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July 13, 2006
My Observations Regarding Life on an Air Force Base
1. Saying you live in a flight path is an understatement; you live right next to an airport. The planes are low and loud but at least they don't fly everyday. Actually, after a while you don't even really notice them.
2. At 17:00 (5 o'clock) everyday Retreat is sounded. The National Anthem is played throughout the base over a loud speaker. If you are outside when this happens you must stop what you are doing and stand at attention facing the direction of the music until the last note. All of the little kids playing will stop and do this too. If you are in your car you must pull over until the music stops.
3. Those same loud speakers are (too) often used to run tests of the military's emergency system. The monthly tornado siren test of my childhood in Kansas has got nothing on the noise level of the military's siren. I nearly jump out of my skin each time it is sounded. They are also used to issue various other warnings. Yesterday a lightening advisory was announced.
4. You rarely need to leave base (if you choose). McGuire is adjacent to Fort Dix and between the two installations you will find a supermarket, a BX, (which is like a scaled down K-Mart) a movie theater, a bowling alley, 2 golf courses, a putt-putt course, 2 libraries, a handful of places to dine, 2 gas stations, 2 convenience stores, 2 post offices, an arts and crafts center, day care centers, elementary schools, dozens of playgrounds, a skateboard park, a few swimming pools, a state-of the-art athletic center, a medical clinic and so much more.
5. Occasionally upon stepping outside I hear the distant rat-a-tat of machine guns coming from the Ft. Dix training grounds. It creeped me out the first time I heard it.
6.Speaking of guns... if you don't have a Department of Defense ID or a special pass, you are not getting past the guard carrying that M16 at the front gate. So I guess no one will be just dropping by my house. (Except you, Colleen) Though I do feel comfortable letting my sons ride their bikes up and down our street unsupervised.
7. We don't pay rent nor do we pay for our utilities. (But that is still no excuse to run your sprinkler during a downpour! grrr!) But if we had decided to live off base we would have received a housing allowance that probably would not have covered what we get at McGuire. New Jersey is expensive!
8. We are constantly getting new neighbors. This time of year you see a lot of people come and go. In the past month we have seen five families on our street move. It was sad to see 2 really excellent playmates of my sons leave, but that is just how it goes.
9. Having neighbors move can also be beneficial, say for example, when they are being stationed in England and they need to get rid of their swingset, so they sell it to you for hardly nothing.
10. I used to get a thrill when seeing a license plate from Hawaii or Alaska. Now I see them almost daily.
11. I cannot get the New York Times delivered and National Public Radio reception is spotty at best. Hmmmm.
Posted by Julee at July 13, 2006 10:15 PM
Comments
Love that 5 o'clock "dancy song" as Connor calls it. They do a noon emergency test every Wednesday too. I could be worse, my old neighbor told me that a base in Montana plays it at 7 o'clock every morning too! Sounds like you have more perks at your base. Can't wait to move! We have watched 9 families move off of our street since we have been here (very small street too)and just got 6 new familes in the last 3 months. If a playmate PCS's, a new one will come along in a month or two! Likely the new playmate will have been friends with someone who moved a year ago. The Air Force is a small world. Nice to hear you see guns when you get on base...we have rent-a-cops. El Presidente flys out of here and we have rent-a-cops. Hmm. We got DUMPED with backyard toys wehn people moved, and just turned a tidy profit on them at our yardsale!
Posted by: Colleen at July 14, 2006 02:14 PM
A lightening advisory... that is funny. I listen to NPR most every day driving to and from work (the only good thing about my 35-40 min. commute, otherwise I'd never get to listen to it).
Posted by: Anonymous at July 14, 2006 09:24 PM
The "anonymous" comment was from me... I forgot to fill in my info in the boxes...
Posted by: Lisa at July 14, 2006 09:24 PM
There are definite perks, but the NY Times bit and NPR is a little sketchy. My mom and step dad lived on an army base in Germany and I loved it, but it may have been the fact that it was in the middle of Germany that made it so appealing :-) I did enjoy the soldiers running by every morning.
Posted by: Amy at July 21, 2006 12:10 AM
This is totally giving me flashbacks to my childhood- I never realized not everyone lived a life that required moving around every year or two. New playmates will definitely come in no time.
Posted by: Yolanda at July 22, 2006 08:38 AM