When I was a kid, the Welcome Wagon used to show up every time we moved. The Welcome Wagon Lady wore nylons. Carried an actual basket. Brought store-bought cookies and, I think, coupons. My mom hated this chick.
There are worse welcoming committees in military life, Ma. One of our favorite bloggers posted this week about insect shock experienced when moving down south. The south isn’t the only military location to feature the kind of welcoming committee no one wants. Here is our current list of welcoming committees we never want to see. Did we get all of yours?
(Please note: no insects were harmed nor photographed during the creation of this blogpost. Before and after, well, yes. During, no.)
1.Bathroom full of spiders. In her new house in North Carolina, Allie note a tiny spider in her bathroom.
I am not freaked by spiders normally, and this one was very tiny. But then I start to look. In the shower there are about twenty spiders forming a web. The shelf above the toilet had about ten more. All the corners of the ceilings were in various stages of web production. Mind you my husband was showering in said bathroom less than two hours ago! I think he would have mentioned this.
2. Mold. In Lincoln military housing in Norfolk, widespread mold problems were detected this year. Some residents had spongy walls and collapsed ceilings. Dozens of families were moved into hotels. On their Facebook page, residents post pictures of mold in sinks, on walls, in air ducts. Gotta love all the pix of ”furry” grass. Apparently the only thing worse than mold in the house is the excruciating wait for test results and remediation.
3.Roosters. Chickens in a neighborhood are awesome. Consult your next Williams Sonoma catalogue for their coolio green chicken coop on wheels! Roosters—especially roosters who cannot tell time—will make you insane.
3. Fleas. One of our bloggers (who prefers to remain nameless) moved into her fabulous new house to discover a flea infestation of bibilical proportions. Suggestions that an environmentally sound solutions of vinegar and water should be employed was received in dead silence.
4. Palmetto bugs. Read: two inch long brown crunchy roaches equipped with long feelers that they wave at you. Usually at 11 p.m. They are so big you know you have them by the deposits they leave behind that make you think you have mice. Nice.
5. Mice. In San Diego, our brand new development was perched at the foot of Black Mountain upon which was formerly a host of field mice. The mice didn’t move out so much as move over. It is a brave woman who catches a mouse then knows what to do with it.
6. Snakes. Allie took a picture of her little snake in North Carolina. My girlfriend paid the painters next door to hack down the rattlesnake in her San Diego backyard this week. My husband greeted the black snake under our Louisiana porch with a hoe like the dad in Sounder. I love a man who can dispatch a snake.
7. Feral cats. One Marine spouse told me that she had just moved into a neighborhood of feral cats who lived in the sewers. This would not have been a big deal. Except that they used the neighborhood sandbox for their own nefarious purposes. Which the kids decided to collect one day.
8.Coyotes. We once lived in a neighborhood that backed up to a canyon. Late at night the coyotes would troll the street for household pets like Chamillionaire singing “Riding Dirty.”
9.Neighborhood headcase. My father once told me to beware the first person who approaches you at a new location. They are probably the nutjob no one wants to know. Yet…I am usually the first person to approach newcomers, Dad. So what is that saying about me?
10.Silence. While I really never want to be greeted by a snake, mouse or roach in my new house, the thing that drives me craziest is the silence that occurs only in that moment when the new neighborhood is checking you out, deciding whether you look like someone they want to know. So please come over! I’ll feed you cookies and listen rapt to every word you say about the neighborhood welcoming committee.
About Jacey Eckhart
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We just moved to NC 6 weeks ago and so far I've encountered ridiculously large spiders, palmetto bugs, some other bugs (not sure what they are exactly…), weird neighbors, and apparently feral cats are a big problem here. I have also seen foxes trotting around town…in busy intersections. Talk about weird. But seriously..it's like someone took a bunch of species of spiders and bred them to overtake the city…that's how big the ones around my house have been…EEK!!!!!!'
My solution to any and all bugs: contract an exterminator. For $200 spread throughout the year exterminators come to my house once a quarter for sure and spray, spray, spray … and then return for free whenever I call and say "I saw a bug!"
