Considering Move to AK (info please)

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Considering Move to AK (info please)
« on: October 03, 2009, 08:31:26 AM » by drewswife

Hi all!
My visionary/command man has wanted to move to the country for some time. We made a list of 'must haves' for the desired locale, and it looks as if it just might be Alaska. We were up very late (2am) talking about it, the pros and cons, but to me it all comes down to this: I'd rather him be happy following his dream in cold AK, than warm and miserable in Virginia.

So the questions I am hoping you could help us with are these:
1) Where do you live in (or have lived in) Alaska and why?
2) How hard is the lack of light in the winter? (this is important to him)
3) Do any of you garden? (Important to me Wink

)
4) How do you handle the cold?

Thanks so much!
~Heidi

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Re: Considering Move to AK (info please)
« Reply #1 on: October 03, 2009, 10:26:43 AM » by Mrs. B

Hey... I lived in Alaska for a while back in the early 1990s, while my husband grew up and lived there for over 20 years.
I went because I thought it would be cool, and my job gave me the flexibility to go for as long as I wanted to be there. I'm a native to Ga, and didn't even own a pair of long pants or a winter coat prior to moving there... I had lived in FLA and other sunny locations. I arrived in September and snow was already falling. I decided to live in Anchorage, and I enjoyed it. It is really more of a town feel to it rather than a city. Back then it seemed you ran into the same people over and over everywhere you went. The cold honestly didn't bother me. I got to the point to where anything over 15 degrees was tolerable in just regular clothes, no jacket required. The lowest it got where I was at was around 20 below zero. Again, I had a good vehicle and never had problems with the snow or cold, though I had never been exposed to it.
I was pretty young and green, but I did do alot of research as I was a woman travelling and living on my own at the time. I know you never really know how things are until you live it, but I did do as much research as I could at the time... sorry, we didn't have internet back then, so I just read alot.
The light thing was bad in winter, but I had a great tan as I went to the tanning bed everyday to get my dose of light. It didn't help that I also worked night shift so I was generally asleep during any sun.

I didn't garden, but my husband's family homesteaded during the 1970s in the Mat-Su valley, and they farmed/gardened as a part of their subsistence. Just different types of things than I'm using to growing in GA, and a much shorter season. Again I would just really research it.
I guess my main purchases for the cold were good snow boots, a good coat, and a couple of pairs of gloves.
I know that there are others here with more recent and practical advice than this, but this was my take on it...

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Re: Considering Move to AK (info please)
« Reply #2 on: October 03, 2009, 03:10:48 PM » by drewswife

Thanks for all the info! We've been talking about it more, and the cold is something we'd have to get used to. It's a good thing I like to knit Grin

. I have read that there might be a problem crossing the border into Canada with firearms. Do you know anything about that? Is it possible to ship them?

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Re: Considering Move to AK (info please)
« Reply #3 on: October 03, 2009, 06:12:35 PM » by mykidsmom

Two things. I highly recommend looking up www.citydata.com on the web. You can pull up the state of Alaska and what you find is people looking to move there asking questions about all the places there and people living there willing to answer. Questions will cover everything you asked as well as taxes, etc. We found this site totally worth our time and effort when we were looking to move a few years ago.

As far as Canada goes. You now have to have a passport for EVERYONE (kids included) plus birth certificates, etc. when crossing the border. What you might want to consider instead is taking the ferry from Bremerton or Bellingham (can't remember which one) Washington to the edge of Alaska. If you pack and carry your "items" well, they will not know. You can take a vehicle on the ferry with you. It's a 3 day ferry ride. It would totally avoid Canada and the issue of crossing borders which can bring its own risks these days.

hth

patti

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Re: Considering Move to AK (info please)
« Reply #4 on: October 03, 2009, 06:22:06 PM » by HappyWifey

Hi! I live in the Fairbanks/ North Pole area, and I love it! I have lived in WA, FL and CA and I would much much rather be in AK then any other state.

If my DH and I could afford to buy property any where in AK we would probably like to move to the Palmer area, and start a small farm.

Honestly the lack of light has never affected me other than giving me a sort of "blue" outlook if I am not careful. Vit D supplements and a merry heart fix that right up though!

Yes we garden, if you have a greenhouse you can grow many of the long season items, and it is even better for those down by the Palmer area then here where I live. Many of the people here have gardens, and Alaska is famous for it's huge cabbages and pumpkins because of the 24 hours of light in the summer.

