I saw a few veteran post riding around in Anchorage. There must be alot of retirees in that town being you have an Army base and Air Force base there. Fort Richardson for the US ARMY and Elmendorf AFB. I noticed an AMVETS post and an American Legion post. I didn't wander into any of those, I had the time saved for sight seeing. I can imagine these post have some good watering holes and some interesting war stories to be told in those places. Perhaps even wooden nickaels good for a beer thrown your way. Usually, these post have pool tables, shuffle board tables, dart competitions. Not a bad way to come in off the cold in those long and dark six months up there above 60 degrees north latitude. I popped into a coffee shop north of Anchorage in Talkeetna and I struck up a good conversation with some locals. One, a Vietnam vet had his pictures from Australia when he was there for R and R back in 1970. Yes, good beer, or coffee and some interesting tales from the NORTHLANDS and about their services.

I have heard of PX on bases but the wording "BX" is a new one for me. I don't know if this is a term post cold war, or post Bosnia, or post whatever. I suspect it means "Base Exchange". Maybe this "BX" has always been used and I never realized it. I recently walked around the BX in Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage. It all looked the same to me. Just like a regular PX. I can also attest that the haircuts they give there fit military standards as I got one my own self. Of course, the good ole Marine Corps buzz that gives me that mean look when I walk by those Air Force punks as I give them an unwelcomed angry growl. They just looked away. (I didn't really do that growing bit but I did get a buzz.)

I saw CINNABONS, Anthony's Pizza. I walked around and priced some items, didn't really see way cheaper prices as I would in say Walmart. They had some nice Alaska souvenirs that seemed like good deals. Got a couple of ALASKA ball caps for 2.49 each. Got a couple of patches to iron on a jacket too. The cigars were expensive as anywhere else, no screaming bargains there. I guess if you live there, its always a nice option to have access to a base but with Walmarts, Sams Clubs, I think the shopping is better on the outside. I noticed SAFEWAY was strong up there. I have a SAFEWAY grocery store card I registered in Scottsdale Az a few years ago, but I left the card behind. But they asked me for my telephone number, and BINGO, it popped up in the screen and got my discounts. I also went to CARRS which is another grocery chain run by SAFEWAY. I didn't go into the commissary food section on base, so I don't know how the prices compare to Safeway. One thing you cannot put a price on is the absolute beauty of Alaska.