Retired Air Force Moving to Douglasville (Atlanta, Savannah: lease, crime, chapel)

[2007AFRetiree]

I finally made it to retirement, and thanks to this forum, I have read up on a lot of things related to Douglasville. I will be leaving NORTHERN North Dakota in 2 weeks.

Is there anything anyone can add that may help me in my move? I have searched and read threads on this forum for months now, but honestly, I have really not seen many military retirees heading to the area.

Is there something I'm missing or should know? By the way, I'm a resident of Savannah, and I will NOT move back there no matter what.


Thanks in advance.

[EuharleeRiverRat]

First of all let me say,"""""THANK YOU""""", for all you have done for our country. I SALUTE YOU!!!!!! Wish I could help you in your quest, but have no info. My father-in-law is retired NAVY, lives here in Euharlee. Nephew just joined the MARINES. All the rest of my military family has went on. Do know that where-ever you decide to re-locate to here in Georgia, I WISH YOU THE VERY BEST !!!!!!



EUHARLEE RIVER RAT

[NorthmeetsSouth]

Congratulations on your retirement, and thank you for your service to your country. My late son was in the AF and was an F-15 Crew chief.
I don't have too much specific knowledge of Douglasville except that in recent years it has become a much rougher area than it used to be.
Unless there is a reason that you want Douglasville I would recommend that you look at Paulding County and West Cobb county. They are geographically close to Douglas County but (I believe) have less crime.

[EuharleeRiverRat]

I couldn't agree with you more about Paulding. Lived there for 8 years. Nice people, laid back. Even though Bruce Harris {sheriff} has been in the news recently, {for mowing his yard when he should have been on the job}, he has really done his job as sheriff!!!!! Paulding has really grown over the years, but it still has the same laid back atmosphere. Douglasville on the other hand, wouldn't want to live there.

[NorthmeetsSouth]

If you are retiring without planning on working intown you can live anywhere. The further out you go in any direction the more you will get for your money ( for the most part). Cherokee is nice.

[2007AFRetiree]

Thanks everyone for the replies, especially those of you have thanked me for service to the US Military. It was a great time with a few setbacks here and there. But, I don't regret any of my 20 years. Also, my father was in the military, so I was pretty much bound to join.

Well, I have been on the road for the last 2 1/2 months, and decided not to move to Douglasville. I spent the last 2 1/2 months in the areas north and west of Atlanta, and I must admit it was really nice there. However, because I am a new retiree with a few issues that need addressing (namely pay, benefits, etc) I needed to move close to an active duty base (at least for the next 12 months). So, I am now residing in Warner Robins, GA. It's not as pretty here as Douglasville, Cartersville, Marietta, etc, but the base here is where I need to be for the time being.

Luckily, I spent a significant amount of time In Douglasville, and it may be an option for me in the coming years. At least NOW, I can make trips up there every now and then, instead of being isolated in North Dakota like before. I pretty much know my way around Douglasville very well. It is a nice place. I really like the downtown area (near the Post Office). It took me a while to get used to the mall area and the shopping plaza on Chapel Hill Rd, but I really began to like it because it was fairly small and had nearly every business i was interested in.

Once again, thanks for the replies.

[NorthmeetsSouth]

[quote=2007AFRetiree;2098802] However, because I am a new retiree with a few issues that need addressing (namely pay, benefits, etc) I needed to move close to an active duty base (at least for the next 12 months). So, I am now residing in Warner Robins, GA. It's not as pretty here as Douglasville, Cartersville, Marietta, etc, but the base here is where I need to be for the time being.QUOTE]

I was just at Warner Robins a few weeks ago. The Flight Chief there was kind enough to invite me to come down and watch them launch an F-15 for test flight. It was something my son always wanted me to see. What a great base to work on as a civilian! It was fascinating, and everyone there was just great.
Congrats on locating there, and if the people you are working with are half as nice as the people I met at that base you will probably never stop working!

[BuckeyeGal]

2007AFRetiree: We PCSd here 12 years ago, my AF husbands AFSC doesn't move us around much. Warner Robins will grow on you. I absolutely hated it here for the first three years, but have since grown to appreciate the Middle Georgia area. With having only a few more years of active duty we decided a long time ago we are going to stay in the area after retirement. The house is almost paid for, kids graduated from high school and call it home, and being from Ohio; we love the short winters. Try to catch a high school football game I promise you will have a great time. This Friday night at the Mac on Davis Dr come see the Northside Eagles defend their 2006 State Championship Title.

[2007AFRetiree]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeGal

2007AFRetiree: We PCSd here 12 years ago, my AF husbands AFSC doesn't move us around much. Warner Robins will grow on you. I absolutely hated it here for the first three years, but have since grown to appreciate the Middle Georgia area. With having only a few more years of active duty we decided a long time ago we are going to stay in the area after retirement. The house is almost paid for, kids graduated from high school and call it home, and being from Ohio; we love the short winters. Try to catch a high school football game I promise you will have a great time. This Friday night at the Mac on Davis Dr come see the Northside Eagles defend their 2006 State Championship Title.

Funny you should say how much you hated it here at first! I hated this area the first 3 or 4 times I came to visit. I wanted to see more trees and hills (like north georgia), but things weren't looking to good at the moment north of atlanta (too much crime and the people were not very pleasant). I actually called the family and told them that they needed to come here and see things for themselves. Cause, if they did not like it here (all of GA), then I was actually gonna move to NC or VA. Funny though, cause when the family came down, they liked Warner Robins more than all the other areas I showed them, although Cartersville was a very close second and douglasville was a very close 3rd. Family didn't care much for Marietta, Acworth, Kennesaw, Austell, or Powder Springs.

So, Warner Robins grew on me a little faster than you I like the Centerville area (where I am renting), and I plan to move out to Bonaire when my lease is up.

I don't follow much football, being a basketball player since 5th grade. lol



To the civilian that posted earlier (sorry, Im not very good with this forum YET): I really enjoyed meeting all the people on Robins AFB in the month or so Ive been here. Especially all the guys I sat down with and drank beer and ate hot wings with at the club (I can't count how many times I've stumbled out of there and back to my room across the street. lol). I am sure I will enjoy working there if I need, but I really plan to work from home at all costs.

Thanks again for being so friendly everyone!

[BuckeyeGal]

2007AFRetiree,
The Warner Robins Little League age 12 won the World Series. They have their own Frosted Flakes box.

Are you going to have to go to the base Dr? If so, I'll pray for you. I got Tricare to release me from having to go there.

Bonaire is a nice area. We are in the county, north of Centerville.