Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

Will be visiting my son over easter and next week.  Need some ideas on what my husband and I can do while my son is at work during the day.  Thanks in advance!

I think it depends on whose name is on the lease and specifics to the lease itself.  Your DIL should contact the Housing Service Center at the naval station at (757) 445-2832.  They should be able to guide her through that process. 

Good luck!

Thank you Denise (Dee), trying to plan our week out.

The boat cruises are great, I always learn something new from their tour guides! Another fun thing to do (if you like baseball) is go see the Norfolk Tides, the AAA farm team for the Baltimore Orioles. Really, there is something here for everyone: beach, fishing, camping, history (Colonial Williamsburg, Fortress Monroe and the Jamestown Colony), museums (Chrysler Museum, Nauticus, USS Wisconsin), restaurants, tour boats (both the Norfolk Navy base tours and the dolphin watch boats from the Virginia Aquarium), sports (Tides, Admirals, college teams), Busch Gardens...it is a fun place to visit!  

Thanks everyone for your help, started making a log of all the places we can choose from.                                                                                                        Can't wait to see my son, he will be 21 tomorrow, that is my youngest out of 4.  He's getting older but I'm not. lol 

My son has been in Norfolk a month now. As luck would have it his car, which we only delivered 2 weeks ago, needs engine work. Can anyone recommend a reputable auto repair place that works on Toyota's? Or do you know of a service at the base that he can get recommendations for such? I would like to steer him in the right direction to make sure he doesn't get ripped off. He is pretty inexperienced when it comes to car repairs. Thanks.

Selms - This place was recommended to my son by another Navy mom on here.  Her son and other sailors take their cars there. My son had to replace his engine after he got stuck in a flooded street last year.  His car's a Toyota Avalon and the dealership was going to charge him around $7000 to replace.  This place was a lot less.  Accurate-Tune Plus, 1312 Monticello Ave, Norfolk, VA 23510 (757) 226-8863.  Ask for JT.  I don't know if he's just a mechanic there or the owner.

Thank you JackieD !

Good article from CNN.com here; some reassuring words that are welcome in the face of Kim Jung Un's bizarre saber-rattling.  

Hello,

My son is reporting the the Bush this week and doesn't have a car. Is it possible to survive in Norfolk these days without a car? Is there any base shuttle service or other transportation to get them to the exchange, etc.?

Thanks!

My opinion is that it's pretty hard to survive without a car there (my son would say impossible).   There are cabs, but a car is pretty much a necessity.  And of course there's life beyond the NEX, and tons to do in the area.

Hard to believe the largest Navy base in the world doesn't have base transportation that will get you to the important places. Well, I guess he'll be looking for a car soon.

Lauriekay, thanks for the laugh!  :)  Dad of Sailor, if your son is interested, there is a single-session program called Car Buying Strategies for sailors on the base; here's the link  Fleet and Family Support (scroll down, it's the second one); the description reads, "Car Buying Strategies: "Looking for a car? Don't get taken for a ride! Learn all the important do's and don't's BEFORE you step onto the car lot in this single-session program. Topics include negotiating, trade-ins, discounts, financing, high-pressure sales tactics, and tricks to watch out for."

Marcy...thanks for the info I'll pass that onto him. He was really hoping he wasn't going to need a car as he wants to save his money but I guess if he wants to do anything he's going to have to get something.

One more thing, he got a good insurance rate with USAA.

And that reminds me of this - sailors under 25 who need or want to rent a car, can have the under-25 daily fee (which is a lot) waived if they log into USAA, go to the Travel link and click through to one of the companies offering this (Enterprise is one).

My son has a truck and I know he takes his friends around for a cheap rate, that don't have a car.  I would think someone will be willing to help him out untill he can get a car.  My son is one of these, has to drive, not comfortable with others driving. He has always been like that, he started driving at a young age, we have a large dairy farm, so that is why he is like that. LOL

ckmom, glad to hear he gets paid!  Some car owners feel awkward asking for money, and it's not fair to the sailor who stepped up and bought a car, pays gas and insurance, brakes, tires, and maintenance - oh those Norfolk potholes! - and not get something from their friends who get rides.  Hopefully those friends are stuffing a few bills in the driver's drinkholder without being asked.   