Best. Investment. Ever.
Agreed! Our rental in Florida was infested with spiders and had been for some time before we moved in if the ant traps we found were any indication. Our landlords were not the most responsive, so I contacted an exterminator. After 3 visits, the ants rarely made an appearance. Great investment indeed!
We got re-stationed to a place here in Germany and our master bedroom is INFESTED with black mold..all housing tells us is it's normally go to self help and buy some spray and clean it when it gets worse
We are in Germany as well.
The mold is normal, but Only during winter months.
Your DPW should come by and do it for you. Unless you live off post.
We call about twice a year to have them clean it, they also paint over the spots.
Mold normal??? I don’t know who’s been telling u this. I grew up in Germany .. none of the houses I lived in had mold … not even in the winter … period!
We live in the Military housing, top floor.
It’s not a ton of mold, just a little on the ceiling in the two bedrooms. It’s just because the windows are not well placed to completely air out the room.
The Germans come clean it with a special solution that gets rid of it right away. It’s really not that bad. It’s not like it’s black mold.
I’ve heard of people having the same problem in Washington state.
Mold normal??? I don’t know who’s been telling u this. I grew up in Germany .. none of the houses I lived in had mold … not even in the winter.
I was stationed in Germany for many years and most of the military housing is very old with very little or no ventilation. So yes it is normal during the winter months if the living quarters are not aired out on a regular bases the way tenants are briefed when they move in.
I agree with the other commenters but I would suggest you be very careful as in trying to get rid of one insect you may find yourself overrun by others. While no one likes spiders (ok maybe some people do) spiders do serve a purpose as they help to keep the population of other insects down. Just be careful when trying to eliminate the spiders you don't open the door for an infestation of the insects the spiders as eating.
Just a word of caution, your exterminator if he/she is a good one should be able to tell you what's best. Good luck.
We all know my take on the bugs *shudder*
Yuck! My readers just put together a list of things they WOULD like to see in a welcome basket. Come take a look at http://lifelessonsmilitarywife.com/?p=2878.
That's a great list! Thanks for sharing.
#10 is what I am experiencing right now!
4. Palmetto bugs ….. They fly too!
They are attracted to light at night. They scare the crap out of me too!
We were treated with our apartment infested with ticks and waterbugs…palmetto bugs are nothing compaired to these suckers.
My husband was running on a trail behind our home in San Diego a few weekends ago and stepped on a rattlesnake. Stood up and lunged at him.. luckily he's a fast runner and didn't get bit. We are not in military housing, but completely surrounded by it. Although I like #9, the neighbors I am around are all a bit weird I think, and I don't know if it is in a good way!!!
this all sounds like small beans (besides the mold issue) to what I have encountered over my 32 years I found the younguns coming in their expectations are alot higher than they use to be they must of had pretty easy upbringings
I know the housing by far is ALOT better than it used to be years ago
My husband and I lived in Whiloughby housing in Norfolk 5 years ago. The mold was a problem then too. Lincoln sent someone out and all they didwas wash the wall with bleach and paint over it. I’m so glad we moved. My husband refused military housing after that.
We’ve grown accustomed to the roosters. It’s the geckos and toads I can’t handle.
You people are a bunch of babies..You should never have married military men.Have lived my life in the military. You have to take te good and the bad..Lived in Hawaii in the 40's. No air condition. Bugs. Japannese bombing, just made me stronger…Where I live now there is mold, palmetto bugs, snakes,gators…Live with it.
One has nothing to do with the other…military or not, I had things I didn't care for before I was in the military. Growing up, I didn't particularly care for the fact that bears and timberwolves lived in the woods by my family's cabin.
Just because I don't jump for joy at the thought of sharing my home with poisonous spiders and snakes and toxic black mold doesn't make me a baby. Keep your rudeness to yourself. Or would you like a medal for living without AC?
