Barstow, California.... Yay or Nay?

[goldengladiator]

I am looking at a job that would require me to live in Barstow, California and commute to Ft. Irwin...

I am hearing some negative comments about Barstow. Anyone have any comments?

[Moparal]

you wont find much better around that area.  Find a good section of town and settle in.  Seems the nw side wasnt bad.  There's some e body dirt track cars there forsale around 400 bucks

[ntstlgl1970]

Depending on where in Barstow, it can be noisy - its a major rail hub.

Take a look on Google Earth....

[NoMope Greg]

High desert - hot as hell in the summer, cold in the winter.  Ft Irwin is a 25+ mile one-way commute from Barstow.  Like ntstlgl1970 said, it's a major rail hub, but there are quiet parts of town. 

[Moparal]

a good steak house there too

[Topcat]

I drove thru there last summer. No thanks.

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/postcards-pictures-of/pc446-BarstowMainStreet.jpg

Housing is cheaper out there for CA.

[67vertman]

I am in Barstow (we call it Barstool) weekly.  Not much to do but drink, thus the nickname.  It is 70 miles from San Bernardino (to the south) and 25 mile from Victorville, the two closest towns with any thing good to do.  As others have said...HOT during the summer and COLD the winter.  Rent is cheap though.  It is mainly a potty stop for people traveling to Las Vegas.  If you are only there for a short time you will be ok.  But, if you have to live there for an extended period of time, I would think long and hard about it.

[toomanyprojects]

it all depends on what there gonna pay you-i had to spend 3 months TDY(tour of duty)-it was alright-i got paid pretty good so i wasn't complaining. i was on a 4 10 schedule-4 10 hr days-off sat, sun, monday-plenty of time to recoup for tuesday!

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Last time I was thru there it was a balmy 109   

[lemming303]

All I know is there is a Marine Corps Logistics base out that way. Other than that I remember it looked like a crap hole when we drove though.

[goldengladiator]

Yeah, I kind of assumed as a young, single man I would have nothing to do. At all. And driving to and from Ft. Irwin for work as a contractor is not my cup of tea. Driving 45 minutes through nothing would be killer. But the job and money is good... So, who knows. In case anyone is wondering I am a scientist with a master's degree. The job would be doing endangered/threatened species research for the government as a non-government contractor.

[NoMope Greg]

Well, there are a lot of young, single guys around Barstow, since both Ft Irwin and aforementioned Marine Corps Logistics Base are there, so I suspect there would be things to do.  Most of 'em probably do involve barstools.    Victorville isn't too far away for a quick evening night out. LA is 1 1/2 hours, Vegas is 2 1/2 hours and San Diego 3 hours for a weekend away.

The drive out to Ft Irwin isn't too bad.  It used to take me about 45 minutes in a fully-loaded bus, so knock five minutes off in a car (over a certain part of the road, the speed limit is very strictly enforced.)  I think if it's something relatively short-termed, career-enhancing and well-paid, I'd put up with Barstow for awhile.  But I've got a bit of desert rat in me - I like the desert.

[ntstlgl1970]

If you are single as stated and can make some good money in this economy, I'd go for it. Since it is a contract, I imagine that you wouldn't be there for too long anyway.

[cwestra]

Been through several times (potty break).  Plenty of dust.  Tough to keep a Challenger clean.  Gotta have a good radiator in your car during the summer.  Survivable for a short period of time I would imagine.

[lemming303]

LA is a great party town, we always used to drive up to Hollywood when I was stationed at Camp Pendleton.