Dover and Dover AFB (Camden, Wyoming: insurance, housing, retire)

[fromthebay]

How is the area around Dover Air Force Base.... I'm looking into an assignment there. Im from California(SF Bay AREA) to be exact how different is it?

[maryCh]

Can't tell you how DAFB area compares to San Francisco, but we like it here in DE. We live in the Camden-Wyoming area, which is just south of Dover, and a little west of the AFB itself.

From what we have learned in our 10 months here, the Dover area is pretty family friendly. Please post more of what you are comparing or interested in knowing; there are several regular posters in the general vicinity that will give you a lot of good information.

Good luck with your research!

Mary

[elizamary]

Originally Posted by fromthebay

How is the area around Dover Air Force Base.... I'm looking into an assignment there. Im from California(SF Bay AREA) to be exact how different is it?

I live near the base and the comparison is night and day. Rural and quiet. Not much excitment but more family living. We moved to Magnolia, which is near the base, a year ago to retire. A nice place to raise children I understand.

There is plenty to do in the surrounding areas. Check out the thread "what I like about Delaware". You are only a half hour from the beaches. We go almost all year.
I can tell you De is a friendly place. Oh and tax free shopping.
Would you be living on Base or looking for a home?

[from PA]

Originally Posted by fromthebay

How is the area around Dover Air Force Base.... I'm looking into an assignment there. Im from California(SF Bay AREA) to be exact how different is it?

Well lets see. San Fran has steep hills and the entire state of DE is flat. Housing costs in San Fran are is the highest in the country. DE will be extremely more economical if you are living off base. San Fran has a moderate climate all year long. DE has change of seasons our temps can range from 20's in the winter to high 90's in the summer. We have snow but very little to speak of. San Fran has a huge tourist attraction. DE has nice beaches, lots of nature preserves and it is within 2 hours of Washington , DC , Baltimore and Philadelphia. San Fran has cable cars and BART. DE has DART but is lacking a good transportation system. We live in Magnolia which is the next exit from the base. It is a beautiful area but extremely different than the San Francisco area. Hope this helps.

[Laural]

Originally Posted by fromthebay

How is the area around Dover Air Force Base.... I'm looking into an assignment there. Im from California(SF Bay AREA) to be exact how different is it?

What city are you from, I grew up in that area, San Jose to be exact. The weather is the biggest difference. It rains a lot here, but not all day it could rain as little as 10 minutes everyday or there are days where it could rain longer. Lots and Lots of thunder and lightening storms. It's more humid here, not that bad so far, I've only been here a few months. More cloudy days. On the plus side, things are much cheaper here. Homes, insurance, gas, restaurants, and no sales tax. People are VERY friendly. The area is beautiful, open farm lands, a lot less congested, most people do not have fences. On sunny days it's gorgeous. So far we really like it. Hopefully this answers your questions, if not ask some more, being from California myself, I have a good idea what you will encounter. It is almost like stepping into a different culture being on the East Coast. Everything looks different, people have accents, etc.

[Laural]

Originally Posted by from PA

Well lets see. San Fran has steep hills and the entire state of DE is flat. Housing costs in San Fran are is the highest in the country. DE will be extremely more economical if you are living off base. San Fran has a moderate climate all year long. DE has change of seasons our temps can range from 20's in the winter to high 90's in the summer. We have snow but very little to speak of. San Fran has a huge tourist attraction. DE has nice beaches, lots of nature preserves and it is within 2 hours of Washington , DC , Baltimore and Philadelphia. San Fran has cable cars and BART. DE has DART but is lacking a good transportation system. We live in Magnolia which is the next exit from the base. It is a beautiful area but extremely different than the San Francisco area. Hope this helps.

PA FYI, SF bay area expands beyond just SF, so everything you said is true only of SF, but not of the area. SF, also has beaches as well. Just thought you might want to know.

[from PA]

Originally Posted by Laural

PA FYI, SF bay area expands beyond just SF, so everything you said is true only of SF, but not of the area. SF, also has beaches as well. Just thought you might want to know.

Hi Laural,
I guess the point I was trying to make was that in DE the beaches are the attraction whereas SF area has lots more to offer as far as tourism is concerned. It's funny that you say we have accents here. My husband is from S. CA and he has an accent. BTW he asked me to find out if anyone knows if Hunters Point is still there.

[fromthebay]

Originally Posted by from PA

Hi Laural,
I guess the point I was trying to make was that in DE the beaches are the attraction whereas SF area has lots more to offer as far as tourism is concerned. It's funny that you say we have accents here. My husband is from S. CA and he has an accent. BTW he asked me to find out if anyone knows if Hunters Point is still there.

lol hunters point is still here... it is not a naval base anymore but instead it is one of the worst housing projects in california

[Laural]

Originally Posted by from PA

Hi Laural,
I guess the point I was trying to make was that in DE the beaches are the attraction whereas SF area has lots more to offer as far as tourism is concerned. It's funny that you say we have accents here. My husband is from S. CA and he has an accent. BTW he asked me to find out if anyone knows if Hunters Point is still there.

Delaware is a melting pot for different accents NY, NJ, Philly, Italian. I don't know if DE it self has an accent some else can answer that. It's fun to hear the accents though. But I think your still confused on what the SF bay area is, I grew up in and lived in several cities in the SF bay area, it can be physically an hour away from SF. But still be called the SF bay area and some areas are also called Silicon Valley, and it's not tourist area like SF. It's flat, and in a valley. It's not as pretty as So Cal. North CA, and So Cal are very different. But now I'm here in wonderful friendly Delaware.

[from PA]

Originally Posted by fromthebay

lol hunters point is still here... it is not a naval base anymore but instead it is one of the worst housing projects in california

Not a base anymore? He said not surprised. He is going back 40 years ago.