If you are going to have a happy military life, you gotta learn to adapt to the demands of every duty station. That’s why so many military families have that little sign that reads, “HOME is where the military sends you.” Yet some places the military sends you are harder to adapt to than others. It takes integrity! Guts! Sunscreen by the vat! These Marine spouses at 29 Palms offered up their ten best tongue-in-cheek ways to start adapting to life in the desert.
- Do not teach your dog to hunt snakes.
- Accept Applebees as fine dining.
- Expect that your cold water tap in August will be HOT!
- Do NOT swim in Lake Bandini.
- Learn to love online shopping.
- Enjoy that your full coverage insurance on your car will eventually yield a free paint job.
- Buy lotion in large quantities. Buy sunscreen in larger quantities.
- Consider a fabulous career opportunity as a tattoo artist or hairdresser.
- Always remember that coyotes are NOT pets.
- Enjoy every minute with your at-home Marine.
At SpouseBuzz LIVE in Twentynine Palms, CA, military spouses use crowd wisdom to put together their Top Ten Lists. This dynamic group included Angela Parson, Elaine Frakes, Katie McBee, Katilyn Burg, Sue Lowe, Stephanie Sullivan, Valery Behr, Leann Aragon, Paulina Andis
About Guest Bloggers
Comments
Learn to love online shopping? The mall in Palm Desert is a very short drive away (and I actually made the commute to work in Palm Desert) and shopping in Las Vegas is always an option for a day outing, too.
I think Camp Lejeune, NC has some of the worst shopping. Wilmington is okay but you have to go to Raleigh to even find a Macy's.
I miss Twentynine Palms. I miss hiking in J Tree and taking four wheelers out in the sand. I miss driving to Street Scene in San Diego and Coachella in Indio. Plus there is Pappy and Harriet's for live music in Pioneer Town and the Route 62 diner (in the Harley shop) for the best avocado burgers. Yup, give me Two Nine any day! ;)
If you are willing to drive all the way to Raleigh for shopping; they have a pretty decent mall right outside Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, it's got Macy's, Belk, J.C. Penny and Sears at the four corners and a pretty nice selection of stores, with a big Barns and Noble, a Bed Bath and Beyond(my favorite) and a T.J. Maxx next door. I think Fayetteville is a little closer, and it's next to a military installation that has quite a few activities(swimming in Smith Lake(summer), ice skating, hiking..ect.), so there is that.
http://www.crosscreekmall.com/shop/crosscreek.nsf…
It sounds like it's not 29 you love, but it's convenient location in relation to other cities! Pendleton would have the same affect and not be "uninhabitable." I honestly can't even believe the Marine Corps expects people to raise a family in 29. The only way is to live in the Palm Springs area. Yucca Valley is BARELY civilization. And if you live in the Palm Springs area, that's an hour commute just to a military base. You're not even commuting to a big city with a high paying job. It's just such a shitty place to live and THE MARINE CORPS DESERVES BETTER!! I'm lucky enough to live in Phoenix while my fiance is based at 29 (currently deployed), but also unlucky in the fact that I only get to see him every other weekend because of the four hour drive. I could live with him in 29, but I'd be wasting a college education with the career choices available there and in Yucca.
I love the part about considering being a barber or tattoo artist… That’s about all there is out here!
this is hilarious (and you're right, most of it could be attributed right back to camp lejeune… i mean, unless you *also* want to consider a high-powered career at cherry's!) but in defense of wilmington, it really has FABULOUS boutiques, no macy's necessary. and we even have a whole foods now! mayfaire is as pleasant a shopping experience as you can get… and when all else fails, charleston is four hours away. shopping and romantic getaway combined.
GNARLY! nice site Paul from hi-desertclassifieds.com
looking for a great site about relocating to twentynine palms ca to be with my Navy man…any suggestions?? please very new to all of this