[OleIrish]

Thinking of moving to Florida after selling house in NC. Need within 1 1/2 he from Apopka and 1/2 hr. of military base with hospital, Exchange, commissary. any one that can give info, thanks big time in advance

[kyle19125]

MacDill Air Base in Tampa would be your option. It has the commissary, exchange and USAF hospital on base. Check out the Carrollwood/Lake Magdalene area of North Tampa or Temple Terrace on the northeast side of Tampa, which would place you within 30 minutes of MacDill and an hour and a half from Apopka.

[OleIrish]

Thank you kyle19125, was looking at Patrick AFB also? What would be the pors and cons on both if you happen to know.

[BucFan]

There's no hospital on MacDill, just a large clinic.

http://www.macdill.af.mil/units/6thmedicalgroup/

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by BucFan

There's no hospital on MacDill, just a large clinic.

http://www.macdill.af.mil/units/6thmedicalgroup/

Thanks for clarifying. I knew it was a large facility so assumed a hospital, and guess it probably was at some point given the building size. I think the OP was looking for regular medical visits which the clinic should still be able to provide.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by OleIrish

Thank you kyle19125, was looking at Patrick AFB also? What would be the pros and cons on both if you happen to know.

If I were retired (which I'm guessing might be your case) I would opt for Patrick AFB over MacDill AFB due to one primary concern....traffic. The traffic in the Tampa Bay area can be pretty horrendous and much less in the Melbourne area. The cost of living and housing costs will be less as well with more for the money near Patrick AFB. I would recommend checking out Satellite Beach and South Patrick Shores which have a large active/retiree military population, as well as Merritt Island or North Melbourne off of the Pineda Causeway. All are well within an hour and a half of Apopka.

[OleIrish]

Thanks to both of you. Yes I have been retired since 1989. I am thinking more of Patrick. Another concern my wife has is the Hurricanes in the Patrick area being on the east coast of Florida. How are they when they come and do they have many?

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by OleIrish

Thanks to both of you. Yes I have been retired since 1989. I am thinking more of Patrick. Another concern my wife has is the Hurricanes in the Patrick area being on the east coast of Florida. How are they when they come and do they have many?

We haven't had a hurricane affect the state for nearly 10 years but when they do that area of the state is lightly affected. The very powerful Gulfstream current off the east coast of Florida begins it's pull out to sea just offshore of the central part of the state, making hurricane landfalls very unlikely in the area as they typically are pulled out to sea and northward toward the Carolinas and NY/NJ. The only concern is usually crossover storms (from the Gulf of Mexico) which have happened a few times over the past hundred years or so, resulting in mostly minor damage.

[BucFan]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Thanks for clarifying. I knew it was a large facility so assumed a hospital, and guess it probably was at some point given the building size. I think the OP was looking for regular medical visits which the clinic should still be able to provide.

Not long ago, they did have an inpatient hospital, but demolished it and built this very nice outpatient clinic - MacDill has some very good facilities (golf, BX, commissary). I think Patrick AFB has those amenities as well (I only visited there once to golf and see a shuttle launch). I enjoyed that area (Satellite Beach) but it seemed depressed secondary to NASA's downsizing. I think you'll find a buyer's market.

Never been up to Eglin AFB, another spot that OP may look at. Jacksonville as a couple of Naval Air Stations - but don't know their hospital. I liked the JAX area, though and could find myself living there instead of TB. Also has traffic issues from my experience - great golf courses in JAX NAS.

If you were to visit MacDill today, you'd see a large number of transient RVers who relocate to the base every fall and leave in April.......it's really interesting to see the campgrounds fill up and then empty every year. I can assume that JAX and Eglin/Patrick have similar deals (RV sites). Some of those RVs are as expensive as my home........might be something you consider to do, live in each area for a winter to see if you like it before completely relocating.

[GHOSTRIDER AZ]

Originally Posted by BucFan

Not long ago, they did have an inpatient hospital, but demolished it and built this very nice outpatient clinic - MacDill has some very good facilities (golf, BX, commissary). I think Patrick AFB has those amenities as well (I only visited there once to golf and see a shuttle launch). I enjoyed that area (Satellite Beach) but it seemed depressed secondary to NASA's downsizing. I think you'll find a buyer's market.

Never been up to Eglin AFB, another spot that OP may look at. Jacksonville as a couple of Naval Air Stations - but don't know their hospital. I liked the JAX area, though and could find myself living there instead of TB. Also has traffic issues from my experience - great golf courses in JAX NAS.

If you were to visit MacDill today, you'd see a large number of transient RVers who relocate to the base every fall and leave in April.......it's really interesting to see the campgrounds fill up and then empty every year. I can assume that JAX and Eglin/Patrick have similar deals (RV sites). Some of those RVs are as expensive as my home........might be something you consider to do, live in each area for a winter to see if you like it before completely relocating.

Look at NAS Pensacola, Stay while on hurricane duty and its mot bad!