Brad Comb

Have inherited this 82,000 mi Florida car from my Dad and need to get the AC working again - it's mighty sticky here in Myrtle Beach, SC, and I'm new to the area, so I don't have a mechanic that I know/trust! I feel like a lamb ready for slaughter. The CRT is telling me of low freon and therefore won't engage the compressor to preserve it, or something like that. Just wondered what out of the ordinary pitch I might hear about this vehicle's AC system (the engine is common enough!) Will I most likely have to switch from the old refrigerant? Is the compressor fairly common and avalable? Any educated guess what price range I'm faced with, with or without a new compressor? Thanks - any feedback will be appreciated Brad