Anyone live in Kansas? I'm moving there. (I'm less than thrilled, but hey, what are you gonna do?) Nate had decided a few months ago that he wanted to go back on active duty, so we started the looong process of a prior service enlistment. We were pretty much expecting to stay here at Hood, because there is a new infantry unit (which was his original MOS) and most of the existing units needed NCOs. Well, it didn't go according to plan (come on, all you military wives put on your shocked face ;) ), so we're moving to Ft. Riley, Kansas. His report date is the end of this month (we'll know the exact date on the 12th) so we haven't got much time to coordinate this move. I sound less than thrilled, but I am happy about it for the most part, though I'm not excited about the Kansas climate. Anyway, it's located near Manhattan and Junction City, has anyone ever been to Riley or lived nearby?

By Karen~moderator on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 07:52 pm:

Never been to Kansas, Crystal - I always think of the Wizard of Oz when I think of Kansas. LOL

Cheer up, you may just be moving again in a couple years!

By Conni on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 08:05 pm:

Is that SW Kansas?? Trying to remember. We drive thru Kansas when we go to Colorado. Go to Wichita, S to Salina then West alllll the way across Kansas. It is the most boring drive and soooo windy. LOL Thats not the part you are moving to tho. ;)

I like Kansas City pretty well. There is alot to do there. Dh lived there (on the MO side) in HS when his Dad played for the Royals- then retired there. No one in his family lives there now tho. That was *years* ago.

Good luck!! You will like it.

By Palmbchprincess on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 09:33 pm:

Not SW, it's up north, kinda in the middle. Karen, we were trying to find the bright side of things, and I told N I was going to post it to my blog with "Hello, Toto" as the title. There's no place like home, there's no place like home...

By Boxzgrl on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 10:47 pm:

Check out. www.armywives.com (He's going AD Army, right?), they have a message board. I'm sure there are girls there with plenty of advice. I go to the Marine Corps one and I get a ton of info.

By Palmbchprincess on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 10:56 pm:

Thanks Melissa! He is going Army. He spent his prior enlistments in Korea and here at Ft. Hood, (with a couple short deployments) so we're both totally clueless about other posts. The big thing is figuring out where to live (what part of town is good, what is ghetto) since we won't have an opportunity to see it in person first. I'm going to head over to that site now.

By Jann on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 07:49 am:

Manhattan is where one of the state colleges is. I can't remember if it's K State or KU, I always get them confused! LOL

By Feona on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 08:28 am:

You will probably enjoy living by the college. All those young people like yourself. Plus the college should have plays and music and other cultural activities.

But check the site like everyone said.

Of course you might just like to be around other families with small kids....

By Kernkate on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 08:31 am:

Crystal, know nothing about Kansas, just want to wish you the best of luck with your move.

By Conni on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 09:38 am:

OK I just looked on the map. Its in the opposite direction I thought it was. You will be 2 hrs from Kansas City!!! No to mention close to many other large cities. I think you will really enjoy it there!! Kansas City has Royals games, Chiefs games, Union Station, shopping out the wazoo, Worlds of Fun, Oceans of Fun, just to name a few... (oh did I mention great concerts all the time?) I am about 4 hrs from KC myself.

One website I found was www.junctioncity.org that was pretty good.

By Amecmom on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 01:53 pm:

Good Luck, Crystal!

You'll have to change your name to ManhattanPrincess, now .

Ame

By Mommyof4 on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 08:33 pm:

Hey Chrystal you will be my "neighbor". Fort Riley is about 3 hours south of where I am in Nebraska.

By Tunnia on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 09:54 am:

I grew up in a little farming community south of Kansas City before moving to Florida at age 15. Kansas (at least Eastern Kansas where I was from) wasn't bad and it was a nice place to grow up and I have a lot of wonderful memories. I still go back to visit from time to time because a lot of my family still lives there. The nice thing about Kansas is that you get all four seasons and not just one week of Spring and one week of Fall like you do in Florida. Good luck on your move and be prepared for a little culture shock. Kansas is very different than Florida. Oh, and be prepared to drink "pop" instead of "Coke". LOL

Conni--I used to love to go to the Royals games when I was a kid. George Brett was my favorite player. I bet I saw your dh's dad play too!

By Janet on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 11:23 am:

I'm a Wichita native, but have driven through that area a few times, and even visited Ft. Riley some years ago (in college). I saw it last year, and it's really changed a lot, so I won't be much help there. The area is pretty, kinda rolling (unlike further south). The university in Manhattan is Kansas State...very nice place. If you're Texan, you won't have a bit of trouble with the hot summers, but you won't like winter! Still, Kansas has a lot to offer, so keep an open mind. I'm now in Illinois, but I love Kansas with all my heart and miss it so much!

By Palmbchprincess on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 11:43 am:

Thanks everyone. I'm originally from NJ, so I know what 4 seasons feel like, and I don't like the colder 2. LOL! Honestly, I *hated* the idea of moving to TX (I was living in West Palm Beach, FL at the time) and yet I've grown to love it here. I figure in worst case scenario, his re-enlistment window will open up in 18 months, and we can use that as a bargaining chip to come back here. I told me mom last night (she's been away, and didn't know yet) and she said the same thing I did, "Where is that?" My sister had to get her a map. Then my 10 year old sister said "Tell Crystal she can't move to KS!" Mom asked her why and she said "It's TORNADO ALLEY!! She CAN'T move there!!" I cracked up, because there isn't much I can do about that now! Janet, how hot are the summers in KS? The average temps are listed as high 80s in the summer, and that's balmy to me. *sigh* Midwest here I come!

By Janet on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 12:58 pm:

80s???? LOLOLOLOL *whew* oh my, sorry...I'll try to catch my breath...
No. The average summer temps are in the 90s, and there is usually a hot streak in July or so where the temps stay in the high 90s-100s for at least 4 or 5 days straight. The worst is the wind, which makes summers feel like a blast from heck. HOWEVER... the springs and falls are wonderful, so just hang in there.
Tornados are definitely a concern in the spring, and to be taken seriously. I hope your house has a basement or a shelter. I need to run, if I think of anything else, or if you have any questions, I'll try to help!

By Janet on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 09:21 am:

Crystal, I've been thinking about my response, and I think that perhaps the high 80s-mid 90s is probably more accurate. The humidity isn't as high as it is in Florida, but the hot wind can get pretty tiresome. The winters won't be as nasty as NJ, and won't last as long. Even up here in Illinois, I've noticed that winter shows up early and stays late... in KS you get warm Octobers and the spring comes in March, when it should! LOL Weatherwise, one of the things I miss most about KS is the warm summer nights. In Illinois, you need a jacket, even in August, but in KS it's wonderful when the sun goes down.
I wish I knew more about Junction City... I wasn't impressed with it when I visited the base in 1981, but when we drove by it last fall it looked like it had grown quite a bit. Definitely a military town.

By Palmbchprincess on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 02:44 pm:

Thanks Janet. Nate flies out tomorrow, so he'll be getting the "scoop" on it for me. I was surprised at how warm it is already there, I thought it'd be cooler still. I definitely hated NJ winters, but I think it'll be nice for the kids to experience some seasonal change, rather than Hot, Hotter, not so Hot. LOL

By Janet on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 03:11 pm:

I hope the move goes easily for you. The kids will love the snow!!