Gary Sinise, a tremendous supporter of our military, is bringing his band to Portsmouth's NTelos Pavilion on the Elizabeth River on May 11!  It's just across from Norfolk's Waterside and a walk from the ferry at High Street.  The concert's free and only open to DoD cardholders :)   Love him!  

Bad news from my sailor - not too bad in the grand scheme of things but huge setback for him...... where do we turn now.  He's just been diagnosed colour blind (borderline but nonetheless colour blind).  Also he needs corrective lenses now - he's 23 and never needed them.  He was tested right before boot camp, at MEPS and in boot camp and every time he had 20/20 vision.  Now on the Bush he needs glasses.  He's devastated because he saw his navy career lasting  20 years - will this hold him back at all?  I want to fly up there and take him to a specialist for a 2nd opinion - I want the navy equipment testing lol!  Feel so bad for him, I just want to hug him.

thanks Lauriekay1 I will try to get him to go

mommaross,

Why so "devastated" as needing glasses and being color blind won't stop a Navy career. I spent 26 years in the Navy wearing glasses and there are hundreds of thousands that are on active duty now with corrective lenses (glasses or contacts). Does his rate require he not be color blind? Most jobs don't disqualify someone because they are color blind especially after they have made it through boot camp and A School.

For the life of me I can't figure out why this is such bad news for your Sailor?

Dad, remember that a lot of our sons are young, and what they express to their moms at first is just initial reaction, plus they don't have the years of experience we have, and we react empathetically with them.  Not to mention that we are used to being involved in their lives and medical stuff right up till they enlist, and it's hard to be on the outside suddenly (believe me, ask a mom off the top of her head the family doctor's name & number, vaccinations, kids' SSNs - then ask the dad).  The support that's been started here is indicative of what this site's all about - offering experience, resources, options.  Perhaps he won't have the rating he was first chosen for, but there are many others that accept color blindness - just a quick search of this site turned up moms of sailors in the same color-blind situation who are hospital corpsmen, cryptologists, Seabee, just for starters.  

Mommaross, agree with Lauriekay, a second evaluation is a good idea, and he'll also be getting a better handle on what it all may mean.  Keep us posted please; sending good thoughts to your sailor, it'll be ok!

Marcy,

I hear you but if he is already on the Bush then he is past the point where they screen you for color blindness for your job. Was this just a routine eye exam or was it for a problem he was having?

I'm just trying to convey that this isn't the end of the world and certainly any reason for a Navy career to be in jeopardy. I wasn't trying to sound dismissive, just confused as to why this is such bad news for mom and Sailor as it sounds like routine business to me.

Apparently he stands to lose his rating in his current job and his accelerated promotion track that he was on.  He graduated top of his class at A school and had to sign on for an additional year so he could get on the accelerated path - not sure what it's called exactly.  He was glad to sign - he had his career path all planned out  and was excited and now that's not to be and he has to find something else.  He wanted flight deck they say he can't be on the flight deck with colour blindness.  He love's the Bush and he said everyone gets on great and he doesn't want some boring shore desk job.  Dad of Sailor - I wear glasses - it's not the wearing glasses but his career goals called for 20/20 which he's always had - I'm just disappointed for him.  Thanks Moms for understanding my concerns and worrys :)

mom,

Ok, kind of odd they are just figuring that out now after all the money spent to train him. Have him go out in town and get a second opinion and then fight it if comes back as not color blind. If he has been fine up until this point it isn't very likely that he all of a sudden became color blind. Something doesn't sound right. Why did he have the eye exam to begin with, was there a problem he was experiencing?

I know dad of sailor, they test in MEPs and in Boot camp but I think he needed additional testing for his next qualifications/job move.  He didn't have a problem with his eyes before and since high school and all through college he has worked for a local screen printing business - mixing colours and screen printing :)  He never had any complaints and his bosses were so thrilled with his work ethic that they offered him shares in their company to keep him out of the navy. He couldn't get the original job he wanted at MEPs due to being born in England and was upset for 30 minutes but made the decision that the Navy was his calling and the job was second to that -  It is what it is and a I know he'll make the best of whatever the outcome is

