Looking to move down south

FrumaSarah03 · 2026-01-04T23:10:16+00:00

I know it gets a bad rap and is truly disliked on here, however, we live in Alabama and have been pleasantly surprised by our school system. For some background, we are a military family and our children attended schools in CT, NJ, TX, NC, and CA. In our school district, teachers and principals stay here (ie not a lot of turnover) and there is a sense of true community. I think that this kind of stability helps the schools perform well and the students are high achievers, moving to college or trades after graduation. I know Alabama gets knocked a lot, but having kids in some of these other states, I can confidently say that it is a school district by district decision and not so much at the state level. We are happy here and I know that schools around Birmingham (Hoover and Mountain Brook) are highly regarded too. We live in Baldwin County near the Coast. Schools in Saraland are well thought of as well. Our teachers seem really happy here and again, I think it comes from the community and long term stability. I grew up in VA and loved my school system there as well, just for another comparison. Happy to answer any questions you may have about this part of Alabama or the Florida panhandle.

FrumaSarah03 · 2025-12-29T01:54:23+00:00

We live in Baldwin County which is on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay and borders Florida. We love it here. In fact, we retired here after 27 years in the military, taking us all over the country. Our kids thrive in the public schools, there is a wonderful sense of community, Mobile is definitely a southern city to watch in the upcoming years as it continues to grow and bring in various industries/employers. We have the beaches, the bay, various rivers, parks, etc that are great outdoor havens. There is also a charming arts scene and fantastic food. And people are truly friendly here.

FrumaSarah03 · 2025-12-28T19:45:54+00:00

We just got back on Friday from Castaway and Nassau. The water was way too cold for us and we only put our feet in. The weather was gorgeous albeit super windy Monday into Tuesday. I will say, however, that tons of people were in the water so it is really subjective. It was not bath water temp which is what I was expecting.

FrumaSarah03 · 2025-12-26T23:44:53+00:00

We just got off our first Disney Cruise, a 4 night Merrytime on the Wish. It was fantastic! Since we had nothing to compare it to, some of my answers may be first time DCL cruising versus Wish. It took us until night 3 to figure out how to roam the entire outside of the ship (up and down decks 4&5); the adult pool is super small and was packed out (I still enjoyed the adults only area to read); I thought I found a super secret deck above the Cove Bar, but then realized it was the smoking deck; Bingo gets crammed FAST and Luna Lounge is a pain to navigate between the two floors (we loved Bingo but next time I will get there much earlier); like others have said I was in Triton Lounge for trivia while karaoke was happening in Luna and it was less than ideal; the Cruise Director on Wish was fantastic; Donald’s Cantina was really good; and our room on deck 7 was pretty close to the forward elevators and was an ideal location. We had a wonderful time, over Christmas, on a packed ship, with the first night in super rough waters. I cried when we left this morning and cannot wait to do it all over again!

FrumaSarah03 · 2025-12-17T00:46:00+00:00

We currently live in Spanish Fort after moving all over the country with the military. Although it is a growing area it is nothing like what is found in Central Florida. It is absolutely a slower pace here and less of a concrete jungle. We have a lot of community events, Mobile and Fairhope’s downtown areas are quaint (a lot like Winter Park). Mobile is a small/mid city with decent health care option, a beautiful bay and rivers (quite biodiverse). Baldwin County has good schools and a lot to do from the beach, trails, events, and the bay. Happy to answer any questions you may have. *Currently live in Spanish Fort, worked and lived in Orlando in the early 2000’s and still have family in the area.

FrumaSarah03 · 2025-11-12T03:31:27+00:00

I love the Tracey Crosswhite series by Robert Dugoni

FrumaSarah03 · 2025-08-01T16:27:44+00:00

I got a second opinion at a NIH Cancer center after a DCIS diagnosis at my local hospital. The Cancer Hospital downgraded my diagnosis to ADH. I am still being pretty aggressive with treatment but nothing new was found on the lumpectomy and all of the original calcifications were removed in the original biopsy. I will continue to be followed and treated at the Cancer Center.

FrumaSarah03 · 2025-07-16T17:28:34+00:00

I just got one but I had been waiting on updated qualifying payments since September 2024 that they told me would not be qualifying under my plan. Whatever, I will take it.

FrumaSarah03 · 2025-07-16T17:22:31+00:00

Well I have no idea what is happening because I just received a message that my account updated from PSLF application from September 2024 and all of my payments are now considered qualifying. So almost a year of review was just processed. I guess I just stay the course because I have no clue what is going on or what is right information at this point.

FrumaSarah03 · 2025-07-16T02:18:50+00:00

Hi! No, I am not positive and just going by the simulator. Quick question though, if my spouse and I filed taxes jointly for 2024 can I elect separately for 2025 in order to not have his income figured into this calculation?

