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I just want to cry...hoping it isn't so...
Dh just got a call asking him how bad he wants to command again. He said he would like to. The next question was if he wanted to command bad enough to go to Minot next. Dh said the winter there, after two winters in Montana, would likely kill me and respectfully asked if they would not send us there. To that, the response was that he would not be actively put in for it, but there are only a few slots to fill and that is the most likely. I have spent the last 17 years trying to avoid Minot, between my time in and dh's time in. I know, needs of the Air Force and all, but I am praying it is not Minot next. I am soooo not cut out for North Dakota winters. Please, someone tell me Minot is an awesome base.
Re: I just want to cry...hoping it isn't so...
Minot is my worst nightmare. Seriously, we talk about it often, as how it's the end of the road for him in the military if they send us there.
That said, I'm pretty sure the current wing commander is H's previous mentor. I don't know if they're in touch now, but I could ask him to drop a line if you want specifics.
ETA When I lived in Omaha (which I already thought was miserably cold and gray) I worked with a woman who'd previously lived in Minot. She liked it, but then she'd tell stories about plugging in their engine blocks at walmart. Ugh. Not for me.
Maybe if we get sent there after Hawaii (a distinct possibility) we'd be there together in our misery
Thanks for the input. Minot is my worst nightmare, too. And even though most of my fear has to do with the cold, I would go to Alaska before I would go to Minot. Minot seems to have a double whammy -- cold as all get out and boring!
There is also a *small* possibility of Kadena or Lackland, either of which I would be THRILLED for dh to get. Kadena would be extra awesome, though, as it will be either our last base or next to last base before dh retires. We will likely retire in San Antonio, so I prefer overseas before our adventure is over. But if it's San Antonio, it would be nice for me to be able to get our littlest one started in the school district he would stay in throughout his schooling years since he will be going into kindergarten and older ds could finish out high school in one place. Plus, I could fully establish my business without worrying about more lags in finances due to crazy locations.
Yeah, I'd probably not even whine about it, but now that we've been at Malmstrom for two years and dealt with the cold, I'm just being a big baby. Every time I complain about the cold here, people respond, "At least it's not Minot. Now THAT is cold!" lol
But I've always made the best of every assignment, so I am sure I will survive.
http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USND0242
http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USMT0146
Minot and Great Falls have nearly identical weather (see above average temps). I think you are putting too much worry into this. We loved Minot. The community has a great attitude, very team-oriented, and great school-wise and economic-wise.
And whoever is plugging in their car at Walmart has a POS for a car or messing with you.... :-)
That actually makes me feel a million times better. I can deal with near identical weather. Just don't think I can deal with worse. The only time it really looks worse is about three months of the year, and what's 10 degrees when it's just cold no matter what?
And, as a pp mentioned, often times there is a stronger sense of community at the less desirable locations. We spent two years at Fort Irwin (where the nearest town is 40 miles away--and it's a glorified truck stop). I made some amazing friends there and, even two plus years later, I miss it. But, I completely understand being concerned about the frigid winters.
Good luck with your DH's next assignment, where ever you end up!
Yes, you will be fine if you get Minot! It is one of those places that gets joked about a lot, but there really are worse places. Good luck, I hope your husband gets a good command (maybe you will get Lackland!)