My husband was stationed in Alaska a few years ago…we pulled onto base in the middle of the night after flying all day with 2 toddlers get to our apartment only to find a freekin moose blocking the entrance. Then we get inside and relize that the boiler is broke and in is the end of October and so flippin cold the windows are frozen…ugg i was so happy when that assignment was over
We loved Alaska..at least you don't have to deal with snakes, fleas, palmetto bugs, hurricanes, tornadoes..etc..etc..I'll take Moose ANY day!
But then there are the mosquitos!
Lizards and geckos…palmetto bugs are actually just roaches. when stationed at Fort Polk we had bats in the attic (or crawlspace whatever you call it).
Our post housing is overrun by cats. That's not the um… funny part. We've been given very firm and repetitive instructions not to feed the cats. The cats belong to the neighborhood and are here to keep the rat population down. AWE!!! It's Italy!
The worst PCS move is the darn movers. First, the movers were suppose to arrive at 8:00 am in the morning and did not arrive until 6:30 pm that evening. The movers informed us they will be out of our home by 9:00 pm. Each time we move the service is worst from before. I have very little confidence in the movers the military has contracted. Can someone please tell me, what are the movers job when packing and unpacking?
My problem is each PCS move is worst than before. The packers forget to pack and the movers are down right lazy. Next time, we will contract our movers. I have little faith in the movers contracted with the military.
I agree. The movers we had in Illinois stole from us right under our noses. I know you're supposed to keep an eye on them, but w/ 6 guys all over your house & an infant to take care of i was overwhelmed… W e actually gave them a lawn mower, barely used, a 32" TV, & a few other things… The movers we had to pay for had us packed & rdy to go to the new house in about 4 hours & had us unpacked in just over 2 :-) You get what you pay for :-D
Oh, I forgot to mention… they even packed bits of garbage!
This is our third PCS move, I’ve been told for the third time to wait until August to meet anyone. Last station, I got a welcome packet in October…I’d been there since April. Just like this station and the previous one.
I've been in NC for 5 months and never heard of a welcome packet? We do have a ton of frogs here though…
This blog post had nothing to do with welcome packets or PCS movers and packers…not sure where all that came in…
So, who are YOU to say what people can complain about in here?
I'm very happy with military life. The housing may stink from time to time and yes, each duty station has its share of issues, but at least we get to see new places, meet new faces, and be proud of our military spouses. Our children are also more rounded culturally and have a better grasp on reality. Oh and the biggest plus is that we have "family" every where we go. Just trying to spread a little positivity because its easy to complain, but its better to be positive and realize that in the real world there is no BAH, housing, cheap medical, COLA, or BAS…we have it pretty good.
Good for you Amy..You feel as I do. My Dad was military and I married Military. I guess there are some who ar just unhappy……Thank you
Other Amy — I love military life too. But that doesn't mean I cant compare stories about flea infestation with other folks! Because if you dont laugh you'll cry.
At least you were welcomed, if even by bugs. Never have I ever gotten an "official" welcome. Wrong rank, I guess.
We just moved to Ft. Stewart last week and were somehow handed decent on post housing right away and it’s nice, clean, well-kept, whatever…. But the neighborhood is a ghost town. I hear cars come and go and I see a kid or two but I have yet to see an adult – and we live in a quadplex! Our neighbor’s door is right in front of ours and I know they’re there… Their car comes and goes all day… But never a soul over 10 have I seen! It’s remarkable. I have never witnessed more people so dedicated to keeping their distance in my whole life! So sad!
We just moved to Ft. Stewart last week and were somehow handed decent on post housing right away and it’s nice, clean, well-kept, whatever…. But the neighborhood is a ghost town. I hear cars come and go and I see a kid or two but I have yet to see an adult – and we live in a quadplex! Our neighbor’s door is right in front of ours and I know they’re there… Their car comes and goes all day… But never a soul over 10 have I seen! It’s remarkable.
