Ok, Im in need of major advice! My husband is USMC and we're stationed here. We came from Camp Pendleton, San Diego where we were for 3 1/2 years and I absolutely loved it. Now, we've been here at Ft LW for 4 months and I can't find a positive thing about it. We live in Lebanon so it's farther away from base and that makes it harder to meet people. Aside from that, it's hard to find a descent job here too.
I guess I'm just getting frustrated. I know there has to be some great things about this area! I'm usually not such a pessimist but I just can't shake this one! Help!! 

Hillary, I was feeling the same way about 2 years ago - it is hard moving and trying to re-establish yourself.
Jobs are so hard to come by - decent ones with decent pay - but I think it is the same all over the country right now though.
I have a bachelors degree in business and economics and found zero jobs.....but am planning on working for myself - it's really the only thing to do right here.
What work did you used to do?
Also, I would love to help you settle in....are you on facebook?
melissa levasseur 

Welcome to lost in woods Hillary! I have been here little over a yr now and its starting to grow on me. Coming here was also a big shop for me Im from Cleveland OH I hated woods,fishing and everything nature I love malls and big cities lol. My issue is the college program I needed is in Springfield and Im not driving an hr to school 4 days a wk so instead I took a job at Peppers as a bartender. Its good money and I meet great people "some drunk losers",but Im out of the house! I hated it so much the 1st 6mo I think I was leaving my husband twice a week and packing to move back home. Your lucky to live in Lebanon closer to the real world lol. Welcome if you need anything Im sure one of us can help! 

It's definitely a different kind of place, especially if you are used to the city. This was our first duty station and I was expecting so much more! I looked for a job for over a year and finally decided to do FCC. I can't even tell you how many applications I turned in. I like that I can stay home with my kids and still make very good money. We love meeting new people and are always having get togethers. Hopefully things start looking up for you! :) Look me up on facebook too! lchs_2004@hotmail.com or Sely Pena 

I don't have time to get real detailed, but I love it here and if you want to find great things to keep you busy then get out and look for them. it is summer time right now and all the interesting fun things are going on. Wait till winter to start looking and you will have a harder time finding things to do. 

Hillary, if it makes you feel any better, I'm considering therapy... this place has me in such a depression that it is causing problems at home.

You're not alone! 

You're not alone!

I'm starting to feel the same way! Mostly because I don't socialize as much as I used to. I work so much and all I want to do is just be lazy at home when I'm not working. If you get bored, just come over! I can always use some adult conversation during the day. And Esai will have others to entertain him besides you! 

I am on paxil!...... and I found that socializing really does help too....if anyone wants to hang out let me know!!!
Sely, you must be so tired by the end of the day watching children....you deserve a medal!
Melissa 

I've been here 2 months now, and so far I dont like it either. As far as socializing, I don't get out much and I find it harder as I grow older to meet new people and make friends. If anyone would like to add me on facebook, let me know so maybe we can hang out one day. 

There is also a wives at fort leonard wood facebook... it has over 300 members. 

I actually enjoyed our stay at Fort Wood. I know that some people move to Lebanon thinking there is more going on there but then just find out that there is less and a further drive to post. I feel for you. Maybe just do what you are doing. You being on this site proves you are willing to be social. Good luck to you. 

Yes get out make friends! Go swim, go to the gym, get involved in actevities on post, I'm very social and so far I love Missouri, I tell ya it beats fort stewart! Oncew I get my house in complete order, we will get together @ my house! Be a month or so. 

hey hillary.. i am born and raised here for 22 years until i myself married a marine and we got stationed in 29 palms, which there is REALLY nothing to do there. but missouri has so much to offer u just have to go out to find it. u can always go to springfield and shop, great resturants, there is always branson with amusement parks and shows and dixie stampede. also u have the lake of the ozarks where there is a ton to do. if u are outdoors people we have hunting and fishing and four wheel riding. there is not much to do in lebanon compared to st robert and it is a farther drive. but i love it here and i am actually back cause my husband is deployed and i am prego with our first baby. so good luck and i hope u find what u are looking for 

Jennifer - I was born and raised a Missouri girl too. I guess that is the main reason that I don't mind it. I think there is a lot to do as well. All of the ideas you named are great. Yeah, there isn't a ton of shopping outside post, but hey...a nice shopping to trip to Springfield or St Louis is a treat or to the outlet mall at the Lake. Fun stuff! 