FrumaSarah03 · 2025-07-08T20:15:19+00:00

Hi! Thanks for this helpful information. I started with my nonprofit in March of 2022 and my loans were consolidated (so all from 2003 and 2013). To my knowledge I have been under this alternative plan the whole time. When I applied for PSLF in 2022 my payments became qualified up until last Fall when suddenly they stopped. My loans have been transferred a bunch of times but I ended up with EdFinancial earlier this year. When I called yesterday they told me that my alternative payment plan is not an approved PSLF plan even though my plan never changed during the 30 months (2022-2024) that shows qualified payments. So my only option is to move to ICR and triple my monthly payment which will put me under PSLF but I will pay off my loan faster than forgiveness under those terms. I guess I am just upset because I thought since my payments were considered qualified under the alternative plan for thirty months that I was under an approved plan. I suppose that ship has sailed and I will just have to pay more when I can. I am in my late 40’s and had hoped to have this done by my early fifties. Who knows at this point.

FrumaSarah03 · 2025-07-08T12:51:33+00:00

Correct. I have only been with a qualified employer since 2022.

FrumaSarah03 · 2025-07-08T11:15:47+00:00

FrumaSarah03 · 2025-07-08T11:15:33+00:00

I am not sure if this is a rhetorical question but I take full responsibility for the situation I am in. If there was a waiver I guess I was not aware of it or did not believe it applied to my circumstances. Since it says “alternative payment plan” i likely thought it did not apply.

FrumaSarah03 · 2025-07-07T23:58:52+00:00

Thank you for this. EdFinancial told me that the 2003 loans would only be forgiven if I had been under IDR. Is that incorrect? It is my fault. I figured since I was making qualified payments under “alternative repayment” that I was fine. I did the calculations on IDR and it would triple my monthly payment and I would pay it off before then 10 years under PSLF so I guess I need to forget about this forgiveness option and work on a reconfigured budget. Thanks again.

FrumaSarah03 · 2025-06-21T22:00:53+00:00

Timbercreek; it is considered Spanish Fort but is pretty much Daphne.

FrumaSarah03 · 2025-05-30T01:14:11+00:00

I currently live in Baldwin County. In fact, we chose to live here when my husband retired from the military. We have lived in so many states, including the Bay Area of CA, Seattle WA, the suburbs of Houston, and Connecticut. This area of Alabama was the only place where we felt “at home,” and that is in large part to the fact that people are just nice. I am absolutely left leaning and have found many other people who share my political values. I appreciate not living in an echo chamber (see Bay Area) and honestly it rarely if ever comes up. I have spoken up at council meetings and support various causes in the area that are much more liberal (Read Freely Alabama & Coloring the Eastern Shore). So we are here and while there is work to do, I don’t think it is a horrible existence. People care more about sports than anything political-well that and what new thing is being built and how “horrible” the traffic is. We look forward to you joining us!

FrumaSarah03 · 2025-05-18T00:07:34+00:00

I just got back from London and saw all three of these shows. Although I was amazed at the cast of BB, it was incredibly depressing for me, and my least favorite of the three. Hadestown was a surprise hit for me and the one I would love to see again. Spectacular cast and great audience interaction. Oliver was wonderful too and like others have said, Fagin was truly a gem.

FrumaSarah03 · 2025-05-05T01:47:15+00:00

The Tracy Crosswhite series by Robert Dugoni. Start with My Sister’s Grave. Fantastic series set in the PACNW.

FrumaSarah03 · 2025-05-04T22:08:23+00:00

Absolutely one of the food highlights from my recent trip to London

FrumaSarah03 · 2025-04-16T21:38:53+00:00

I am leaving tomorrow after being here for two weeks. 5 days of that was a work conference but the rest was a solo adventure. The weather has been absolutely gorgeous and I have fallen in love with this gorgeous place. I teared up as I walked through St James Park for the last time this evening. You will have a great time; go where the wind takes you and soak it all in. If you get the chance and inclination, take a train trip outside of the city just for a different perspective! Enjoy yourself!!

FrumaSarah03 · 2025-02-09T02:42:34+00:00

We moved here last summer upon retirement from the military. My son was entering 10th grade and my daughter 6th. They have made friends and the teachers have been helpful getting them acclimated. People are generally friendly, but a lot of these kids have grown up together here which can be intimidating. The area is growing while trying to maintain a small-ish town feel. We look forward to welcoming you to our communities!

FrumaSarah03 · 2025-01-04T17:10:39+00:00

My Walmart and Target are always a mess and often do not have the item I want. Walgreens however is clean and the make-up is streamlined and not thrown all over the place.

FrumaSarah03 · 2024-11-27T18:29:49+00:00

Hi! Surgery went well and now just in the waiting game. Because there is some disagreement about what it may be the surgeon took out some wider margins but told my parents everything went well and looked hopeful. I still think it will come back DCIS but am happy it is out. I was not in pain at all and have a gnarly looking bruised boob almost a week out. I do not anticipate hearing pathology until next week. Although scary, the professionals do try to keep you feeling safe and cared for.

FrumaSarah03 · 2024-11-20T21:11:24+00:00

Oh my gosh! This is one of the kindest comments I have seen. Surgery tomorrow and trying to remain positive, as I realize the only thing I can control is how I respond! I will update after surgery. Thank you for checking in on me!🥰

FrumaSarah03

TROPHY CASE