I won't be able to give you specifics but have you accessed the listing of VA hospitals online: www.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp Also, how close to a VA hospital? Does it need to be a hospital that is real close or can it be a community outpatient clinic with sometimes going into the hospital that would be further away? In AZ, I would choose the Tucson area since we lived north of Tucson for some time in the 90s and it seemed at that time that this area looked less expensive and definitely less "fancy" than the Phoenix area. A lot of snowbirds flock to the SE area of the state. I would say to first line up where the VA hospitals are and how close you need to be to one.

Yes, Tucson/Phoenix are both desert, Tucson more so, I think. One thing to consider is that while these areas are great in the winter months, summer starts early. If/When it comes to the point that you can't travel, you'll need a well-insulated RV to weather the summer heat which is brutal with the other issue being dust, blowing dirt/dust which is the cost of "dry". Both southern NM and western TX are desert-like also. NM/TX, El Paso has a VA hospital and I see Big Spring, TX does but I am not familiar with that. I would probably try to rent a lot in an area before buying to just see what it is like. We are both veterans and also are looking to be nearer to the VA Hospitals and it can be challenging.

I lived in west Texas for 16 years and had a friend who used to drive to Big Spring VA hospital for his DR's visits.
Keep in mind that in the summer it is blowing dust at times, and in the winter since it is upper desert it can get cold and we used to get usually 1 dusting of snow in Odessa where I lived.

Edit: it is 1 hour, 62 miles from Odessa TX to Big spring, and 40 minutes 40 miles from Midland TX.

Hope this helps.

Roger

-- Edited by rgrrmg on Friday 1st of November 2013 06:48:12 PM