Most active wing? "Best" wing?

[Major Carrales]

CAP is a factor in the decision as to where you will move your family?!  Seriously?! 

That wouldn't even make the list in my book.

You know...some people actually enjoy their service in CAP.

[Dad2-4]

From the list of states that you won't live in, you sound like a 2nd Amendment supporter.  Florida and Texas should be on your short list.

I've actually done a little looking at NC, but I'm gun shy of FL (no pun intended) due to hurricanes.

[HGjunkie]

I've actually done a little looking at NC, but I'm gun shy of FL (no pun intended) due to hurricanes.

We don't get that must disturbance except for stormy weather during hurricane season in Group 3. Although i've only lived here for ~3 years so I have no idea of what the actual weather patterns are.

[DBlair]

I've actually done a little looking at NC, but I'm gun shy of FL (no pun intended) due to hurricanes.

We don't get that must disturbance except for stormy weather during hurricane season in Group 3. Although i've only lived here for ~3 years so I have no idea of what the actual weather patterns are.

The Tampa Bay area has not been hit by a hurricane in something like 80 years.

[RADIOMAN015]

CAP is a factor in the decision as to where you will move your family?!  Seriously?! 

That wouldn't even make the list in my book.

You know...some people actually enjoy their service in CAP.

I like others also enjoy Civil Air Patrol for a variety of reasons BUT again this is just a "hobby" activity and doesn't put food on the table for my family. 

Anyone relocating (from overseas) will need to take a good hard look at jobs availability for start/restart of a civilian career before locating anywhere.   I doubt that Civil Air Patrol is going to have a very high priority on anyones evaluation scale.  Even after return/moving into an area, one has to get established in their civilian career, and that's going to take 1 to 5 years (and maybe longer).   

Whatever his choice, good luck!
RM     

[Major Carrales]

CAP is a factor in the decision as to where you will move your family?!  Seriously?! 

That wouldn't even make the list in my book.

You know...some people actually enjoy their service in CAP.

I like others also enjoy Civil Air Patrol for a variety of reasons BUT again this is just a "hobby" activity and doesn't put food on the table for my family. 

Anyone relocating (from overseas) will need to take a good hard look at jobs availability for start/restart of a civilian career before locating anywhere.   I doubt that Civil Air Patrol is going to have a very high priority on anyones evaluation scale.  Even after return/moving into an area, one has to get established in their civilian career, and that's going to take 1 to 5 years (and maybe longer).   

Whatever his choice, good luck!
RM     

I think the obvious is not in need of being stated.  Livelihood first.

If people can relocate because of ball teams, schools or what have you...then CAP would get the same treatment. 

I have helped build CAP in my area in places where it does not exist, it can be an important part of people lives without ridicule or belittling.

[SarDragon]

From the list of states that you won't live in, you sound like a 2nd Amendment supporter.  Florida and Texas should be on your short list.

I've actually done a little looking at NC, but I'm gun shy of FL (no pun intended) due to hurricanes.

Check out the Jacksonville area. It doesn't get nearly as much of the destructive hurricane activity because of the way the coastline curves.

[MSG Mac]

Unfortunetly JAX is in Group II which doesn't communicate with it's member squadrons. 

[Eclipse]

Unfortunetly JAX is in Group II which doesn't communicate with it's member squadrons.

So that means the squadrons are bad?

[RiverAux]

I wouldn't even bother looking at the wing level.  If you have a bunch of specific cities that you're interested in going to then you can check out squadrons in those areas for one that might be a good fit. 

[FARRIER]

From the list of states that you won't live in, you sound like a 2nd Amendment supporter.  Florida and Texas should be on your short list.

I would add Colorado to the short list. As far as CAP, the only drawback is most of the Squadrons are located along the front range of the Rockies.

In my airline career, I lived in alot of states, mostly the Western US except Nebraska. I never had a chance to get active with Nebraska Wing when I spent my time there, but if the Wing is as good as the population in general, I would imagine it would be a great Wing to belong too.

Not knocking New Mexico, but friends of mine who had kids, they were not happy with the schools. It was a great Wing though.