My daughter almost didn't get into the Naval Academy because of an eye exam...we took her to our optometrist in Virginia Beach, paid for some really speicalized tests and the situation was resolved. Sometimes, though, the navy may not be open to a second opinion, so be sure to check on that before seeking further testing. Hubby was denied dive school years ago because of a medical screening, he appealed it, but the doctor heading the screening board was...get this...the same doctor who gave the original diagnosis.  Appeal denied! lol...it all worked out, he found a different career path and just retired with 31 years of service.  Whatever the final outcome, your son will be as successful as he chooses to be. I believe there is always a reason for things like this, it just might not be evident to us right now. Hope he finds peace in the final outcome.

mommaross ~ prayers are with you and  your son.  That's what this site is for....support, advice, etc.  It is a "moms" site afterall.  I feel there is a bigger plan for your son, as there was for mine.  As he says all the time, "if a wall or roadblock comes up, I find a way to get around it, somehow, someway."  My son has had major obstacles all his life.  I've been the support and source of  advice for him, when he asked.  I don't tell him what to do, just give him options.  He is an awesome, kind, caring and giving young man.  He's been taken advantage of but continues to keep doing what he's doing.  No one can steal his "joy".  Tell  your son to find his "joy".  What makes him happy will be his joy.  Have a great day!! 

There is a navydads site....http://www.navydads.com/

Mommaross ~ Prayers that this situation with your son is resolved soon and he finds peace in whatever the outcome.

This site is officially "Navyformoms.com" but there are moms, grandmothers, wives, girlfriends, sisters, aunts, dads, etc. who participate on this board.  My son's dad (my ex) is a member of Navydads.com and they are not as active, or provide the type of information and support, as this site.  When Blake was in BC (PIR 5/6/11) I would relay info to his dad (that I learned from this site) because he couldn't find any information on the Navy dads site.  In my opinion, all (including dads) should be welcome here.  I often find it helpful to have a man's opinion on a subject just to shed a different light, or give a different spin, on the subject.  As a Navy mom, I can get myself riled up when it comes to my only child and his Navy career.  My husband (son's stepdad) is great at grounding me and getting me to look at the situation differently and to think about other options, things I'm too emotional to realize on my own because of my emotions.

@Dad of Sailor ~ thank you for taking time to comment on this (and any other) subject.

Cheers!

Gina

Thanks for all your support - just needed to vent to get it out there - feel better already - love my Navy family

Thanks all, I've checked out the dad's site and it was dead and no real information. Mom's seem to be more in the know so that is why I'm here.

This is the first time I've been directed elsewhere so I hope I didn't offend anyone as that wasn't my intent. 

N4M Admin is dealing with an ongoing issue, my antenna may be tuned up to high.  Sorry if I over-reacted :)

Welcome Dad of Sailor, This site welcomes all.  It's great to get the male perspective on things and if you have military experience, we love to hear your experiences and thoughts.  My son is also on the Bush.  He's an ABF, what's your son's rate?

Thanks Marcy for looking out for us :).  My son's always the voice of reason in our house - his father died when he was 8 and in spite of being raised by his mom and older sister he's a man's man and if he was here would be saying - chill out mom it will be ok - I'll sort it out!  Thanks again everyone for your comments

Welcome Dad of Sailor.  I think it's great to have a dad on hear.

Good News!  The Navy gave my son a 2^nd chance to do the tests again with an officer - I think they wanted him to pass too :).  But he failed a couple of them but it’s all good he said they've come up with a plan for him - No he won't be on the flight deck but he can stay on the Bush and keep his rate  etc – In my sons words "I'm luckier than most – I’m on the best carrier in the Navy - good buddies, good people above me so stop worrying Mom it will all work out - I'm good with it now I know I don't have to sit behind a desk on shore all day". - :).  So I’m a happy mom tonight – thanks my Navy family 

That is super news!!!!

Great news mommaros...glad it all worked out and your Sailor is happy.

Dad of Sailor - My husband (Army guy) also thinks that the Navy Dad site is a bit of a dud.  He says that there isn't much action or information.  He always checks out the N4M site.

My son will be making the transition from the Enterprise to the Bush in a few months so I may have a few questions for you. 

I was so happy to hear that the Navy is going to construct new bachelor quarters.  They will ready in January 2015 and will house 900 sailors.

Hallelujah!

Hopefully no more returning sailors having to live on the Starwars prison ship aka the barge.  No hot water after 5AM and no heat ever!

Isn't it just awful looking?