Tinker air force base Oklahoma?

Question

I am from California, currently living in Japan. I might be moving to Tinker AFB area next April and I'd like to know what its like there. I have an idea that Oklahoma is boring as h**l, I hope I'm wrong :) Are there any good colleges in the area? What is the night life like? What kind of outdoorsy things do people there do? What is the weather like year round? Crime? Any information would be appreciated. Thanks so much!

Answer 1

Give it a chance.  Many people come to Tinker and then decide that Oklahoma is a great place and make it their permanent home.  Anyplace is what you make of it.  Like a previous writer said, New York and California can be boring.  Oklahoma has good weather, lots of lakes, many outdoor activities, lots of open country, and a host of friendly people.  I have lived all over the world and chose to retire in Oklahoma.

Answer 2

Head over to AF Crossroads to the Spouses Forum.  Get on there and ask AF spouses about it.  I've used it with our last 3 moves and it has been a blessing.  They can hook you up with info, websites, friends, etc.  Heck, when we went stateside last time one of the ladies I met let me mail boxes to her since I didn't want them going to general delivery and held at the base PO.

Good luck!!!  We've got friends stationed there who love it!

Answer 3

Oklahoma is part of the "Bible Belt" and consequently there's a bit less "night life" than one could find in more urban areas.  Oklahoma is not exactly a bastion of liberalism. My dear fellow Sooners do have their finer points: you couldn't find more welcoming and outgoing folks.  If an Okie tells you he'll do something for ya, he usually follows through.  Oklahoma's state colleges and the University of Oklahoma are among the best in the nation.  

It is flat - there are very few mountains, although the Wichita Mountains are pretty (over near Fort Sill).  Many of the lakes are man-made impoundments, but still pretty.  If you like outdoor recreation, Oklahoma has it in spades - fishing, camping, hiking, hunting, golf, etc.

And yes, it's hot in the summertime.  God-awful hot - we used to sit around in the 100-degree heat in the high humidity during the month of August and sweat gallons.  You'll become very fond of iced tea and lemonade!  If you were to step out into the middle of a wheat field mid-summer, you'd swear the grain was baking into bread right there - it's a heavenly smell to those who appreciate fresh-baked bread.

Winters can be chilly, but it wasn't unheard-of for my neighbor to be out mowing his lawn in shirtsleeves on Christmas Day.  

Oklahoma can be boring as h**l, yes.  But so can New York, where I live now, and California, where I've also spent time.  We transplants have to go looking for our entertainment; it's not going to come to us!

Good luck...

Answer 4

Tinker is on the outskirts of Oklahoma City which is the state capital. There ought to be something to do. Here's a link to some videos on Oklahoma City.

http://www.youtube.com/VisitOklahomaCity

Answer 5

I just moved to Oklahoma, my boyfriend is stationed at Vance which is about an hour and a half away from Tinker maybe a little more.  Its definatly not a night life state but in Bricktown there are some good bars and resturants.  Where I live is boring as h**l but I deal, I like the quiet.  I lived outside of Detroit all of my life so the change for me is nice.  Its extremly hot here in the summer and the winters usually aren't too bad but don't quote me on that I only visited here during the winter.  You will adjust, you have to give it time though.

Answer 6

Nice attitude.  I doubt they want you in their state.

Answer 7

Crime is pretty low... OKC is developing a nightlife there but it is still not much, if you go to south Oklahoma (a couple hours drive) you can hit the Arbuckle and Wichita Mountains (they are really old mountains) where people go to camp, bike, hike, climb, and just about anything outdoorsy. As far as colleges go you have OU to the south in Norman (my alma mater) and OSU to the Northeast in Stillwater, you have OCU (Oklahoma City University) and UCO (University of Central Oklahoma) in Edmond to the north, there is also Rose State College in Midwest City and a few Community colleges.  The weather is pretty mild in the late fall to early spring and hotter than h**l the rest of the year.

OKC is in the process of bringing the Seattle Supersonics to the city and the Ford Center hosts a bunch of big names for concerts quite often... you have to look hard to find things to do.. but once you do it won't be so bad.