We just moved to Georgia last week and were somehow handed decent on post housing right away and it’s nice, clean, well-kept, whatever…. But the neighborhood is a ghost town. I hear cars come and go and I see a kid or two but I have yet to see an adult – and we live in a quadplex! Our neighbor’s door is right in front of ours and I know they’re there… Their car comes and goes all day… But never a soul over 10 have I seen! It’s remarkable.
I live on Ft. Stewart also. When we lived in south bryan village there was seriously no one ever out. But we live in Liberty Woods now and I found out this is where everyone with a lot of kids live lol. I have 3 girls and its kid crazy outside everday.
We are in N. Bryan and every time we drive by L. Woods we just think “why did we wait to have kids?” It just looks so friendly and happy there! I like our place, but I’d rather live where the more outgoing people are. Oh well, I guess that’s what post events are for right?
My favorite was moving in to our apartment that was supposed to have been cleaned between tenants. Normally I go through and wipe everything down as I go along unpacking with a little bleach water, so imagine my excitement when I found someone's hair in every cupboard, closet, corner, sink, drain, etc. Also our washer was clogged with the stuff, so it wouldn't even spin out!!! With the amount of hair I found I could have easily made my own Chewbacca. Hehehe. How do cleaners miss that? Someone got ripped off with a cleaning fee.
Yuck!!
That is really nasty.
Amanda, I live on Ft. Stewart also. When we lived in south bryan village there was seriously no one ever out. But we live in Liberty Woods now and I found out this is where everyone with a lot of kids live lol. I have 3 girls and its kid crazy outside everyday. Its hot and humid and gross yet they go out everyday.
Amanda, I live on Ft. Stewart also. When we lived in south bryan village there was seriously no one ever out. But we live in Liberty Woods now and I found out this is where everyone with a lot of kids live lol. I have 3 girls and its kid crazy outside everday.
ive so far been very happy with military life but as for the welcome wagon lol ive never got any of that and ive lived in fort riley ks for over 3 months now and i think it actually would of been nice to get that bc i dont know any1 out here bc all my family and friends live in long island. And im a very nice person and im always taking my neighbors kids and my daughters friends places but havent gotten a single thank u and ive tried talking to them bc ive been taking there kids every where and there always at my house but i guess they must not be that talkitive or just like to keep to them selves
Time to stop carting their children if they aren't even going to THANK YOU, not to mention include you…
Sounds like they have found their kids a free cab ride everywhere. You are too nice!
I thought the bold, fat cockroaches were gross enough when I moved to Ft. Hood. Oh no, nothing beats the spiders that live in holes in the ground. Because we have a difficult time keeping grass in this weather, there are many places in the dirt where these spiders can live. I didn't realize that there were spiders in the holes until I asked my husband to spray a big hole with raid, "just in case." The spider that crawled out of that hole, legs and all, was the size of a softball. Needless to say, I don't go in the backyard anymore. Spiders creep me out big-time!
Noooooo. We JUST moved to Ft Hood, so needless to say, I'm not happy to hear this…but it could always be worse, we CAN do this! :-)
In 1987, we had a badger family in our back yard in Mt. Home AFB Idaho that had to be removed. Mean critters.
Wolf spiders? WOLF SPIDERS??? I was a bug virgin before I married into the military.
I actually miss Florida :) its home. You get used to the various bugs and if you have a cat they usually scar away rodents and sometimes the spiders. I know my inlaws cat used to torment the spiders and toads. I’m now learning what water bugs and tics are… the they drive me batty. You will get used to Florida. I don’t miss the palm trees tho ;)
FYI….. Victoria Secret's Amber Romance body spray will keep the mosquitoes away. I'm a southern girl and I can't wait to go back home to south MS one day. I think the south is an awesome place to live! I had FL beaches to my left and New Orleans to my right. Plus, Sun, Fun, Beaches, Boating, Good Food, Good Friends, Art Festivals ( actually, tons of different festivals, people there are always looking for a good reason to have fun and enjoy themselves) and Mardi Gras…….just to name a few reasons why I loved living in South MS…….Hope you get to enjoy a few pleasures of the south while you are there.