I have to say the cold honestly doesn't bother me that much, once it reaches -20 below it's just cold, and the temperature is usually only colder than -40 (here up north) for a couple weeks of the year.

Most people go from their heated home to their heated car to their heated job, and barely get out in the cold. Although if you can afford it snowmachining and other snow activities are a lot of fun and get you out in the cold. But no one does that -10 below or colder.

Some other bonuses, the economy here is AK has hasn't been affected a whole lot because there is so many government and military folks around. Everywhere I go I see "Now Hiring!" signs up. Many people here are more conservative, although we do have our fair share of liberals, but most Alaskans don't take to kindly to the government trying to control them.

Some downsides. The cost of living is a bit higher, but then most jobs pay well also. We don't always get the freshest fruit and veggies unless the store was able to get Alaska grown. Although www.azurestandard.com has been SO wonderful! Shipping if you order something online is usually a bit more expensive and takes longer to arrive. Even though we have all this natural oil in our state, Alaskans pay some of the highest prices for gas because it is all shipped everywhere else, processed and then shipped back up. Not fun.

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Re: Considering Move to AK (info please)
« Reply #5 on: October 03, 2009, 06:24:28 PM » by HappyWifey

Quote from: mykidsmom on October 03, 2009, 06:12:35 PM

When my DH and I moved here last fall, (I grew up here since I was 9) we sold everything we didn't need and shipped it all, then flew up. It wasn't too bad, I think $600 to ship everything and then $1200 for our tickets, for DH and myself.

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Re: Considering Move to AK (info please)
« Reply #6 on: October 03, 2009, 10:12:19 PM » by mykidsmom

Happywifey,

I would totally have to agree with the vit. D supplements living in AK! I would think that would do wonders for someone's mood. Man, the north pole!! Grin

It makes me shiver thinking about it and we get some coooollld winters here (ID)!

That's a good idea about shipping stuff up. I had a friend that lived in Kodiak for awhile near a lake and they fished A LOT for their food to help cut costs. But you're right, cost of living is really relative to wages so if the pay keeps up then it's usually fine. I would think wood heat would also do well there.

I am curious though, how do you do with the 24hrs of light during the summer? Can you sleep with that? That would drive me batty, I think because I can't even sleep with a nightlight. Ah, Alaska. Mine and hubby's dream to RV it up there some day.

patti

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Re: Considering Move to AK (info please)
« Reply #7 on: October 05, 2009, 03:40:59 PM » by HappyWifey

As a child the light never bothered me a bit, but now I usually have to sleep with a pillow over my head since we don't have blinds or curtains other then sheer.

Most people buy thick black out curtain backing to put on their curtains and that is very effective in keeping the heat in, and the light out. Both of which is important here.

DH couldn't sleep with a pillow (his first summer in AK) over his head so for the whole time we had blankets thrown over our window.

Oh something I just though of, here in the interior we get nice hot summers. I think it made it up to 90 once here, and for a week or two was in the 80's. For some reason it doesn't do that down south.

Usually for us though the average temperature in the summer is in the high 70's which is perfect.

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Re: Considering Move to AK (info please)
« Reply #8 on: October 07, 2009, 03:58:11 AM » by Sewbusy

We love it here in Ak although the darkness does bother me. My hubby does just fine though. I have taken LOTS of D. 25000 IU's a day in fact in the winter before I start to notice it helping. We are getting a "happy light" this year as well. If you have a problem with depression or feeling "blue" it can be very difficult. Not trying to discourage, just being honest. Some people go to tanning beds all winter. Not for the tan but for the health of it. Sounds crazy but it is true. Summer time we just use black out curtains.

Gardening can be done with careful planning. Lots of planning. We "tried" our first garden this year and got enough potatoes for one meal:) So we are planning now for next year. It is something you have to learn.

Taking the ferry is VERY expensive as well as shipping if you are talking about a household. Furniture is expensive even second hand ( at least compaired with what I was used to.) We found we would have been better off bringing all ours. If you can live with out for a while you can do it cheeper but it takes alot of time and watching for good deals.

There is a bulk grains/whole foods co-op that ships to major cities and can save you a lot on groceries... Hunting and fishing can also save. Friends that come visit say we burn the candle at both ends during the summer and that is pretty true. Winter is a time to catch up on sleep:)

Happywifey, we live in Palmer and would buy a farm in Delta if we had our choice:) I think price has a little something to do with that. We may be able to do that some year but not here!

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