I should have my discharge papers in hand in 60 days, so then off to college. My question is where do you guys think it better to raise a young family? My wife's family moved to Georgia down to where i was last stationed. My family lives in eastern Iowa. we trying to decide on where to lay down the roots in either place or someplace in between? Really want o live some place where i can hunt and fish and have good opportunites......suggestions

East Texas.

So many good things about it!

Ed

you'll want to balance family and career. Career is the lynchpin...

Put your family first.

Do this by attaining and maintaining sufficient income and resources, while maintaining your relationships...

Got a career field mapped out?

Pick a good small city or large town with a good college. They usually have good public schools and are somewhat more diverse in culture. We had a good four years in Manhattan, Kansas, where our kids were in elementary and middle schools. Lots of good hunting and fishing close by (but no cold-water fisheries to speak of). Both waterfowl and upland bird hunting and deer populations have boomed since I lived there. There are lots of similar situations throughout the country, depending on what you intend to study.

Having been an Oregonian my whole life, minus a brief stint in Alaska, I'd normally recommend it. Everything from ocean, rain forest, to desert. High country wet, high country dry, birds, bears, deer, elk, varmints. Economically, Oregon lost most of it's industry and now looks like a yuppie state anywhere west of the Cascade range. Portland controls the entire state politically, and we are divided. I love it geographically, and I think Oregon is economically a viable place to make a living. Choose the city you live wisely after lots of research. I could live most anywhere east of the Cascades and make it, but economically, better for most to stick to the west side. It doesn't feel like the Oregon I grew up in anymore, until you leave the roads and people behind and head into the bush. There's still quality here, but it is shrinking. My heart breaks for my state.

Go West young man.

Montana or Wyoming.

my wife has family in Wyoming and that is my first pick, however she is worried about leaving and going someplace with out close family to help with our 2 little girls. as of now it looking like iowa for a little while and at least there i still qualify as a resident so i will be able to catch up on some of the hunting i have been missing out on while in the military. and at this point just want to get someplace i can take my girls out to do things outside, my 2 yr old already steals my hunting mags to find the "Holy Catfish Daddy that a BIG Deer" pictures.

You could do much worse than Eastern Iowa. It's a great state with good hunting, especially for deer as you well know. Clean state, and good folks. My brother lives there.

you could do worse than Iowa, but if school is the purpose, focus on that, and not on hunting. Get through school quickly and do it very well, THEN worry about where to live. Doing well in school while raising a family is not easy and you won't need too many distractions to add to that.

For now pick a place that optimizes raising those kids and doing the school work.

You may want to look at Southwest Virginia or Southeast Tennessee . Great schools, Virginia Tech in Virginia or UT in Tennessee . Hunting is great for Whitetail and Turkey. If you like fishing SE TN has some of the best lakes in the US.

Iowa State, baby!!! kwg

looking to get in to a nursing program with the hope of being a flight/trauma nurse. was a welder before i joined the military and still have ASME certs up to date but want to get into something with a strong career field as we want to make sure my wife can stay home and raise our family.

???????

dbf, looks like you need to line up the nursing schools and simply pick off the one or two that will best fit what you need.

Worry about the hunting later.

Don't underestimate the value of family close by. Especially in the current and upcoming economy.

Lots of good advice posted... Look for excellent schools for your kids, and locate where you are commuting distance to a decent size commercial center.

I once took a job in Minden, NV. Loved it! But when the job ran out, I had a heck of a time finding new work because I was way out in the sticks.

Wyoming is a great place. I wouldn't say that the wind blows hard or constantly, but when it stops, people fall over.

my oldest girl is 2 and a half so got a little time before they will be in school. have several job opportunities from family friends who would work around a school schedule as well as a lot of helpful family. just waiting on the papers now so i can get on the road with my life. Want to raise a family away from a big city so as not to have the violence to worry about.

Eastern Iowa might be the best for you. Family, deer, turkey, trout and waterfowl. Not bad.

well i guess im gonna have to get the old slug gun out and start practicing.

I hear ya Fireball. I hear ya.

Here in East TN we have five Major Medical Centers within 20 miles of each other. College, East TN State University has the Physician School for Medical Doctor, Nursing School , Radiology, Respiratory, and Pharmacy School .

Hawaii