Eric,
Yeah, I am in Jax right now, enjoying what little leave I was able to get between finishing Advanced with VT31, and then BOLC in Corpus, I have to check in next week, and the whole thing starts all over again, at least this time I know I will be flying the plane I am memorizing all the info for for a good 3 years!!
As for off base, and living out in the community, you basically have three options:
1. Flour Bluff, which is right next to the base, on the little island there, mostly you will only find houses there.
2. South Padre Island, which is right east of the base, and as the name indicates is right on the beach (though the beaches in CC suck, IMHO, especially after seeing the ones in PCOLA). A lot of single guys get houses out there and split the rent, a couple of my other friends rented houses out there also. You are looking at the same commute time as from Corpus, but you are also away from all the restraunts/shopping/movies etc....
3. Live in Corpus itself, which is to the west of the base. The main "drag" or highway is called S.P.I.D. (and yes, for some reason everyone spells everything out when they say it here, gotta love south texas). Anyways, it runs right through Corpus from West to East, past the base, and then onto the South Padres Island, hence the name of the road, South Padre Island Drive. Some of the benefits are living closer to all the restraunts, etc. though I don't think the mall in Corpus is all that great, in the 6 months I was there I only visited it twice (guess I have grown up spoiled with malls up North, oh well). Also, if you are interested in your internet connection, you can get a DSL connection through SWBELL or ClearSource almost anywhere in Corpus itself, but not out on the island or on base. Maybe ATT has their Cable modems up and running by now also.
Hope that info is useful, good luck on selection, and if you get P3s drop me a line.
John