Topic: A thread wherin Iceman moves to Virginia/DC/Maryland

[Iceman]

Hey gang!

It's been a while, but I'm finally able to put some time into being online for no reason other than to chat with you lovely people again. 

Anyways, I graduated college, went into the US Air Force, and am being stationed at Bolling AFB, Washington DC.  Yup yup I drew a cushie job (I think).

So, with all your accumulated wealth, any suggestions for any of the following topics is greatly appreciated!

Getting a new apartment
Moving
Cooking (I have some experience, not a whole ton)
Local area around DC

So yeah, thanks, and hello again!

[knightstorm]

The DC metro is annoying in that you have to pay a separate entrance and exit fee, and it is not a 24 hour system.  Its extremely clean though.  DC traffic is absolutely nightmarish, so take the subway whenever possible.  I'ld recommend going to metro center and getting a smart card as soon as possible.  One thing I liked about DC was the sites.  The national zoo, and the Smithsonian are free.  Also, National Geographic is located in DC, and they are always having events.  Check their website.  The pizza there sucks.  If you enjoy jogging, or cycling check out the capital crescent trail.  Its a major pedestrian and bike trail that runs from Georgetown to Silver Spring.

[Dash Jones]

Congratulations on graduating and now being in the Air Force.  My suggestions...

If you don't like getting up early, OR you just don't like driving, get a place AS CLOSE to where you work as possible.

If you DO enjoy getting up in the morning, and you don't mind driving and want some experience of the culture of the city...get a place as far away from it as you can stand (though you also should think about rising fuel prices).

Use the Air Forces moving resources, they actually are quite good.  However, with DVD's, you might want to either take pictures of each and every DVD you have in their cases, OR put them in a carry case and carry them with you.  You might also want to do that with games, and any real valuables (like Jewelry) that you have.  It can work nicely, but you ALSO want to have someplace nice to go before you move.  YOU might take a few days vacation to go to DC first and find a place, so you aren't living out of a hotel when you do get there...However, if you don't find a place, the movers should be able to put your stuff into storage.

Buy a GOOD cookbook and since you're int he military, you shouldn't have problems following the instructions (recipes). 

Lots to see around the Local area of DC...that's a pretty big thing to cover.

[Iceman]

Thanks a bunch folks. I really appreciate the advice.

Anything specific on signing leases and apartments in general? I've see...6 or 7 places already.

[Tus-XC]

You probably already know this, but make sure your lease has a clause that lets you get out of it if you were say PCS unexpetadly or deployed... o and find another LT to room with... you'll make bank that way

[Dash Jones]

Most of it you already know.

For starters though, just like Tus suggested, make sure it has a military clause, those will let you terminate a lease/contract early if you show them your PCS orders.

Also, always check the apartment to see what it looks like...OH, and one BIG thing, check with your onbase housing office, AS WELL as other resources to make sure you aren't renting a place in the middle of a crime zone.  Some places look nice in the day...but once settled there you find out differently.

Do some common sense things like check if they cover repairs on the apartment, what you need to do to have your security deposit returned when you leave, and other stuff like that.

[Iceman]

Thanks for the additional advice.  I have a friend from my sophomore year and I imagine we might get a 2 bedroom next year, only because as it stands right now he won't get here until July. Long story short, if you go to training first before your base (which he did) you don't make sh*t for money, but if you report to base first THEN training (my path) you make bank while at training.

So yeah hopefully next year I'll be able to pocket an extra $700/moth or so, that'd be super sweet.