Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

ALNavyMom,

As Marcy posted (thank you Marcy), we would love to invite your son over on the weekends. One of our sailors lives near the shipyard and i"m sure he would be happy to give your son a ride to church and over to our house. I can give you his information so your son can call or text him. 

Yvonne

ALNavyMom,

The sailor I was talking about is on the LIncoln. :)

Yvonne

Leach73, of course I remember you, and congratulations on her graduation!  Exciting times ahead, she is going to such a great location.  I just sent you a PM with some info.  This is a fun and active group so jump right in, enjoy her visit home, start planning your visit to Norfolk, and WELCOME to the Navy family!

I love this! My Navy family circle just keeps getting bigger and bigger! So thankful for everyone!

I have heard good things about Norfolk and will def. plan a trip to see it all with my very eyes:)

Thanks Marcy. I will take a look at the PM you sent to me.

AAlNavyMom My son doesn't have a car but seems to get around. He is going to the Hampton Church and likes it.

PS AlsMom  He is a red head rather short guy if he meets him. 

duhhuh - he took a 3 day course in his home state right before he left for bootcamp.  He has his motorcycle license in our state.  He was told since he has done that, he will just need to take the advanced course once his motorcycle is out there.  He was told he has to take it within 60 days after his bike is there.  Hopefully this is all true. This will be if we ever get his bike out there.  This is definitely not an easy process doing something like this from 4 states away. ha

ALNavyMom - my son is also in a shipyard.  He also has told me many times nobody is around when he goes to bed unless it is the duty people.

  He got a room on the base about a month and a half ago and stays there when he can.  Unfortunately since he doesn't have a vehicle yet, taking a cab can get very expensive to go over there all the time. We were out there a couple of weeks ago, and brought him a TV and some of his favorite blankets and pillows, and clothes.  Now I think he likes being over there more with the comforts from home. ha

CDMom - My understanding it that sailors can do either. However, when I read through the information provided when my son was assigned to Norfolk, it sound like VA has some additional charges/taxes. We are keeping my son's vehicle registered to his home state. It might also make a difference for you depending on how it is insured. If his vehicle is under your policy or if he has his own insurance policy. I'm certainly no expert but I hope this helps. 

My son just reported to Norfolk about 2 weeks ago and bought a car there.  I was trying to get him added to my insurance, because I think it would be cheaper for him that way, but my insurance agent said if it was registered in VA he would have to get insurance there because they couldn't cross state lines or something, but once he moved back to Texas he could be added on my insurance policy. 

Tricare

http://www.tricare.mil/

Ouch, good luck with that!

We have a car that my daughter uses but it is registered in our name and she is listed on the insurance? Can we take this car to her even thought it is under her parents' names or does the car has to be registered under her name?

Also, is her "phase" taken into consideration on whether she is allowed to have a car there?

She leaves to Norfolk tomorrow but I am just trying to prepare myself just in case we might have to plan a trip to go take the car to here later.

Thanks!!

we kept our sons vehicle under out insurance until he could afford it but it was under his name on the title.  I don't think it matters but it is better to keep the licensing of the vehicle to their home state as they do move around a lot and that way they don't have to keep registering every time they move.  I don't know of any phase that she has to wait before she can have a car - she just needs to know where she can park it etc.  Hopefully someone can repost that info as I have forgotten the name/location.

thank you tatmom4rc. every little bit of info is helpful.

I appreciate it :)

My son has had his last two cars registered here at home  as well as his licenses 

My son has gone both ways before.  When he was married his wife's vechicle was titled and registered in Alabama.  His vechicle was at one time titled in Washington State, registered in Alabama.  He finally got the truck registered in Virginia, but it was still titled in Washington State.  In all cases, their insurance was set up for Virginia - this was through GEICO.  To make matters even more complicated his driver's license is from Washington State while he was stationed there.  That license does not expire since he is in the military.  They didn't have to have emission tests while the vehicles were registered in Alabama since he was in the Navy and didn't have to pay any special property taxes for Virginia since he was Navy. 

Leach73, Since the car is in your name, she will need a letter from you, signed and notarized, giving her permission her to drive your car; proof of your insurance; and she may be required to show proof of passing a VA emissions test to the base Pass and ID Office.  The Pass and ID Office is just off base at 9040 Hampton Blvd; for questions, phone 757-322-2978.  

OK car question as long as we are on the subject. I have a `67 Karmen Ghia VW. I bought it when I was in High school, my first car. My son who is at Norfolk wants to restore it. I would like to sign title over to him. first off he doesn't drive yet. Second being a `67 VW it would never pass emissions. Suggestions? 

Does anybody know of a reasonable military insurance for motorcycles?  To cover my son under our company is pretty expensive. 

My son has USAA and he feels he got a good deal and is happy with it, It is about $100 cheaper than when he was home.

Hello to all.