I feel for all you city girls. I hate it here too. I have been here since Oct 08. I didn't realize how much I love the city till I came here. I'm not the biggest outdoor person either and lakes and rivers freaked me out. ( I love the ocean) But summer here makes living here bearable. I learned to like floating the river and we have bonfires every weekend. So I will keep trying to put up with MO ( or Misery as I like to call it) till hubby get's orders for elsewhere. If it happens to be Ft sill or Ft riley I will jump off the nearest bridge, lol. 

Lol@ jjules, I was raised on the tn river, glad I'm in mo cause I sure did miss it, I missed tubing and water skiing. Miss the boat greatly! Bonfires are awesome, smores:) yum, 

Lol@ jjules, I was raised on the tn river, glad I'm in mo cause I sure did miss it, I missed tubing and water skiing. Miss the boat greatly! Bonfires are awesome, smores:) yum, 

Lol@ jjules, I was raised on the tn river, glad I'm in mo cause I sure did miss it, I missed tubing and water skiing. Miss the boat greatly! Bonfires are awesome, smores:) yum, 

BTW I'm from Harrisburg, PA. It may be small city wise ( cause no one wants to live in the city) but, the metro and surrounding areas makes it huge. Well over 500,000 people. Plus the benefits of being 1.5 hours from Philly and Baltimore/DC. Also close to Pittsburgh and NYC. Never thought I'd miss my hometown so much till I came here. 

I really want to go to Ft. Meade, Jules... my family is from the D.C. area. After two months of living here, I get a call from my best friend back at Ft. Hood. They got orders to Ft. Meade! How depressing? 

Uhhh. i hear you. We actually were about to go to Bragg and hubby decided to switch MOS's so we are here till sometime in 2012. There are only a small list of places he can go after this training so crossing my fingers for Belvoir. Love the Baltimore/DC area and it's soooo close to home.( and shopping, hehe) 

Wow, lucky... there are only a handful of places my husband can go, and NONE of them are on the east coast. I hate it. My parents met at Belvoir... my grandfather has been bugging my mom to have my husband stationed there lol 

Wow, I'm so glad to hear that I'm not alone here! We decided to buy a home in Lebanon because we were tired of renting and also because it was much cheaper than Waynesville/St. Robert. Financially it was a great move! Socially, not so much.
I am typically a very social person! I use to LOVE having people over for coffee in the morning or BBQ's on the weekend... even game nights!
I'm definitely not an outdoorsy person. Lakes and rivers sort of scare me and all these bugs are driving me nuts! (haha!). I'm definitely a sand and beach baby!

Thanks about the info about Ft. Leonard Wood Wives on Facebook. I'm definitely going to add them!

Anyone feel free to add me on Facebook! (hldfrost@yahoo.com). I would love to meet new people!

Thanks for the responses! 

I hate to say it, but the only issue with buying in Lebanon is the resale. Things move slower in Lebanon because they don't have the same market as Waynesville/St. Bob. that's probably why their cost of housing is a little less too. I was a Realtor at Re/Max when we were there. Maybe you will get lucky though. 

Lori -
That's interesting because the houses in my subdivision never stay for sale longer than a month or so. At least from what I've sen so far. But you are right about the market being slower I'm sure. Not such a huge demand for military family housing, for sure. Although, we couldn't resist buying here. Brand new home, cheaper price and lower taxes. :)

I do have a question though. Did you enjoy working real estate here? I do have an interest in that and I would love to find out more. How did you get licensed? Are there positions in offices like that where I could work while obtaining my license? Just to gain experience? Sorry for all the questions, just trying to get a feel for this area! 

You're not alone!

I'm starting to feel the same way! Mostly because I don't socialize as much as I used to. I work so much and all I want to do is just be lazy at home when I'm not working

You took the words right out of my mouth. I grew up in North East Al and it was a small small town but they had a mall. So I was expecting about the same here. I hate there is no shopping but thats what the internet is for and im saving more money because there isn't a lot around. All and all I like it here. it is peaceful and there are trees. I hd a garden at Hood and the only thing I could get to grow was Cactus lol 

Hillary - that's good if you found an area where the homes "move fast"...alway good for resale. As far as selling real estate, yes, I love it, love it, love it!! I'm at Bragg right now and that's why I post asking if anyone knows anyone moving this way. :) I would say, go for it! You have to take a lot of classes. When I was licensed there, I took classes online through a school in Springfield and then tested in Springfield. The test is really hard and takes a lot of studing. It is very rewarding if you choose that career path. I wouldn't recommend selling in the Lebanon area, though...but business was good in St. Robert/Waynesville. 

Thanks for the information Lori! Very useful :) Do you think you could give me information of where you took the classes online?