to live ON or OFF base in Okinawa, that is the question

[Meredith]

We have a dog. Our precious Rick Maltsby P.I. As a result, we weren't given an option for housing on Camp Kinser where my husband works. Additionally, because he works there we are not eligible for housing elsewhere since we rejected the housing offered to us on Kinser. Some snappy Live Where You Work anthem apparently. We had planned to live off-base anyway but surely not everyone off-base has made the same decision for the same reasons as we did. And not all of you have the option to live on-base. Every morning as I walk by innumerable Y plates tucked into this and that side street I wonder what their stories are.

We had three basic reasons for living off-base:

1. Said dog
2. Live IN Japan and AMONG Japanese people
3. Get space from military life

Now that we've spent months living off-base we might not make the same decision to live here if it were ours to make again. We have small kids and there are advantages to living on-base with small children. The proximity to playgrounds, the community and the commissary stand out. Off-base has brought me all the things we hoped for except for the moments where I worry that something might happen and I wouldn't have the language or wits to pull it together by myself. And space in our little house is an issue EXCEPT that I don't spend much because there is no place to put more stuff. I weigh the pros and cons often and debate whether it's worth it to make the move on-base. In the long run, I don't suspect we will. I am attached to our little house and our neighborhood. It's just that we're in the process of trying to move Henry into the same room as Eli and I'm craving more elbow room.

Apart from just being curious (and NOSY), I think a discussion like this might help those that haven't arrived here yet to consider their options.

What are your thoughts about where you live and why you chose to live there and would you make the same decision again?

This post was originally published on Okinawa Hai. There are over 70 useful comments on this popular thread. Any further comments on this post should be added here as they are closed on the original post.

[Christina]

hey, I have a few qustions. If you don't mind me asking. My finace will be stationed there in sepetmeber on this year ans well he asked some guys on base in north carolina about family housing. They told him only ncos get family housing and off base housing most likely he wont be able to get. I wanted to know if thats true or a load of bs. our plan was to get married in august and then he apply for housing i also have a little doggie so i said i wouldn't mind waiting longer cause i can't leave my baby behind =]...

thanks for your help.

[Bry Pratt]

We absolutely love living off base. The houses are larger than what is available on base and the quality is amazing. They are building so many new houses. Hardwood floors, fullsize jacuzzi tubs, storage..absolutely amazing. We moved into a home that was just built for under are cap. The agency included gas and water to bring it up to our max. We run the A/C in each room on dehumidify 24/7 through the summer. Keeps the whole house cool and never had a mold issue. Our electricity bill has never been over 300.00 for a 3 bedroom 2 1/2 bath 1800 SQFT 1 block from Sunabe seawall. And we get 650.00 per month utility allowance. We have a cute little park a block from the house and several parks nearby. My daughter goes to school out in town, but there is a Kadena bus pickup down the road 4 blocks. Right now we are packing up to move into a bigger house with more storage for less. Every since the new policy with military members moving off base, the housing prices are plummeting. I think the thing that most people coming get caught up in, is they look at the houses from housing that fall within their price range. Don't do that. Look at every house that is within 200,00 Yen of your Max. If you like it offer the amount your willing to pay. Tell them you will sign today at whatever price you like. You will be amazed at how far they go own. They price it high in order to rent to all levels. Also call every agency and have them show you houses, they will pick you up. Anyway, not only am I glad we moved off base..but it so nice we are making the same choice again. And everytime I think of what I may be missing on base, I lay in my 4 person jacuzzi in the Master bath and calgon takes me away.

[Mallory Elizabeth Ogle Sheldon]

We live on Shields way in the back past the overpass. We chose to live on base because we have an American Pit Bull Terrier and the Japanese have truly f---ed up laws regarding "dangerous" breeds. There was no way I was muzzling my dog for over three years. We were offered a nice place on Shields at first which the witch-with-a-b at Courtney housing effing rescinded. We were then offered two of the 4 block apartments, both upstairs. We took the one where we had better cell coverage. Our calls are dropped all the time anyway.

I love our neighbors but I hate living away from everything. We have a shoppette, restaurant and gym. No library, no chapel. If there are no one on the base knows about them or they're keeping them secret.

If we didn't have Adam I would much rather live out in town. I love Adam though and we're his second family coming from an abusive home and then an abusive foster dad so he's staying with us, or me at least, forever. I guess I'd make the same miserable choice.

[Billie Jo Sword]

ANYONE can get family housing IF you are listed on the orders. So when you get married and are in the system his orders need to be adjusted to reflect whether you are or aren't allowed to come with him (may involve extending the time he is stationed here). Once that is done he can apply for housing.

Also as of right now NO ONE moving here can live off base. They are trying to fill base housing to at least 95% capacity. By the time you would get here that may change though.

[Angela Renee Smith]

Hey there,

We are new here and just got told there was no on base housing available for us. We had anticipated base housing, but were happy in the end....almost the end. One more week and we get our keys.

[Jaime B]

Hi Angela-
I am just curious why they said there was no housing for you? Could you give more details?

[Angela Renee Smith]

My husband, Scott went to the breif. We were under the impression we rated a two bedroom with pets and somewhere up North close to Hansen. He came home and said there was nothing so got the info for realtors off base.

Like you said before, that could change too :P

We are just happy to get out of lodging. My 4 yr old said he wanted to move back to California because we had a real house!

[Jaime B]

Interesting. We are in the same boat (should rate a two bed with pets) and he will be stationed on Hansen. We don't get there until the summer though so a thousand things could change by then! Thanks!

[Angela Renee Smith]

Well, keep in touch either way. It seems to be a small base with many young, single Marines (leaving me often ackward there lol).

Good luck with your move. Look forward to hearing from you.

Cheers!

[Jaime B]

Yeah good luck and let me know how the out in town house is. Chances are since we are moving during PCS season we will be on base but we will have pets so might have to fight to get the housing we want!

[Angela Renee Smith]

Well our dog is still in Seattle :( His paperwork from Texas never got sent back. It just didn't. We are now trying to figure out where to go from here. Maybe get blood drawn again then overnight it to Texas again? We are at a place where we aren't sure if we should trust it to come back the second time!

[Jaime B]

Did you use a military vet? We didn't have any issues. We got their bloodwork back and now are just waiting for final travel orders so we can send the advance notification. Where did the blood not get sent back from?? You should have paid the vet for services and lab for the bloodwork. If they messed it up they should pay to have it done the second time.