Respectfully,

[meganite]

Texas!!! Cost of living is also relatively low (as is the cost of flying, or so I am told). Schools can be hit or miss I guess, but the Houston area has some pretty good schools. (I went to HS in Katy.)

We weren't very hard hit by the recession here.

[jeders]

For business/career in TX I would say the DFW area is probably the best. It's also really good for CAP, unless you want to fly an airplane that actually works. TX was not hit that hard by the recession, but also won't come back as quickly.

As far as CAP in TX, the various groups within the wing are pretty active, but there isn't nearly enough, in my opinion, communication from wing as to what the various groups are doing. As a result, many of us out in GP I miss out on things going on in the other groups.

Also, there is a lot of well known internal dissatisfaction with the Wing CC, although that seems to be dieing down. And in a few months we'll have a new commander, so who knows.

Ten years ago, if you asked me where I would want to live, it would probably be Southern California. Now, I'm glad I live in West Texas for many MANY reasons. For the political reasons that keep you from wanting to live in places like CA and NJ, if you choose TX, avoid Austin. It's not quite as bad as San Francisco, but it's getting there.

[davedove]

From the list of states that you won't live in, you sound like a 2nd Amendment supporter.  Florida and Texas should be on your short list.

I've actually done a little looking at NC, but I'm gun shy of FL (no pun intended) due to hurricanes.

Check out the Jacksonville area. It doesn't get nearly as much of the destructive hurricane activity because of the way the coastline curves.

That is also a consideration for North Carolina.  Because of the way the coastline curves, the coast of NC is often hit by hurricanes.

[A.Member]

I wouldn't even bother looking at the wing level.  If you have a bunch of specific cities that you're interested in going to then you can check out squadrons in those areas for one that might be a good fit.

Of the comments so far, this is closest to making the most sense.  And while Wing exists to support the squadrons (not the other way around as some seem to believe), CAP still really happens at the squadron level as opposed to the Wing level. 

Once you've got an area or two dialed in for the more important factors (career, economy, schools, "quality of life", etc.), then explore the squadrons that are available to you in those areas.   If you visit 3 squadrons, they're all likely to have there own "personality".  After visiting, you can determine which one you think is a good fit.   

Also. keep in mind, this is CAP and what you view as "best" now can change with a new commander. 

[JohnKachenmeister]

I've actually done a little looking at NC, but I'm gun shy of FL (no pun intended) due to hurricanes.

We don't get that must disturbance except for stormy weather during hurricane season in Group 3. Although i've only lived here for ~3 years so I have no idea of what the actual weather patterns are.

The Tampa Bay area has not been hit by a hurricane in something like 80 years.

Unless you count Charley!

[JohnKachenmeister]

From the list of states that you won't live in, you sound like a 2nd Amendment supporter.  Florida and Texas should be on your short list.

I've actually done a little looking at NC, but I'm gun shy of FL (no pun intended) due to hurricanes.

Don't worry about hurricanes, except in Miami and the Keys.  Most stay south, or go north to the Carolinas.  There are exceptions, of course, but that's why we have restrictive building codes.  I got hit with Wilma as a Cat 2, and it blew down my palm trees, but that was it.  I replanted them, but one died anyway.  Nobody sweats Cat-3 or lower.  Cat-4 and Cat-5 will get our attention, but they are rare.

[a2capt]

Substitute "hurricane" with "earthquake", and 'cat' with 'Richter scale' .. sounds like California. Yet, visitors and newbies go running.

At least in CA, all ones stuff stays right where it is when disaster strikes. Unlike the plaines and such where it's blown all over the place for miles, and you get your neighbors stuff

[Spaceman3750]

Substitute "hurricane" with "earthquake", and 'cat' with 'Richter scale' .. sounds like California. Yet, visitors and newbies go running.

Of course, here in Illinois nobody cares about earthquakes though many of us know that if the New Madrid Fault shifts we're all toast.

[davidsinn]

Substitute "hurricane" with "earthquake", and 'cat' with 'Richter scale' .. sounds like California. Yet, visitors and newbies go running.

Of course, here in Illinois nobody cares about earthquakes though many of us know that if the New Madrid Fault shifts we're all toast.

I've read several articles recently that say the threat has been over stated. I have no clue if they're right. Better safe than sorry in my opinion.