounds.

@Muley Gil I'm sure some offer lateral transfer. Or at least give me some credit.
 
I think you’ll like Va. Some places in northern Va. Are crazy crowded but here in southwest Va. Its mostly rural… plenty of mountains and shooting ranges.

I did 31 years in L.E., the last 25 as the lead firearms instructor for the regional academy. Retired and then a year later got back into it with another agency…. Too much money to turn down. When you get here you need to contact one of the regional academies…. Rappahanock should serve the area you are looking at. They will look at your past experience and the requirements for OK and it may be that you can go through on one of the options as opposed to going through the whole 26 week academy.

Shoot me a pm if you have any questions I may be able to help with.
 
JJEH said:
My wife loves it, I like it too, her battle buddy lives there, good to exceptionally great career opportunities for the both of us, love the ocean, no tornadoes like here, milder summers so my mother can come visit us, good gun laws, nice architecture, better education system than OK, and I'm sure many more... :)
Click to expand...

Some counties take driving over the speed limit very seriously
Henrico County in particular
 
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I was born, raised and lived in Virginia for 49 years before I relocated to Texas, lots of family history going back before the Revolution. Northern Virginia is no longer really Virginia, more like a combo Maryland/DC, Richmond is no better except it has an inferiority complex and Norfolk is just Norfolk. Traffic will be terrible, and it is East Coast, you will figure that out when you get there. The rural areas are fine just like rest of the rural areas around the USA. The winters are not what I would call mild and the summers can be downright hot and muggy. Once I left, I never looked back, but to each his own. I have gotten used to the Gulf Coast and palm trees in my back yard.
 
I was stationed at Ft. Eustis back when. I would have stayed right there for ever if I could.

History and nature everywhere. On the James River.

35+ years later I wonder how it is now........
 
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