"Homesteading"

After reading this entire topic, I figured I might as well say something.

If you have a full time job in the local community, if you planted something that you plan to harvest, if you assemble some sort of outdoor structure that will not fit into your RV, if you have had to add air to your serviceable tires more than once, if you have put up a fence, if you have been on the same site for over 366 days, you have been there too long move along.

There has been a lot of talk about snowbirds, they only stay for the season, then they go someplace else. If you are wintering over that is one thing, but most people buy RV's so that they can move about the country, move about the country not live in one place. Along with that I can see extensions being granted to people that need to stay at a given base for several weeks for short term deployment, or medical reasons, but two and three year people need to find another place to live.

I find it appalling that families of personnel on active duty would rather live in a camper on a campsite than in base or local housing. Something needs to be done about the quality of life for these people.

Maybe the solution is for every one of these campgrounds to pick a week in the "off" season and just shut down for cleaning and maintenance, if nothing else it will at least shuffle the "homesteaders" around and maybe off of the prime sites.

The bottom line is that the Military campground system was set up so that military personnel, retires, and people that work for the DOD could have a place for recreation, not to provide long term housing.

I find it appalling that families of personnel on active duty would rather live in a camper on a campsite than in base or local housing. Something needs to be done about the quality of life for these people.

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It is much cheaper than base housing. I also think, they like the idea, of buying/owning an RV, that they can move to another base, if reassigned. You know, there are always people who try or think they can beat the system.

:-[ :-[
Sorry forgot to mention, DH distracted me. Has anyone noticed, this is the most popular topic on the forum? We seem to all agree, why can't we get the base commanders or MWR, to see how the majority feels about this?

Don't exactly know how to fix it -- but lots of bases do have the "rotation" policy and are the most enjoyable to stay -- Far as the problem ones, depends on who runs it and when the homesteading began, would be my guess -- but it sure hits a sore spot with me.

I'm guessing that about the only way to change it so that all MWR facilities are open to rotation in every base is to personally approach the CO in charge of that particular CG when you arrive and explain to him exactly how it's run -- if it's run properly, you compliment him and tell him you'll be back .... if we have homesteaders or its ill-kept and an insult to the military, then tell him that too -- and bring photos as an illustration. Might not do much individually, but eventually the CO will take a look if enough of us say what we think.

As far as a large scale "go get 'em all" ... that's unlikely to get well enough organized to do much. But, little nips and tucks at the heels might make a CO aware of it, if he wasn't before -- and also show him the we do care about the CG's and will use them and will take care of them if he'll let us .... One important thing though, bring your thoughts in writing, and a couple photos, and just leave them with him -- a thought is fleeting, but hard evidence will remind him every day until he either does something about it, or throws it away -- but at least he can't simply forget you told him -- which happens more than a few times I bet.

Well I do have to agree with bblhed on one thing. It is appalling that my trailer is a more appealing place to live than the base housing offered here, especially now that it is run by a civilian company. Forget that the housing is 50 years old and has been repaired and repainted more times than anyone can remember. Or that personnel are assigned to housing without regard to their rank, but based on availability and family size. Forget that the company that now manages it employs personnel that have never spent one day in the military and have no comprehension of what we do. Also forget that these "managers" get to live in the housing as well, free of charge. And now that housing is basically a "rental property" you can imagine what the maintenance issues are like. So excuse me if I choose not to give up my substantial BAH to live in this environment.

Just my little rant, but I feel better now.

Boy you folks have hit the nail on the head. "Homesteading/Snowbirds" have been a sore point with me. MacDill is by far the worst. I realize we are just DOD civilians, but we are serving our country too, just in a different capacity. Everyone should have a chance to enjoy these facilities.

I do agree that active duty should come first, along with the families of deployed members. I wish there was a way to get the Commander to review the management of the FAMCAMP at MacDill.