We recently drove to KS to check out our next post. I had done a lot of research prior to going and felt positive about the trip. HOWEVER, once there, I felt like I was suffocating! There are so many farms that I felt trapped. I felt anxious. I felt like I had no options other than the tiny town of 50,000 people to seek refuge.
Even though the town is cute and the people are friendly, I found myself holding my breath and repeating to myself "its going to be o.k., its going to be o.k.". But the truth is, I felt this pit in my stomach growing as we tried to find a home to rent that would suit our needs. Due to the fact that Manhattan, KS is home to Kansas University, most renters are college students. This makes the land lords very weary of people with pets - hence, it seems that 95% of them will not accept pets and those that do charge a premium or require your cat to be declawed. My cat is 13yrs old, I am opposed to declawing. I find myself in a situation where I am considering it just so we can have a nice place to live.
Its also been difficult to find something within our housing allowance. So I agreed to consider post housing. I'd prefer to NOT live on post just because I like to have a life outside the military and Eric's job. However, the housing situation in Manhattan was looking bleak so we checked out the quarters we qualified for. I looked passed the tiny galley kitchen, I looked passed the fact thare there was one toilet, I looked passed the fact that there was street parking only, but I couldn't look passed the tiny bedrooms and tiny closets - we couldn't fit our dresser in the same room with our bed! When I asked the lady what people did about the lack of closet space, she said people set up clothing racks in the basement. Yes - there was an unfinished basement where the washer and dryer would be...
Then we went to look at the newer neighbourhood. One of the housing officers referred to this area and the post ghetto when talking my girlfriend. I think that just about sums it up. They were townhomes and it seemed like everyone was crammed into each street - crap bursting out of each home, toys strewn all over the yards. The floorplans looked like they would accommodate us though.
Lastly, we went to see the newest housing - it was gorgeous! We were told we'd have little to no chance of getting into that housing. Why? Well, because they are giving that housing to people that are being moved out of homes that need to be updated. I still keep hope that we might get lucky.
We then looked at the tiny little town on the other side of post. Strip clubs, liquor stores, pawn shops...some of the main drag was cute. There is some affordable housing in this area and places that accept pets though...lucky us!
Then I found out that Wyatt won't be able to go to preschool unless I pay for him to go because there is a shortage of spaces available in Manhattan - even though he has a speech delay! We get free preschool at a wonderful school here in Colorado. I am ticked off! Wyatt has two more years until kindergarden! Also, we're told that some of the schools are so crowded that they are not accpeting new students and that once I do find a place to live, I should call that school to make sure they will take Wyatt for the grade he needs. I haven't even bothered to start calling around about Kindergarden yet - it just makes me sick.
Oh - did I tell ya about the medical care? I'll be driving 4 hrs return to Kansas City for Wyatt's opthalmologist, geneticist, endocrinologist, ENT and the cleft clinic. The good news is that I will get reimbursed for my mileage. We also have the option of staying with Denver providers and making the 7hr drive each way...an option I am considering, but not favoring.
So...basically I am hating the Army right now. I have to leave my beautiful house, my son can't get into preschool and I have to live in a tiny town in the middle of Kansas. SORRY!!! I JUST CAN'T BE POSITIVE RIGHT NOW! I AM PISSED OFF!
Also add Eric leaving again for 3 months, being told to expect another 12 month deployment sometime after March 2010 and us more than likely losing money on our house and ummm...yeah...I'm not a happy camper...don't try to talk me out of it! It sucks! I am allowed to say it sucks! I'll get over it sooner or later and make the best of it. For now, I just want to scream until I pass out!