Back to the subject of cars again...For the most part, do all of your Sailors have their own car in Norfolk? My Sailor arrived to Norfolk on Tuesday and this morning she sent me a text to tell me that she feels she might really need to have one.

I am so excited! My son somehow called me from his ship while he on deployment and just told me he made rank!  I havent heard his voice in so long and for it to be good news was so great. He is on cloud 9!

Congratulations Cindy D!!!  My son also advanced.  He sent me an email this morning.  He sounded so happy :)

Jackie D - Congrats to you to too! Love good news!

Congratulations to all those who advanced!

Leach73, I'm with your daughter. I would ask, what adult do you know would move to the largest naval base in the world, adjacent to the most populous area in the state (Virginia Beach/Hampton Roads), with no transportation to the areas where you work, or access to all there is to see and do?  You can't even get to the NEX (shopping, uniform store, dry cleaners, commissary) without a car!  I would also argue that for a single female, it's safer to have your own transportation rather than have to rely on others.  And it's not really fair to depend on others who manage owning a car.  Beyond the practical side of getting to the NEX, Norfolk's McArthur Mall, movies on the weekend etc, it's a wonderful area, and would be a shame not to be able to get around and explore it plus weekend trips to Washington DC, Chincoteague, the Outer Banks…  I have visited numerous times and can't imagine not having a car there, seriously.

Thank you so much Marcy. If I could I would just hug you right thru this computer...but instead I'll send you a ((((cyber hug)))).

I know, that last thing I want her is to feel insecure and stuck without being able to move around. She is not the type that likes to impose on others, much less have to ask for a ride, and plus taxi rides will add up quick. This weekend would have been a good weekend to go since we got MOnday off but even then, we prob. can't get anything done as far as paperwork for it...it would be all too rushed.

Thanks again for your help! it is a God-send!

Thanks! :)  Hey I just spoke to the base Pass and ID office (757-322-2974) and all she needs is that letter, signed by you and notarized, giving her permission to have the car in her possession; plus proof of insurance and registration which you already have.  Why not just type up a paragraph, go to the bank and get it notarized and head there this weekend!?  A little rain forecast but temps in the low 80s :)  You could take the 45-minute bus tour of the base too, I did that with my son when he first got there and it's fascinating!  $10/adult, office right by Gate 5, 757-444-7955, tours 10 am - 2 pm every 30 minutes http://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrma/installations/ns_norfolk/abo...

OMGEEEEE!!!!

Thanks Marcy! I am going to tell my husband as soon as he gets home from work!!! I am so appreciative that you would go thru the trouble of calling to get that info. I know other moms here can benefit from that too if they are in the same boat as I am with this situation. (no pun intended)

hmmm...either we drive two cars so we can leave one for her and drive back or just fly back...let me look into airfares to see what I come up with! ill keep you posted!

That would be so cool!!!  Don't forget Southwest flies into Norfolk :)  Can't wait to hear!  

The only problem with flying is that Norfolk airport is too small to accommodate the volume of people that are traveling. They need to really look at expanding.

Any suggestions for a good place to stay close to the base?

Link to Navy Lodge Norfolk info, rates, photos.

Marcy - Corpsman Mom:  Thanks for the NAVY Lodge info!  Haven't made it yet to Norfolk but now I know where to stay when I do...  :)  Moms have a way of just showing up. he, he

ALNavyMom,

My son said that Portsmouth has a place to get the VA EZPass.

Leach73 - I stayed at the Holiday Inn by the airport when I was there earlier this month. A beautiful hotel with pool, free breakfast coupons for military family to the restaurant, and free bus shuttle to the airport. We also had a small fridge in the room....  It's about 10 mins from base but I needed the airport shuttle because my son had to be at work at 6am the morning I left.

Guess what?

Friday after work we decided to go...we made the 14 road trip on Saturday to take the car to my Sailor. Started off in Illinois and drove thru Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and into Virginia. Perfect weather, no incidents, arrived safely, Thank God. Flew back on Sunday evening, Norfolk to NY to Chicago. The things we do for our kids....gotta love 'em!

Hope to go back to visit her soon...and stay for a few days to get a tour and do some sight-seeing.

I called the Navy Lodge on the way there and they were all booked. I also tried the Navy Gateway, booked as well. I ended up staying at the Hilton Garden Inn in Hampton. Very nice but a little more than I wanted to spend for one night but seems like most places were sold out already. My daughter was with a friend the night we arrived so we picked her up and brought her to the hotel with us and went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. Our flight was at 6pm so we had plenty of time to chill-ax and talk. Feels like it was a dream that we went and came back.

Thank you everyone for your help!

HOOYAH! 

*correction...14 hour road trip. sorry.

Leach73, that's so cool that you made the trip!  Bet she was thrilled to see parents and get a car :)  Yep, I bet the holiday weekend was booked up, oh well next time!