How did you end up in Alaska? (Anchorage, Homer: work, house)

[DannyL]

barnacle, itdincor, both great stories.

[stiffnecked]

Was working as a police officer way down south in 1983. Saw an ad for the North Slope Borough Dept. of Public Safety in Barrow. At the time the starting pay was $20.23 an hour. 3 x what I was making. Unfreaking believable!!! Or so I thought. Sent in my application, 3 months later went for an interview in Seattle. The Chief showed me a chessy video of Barrow and asked me what I thought. I said it looked and sounded pretty darn cool. He offered me the job on the spot. Back then they didn't do testing and junk like that.

I got off the plane if Barrow and never knew what hit me. Went on to work for AST later and have since retired. Good grief, what fun that was.......

[stock66]

My grandparents moved up to Nome in '39 or '40. My grandfather was an electrician and I believe he was working on a gold dredge. They left my mom in California with her aunt to finish high school but they took along my uncle who was 17.
When WWII started they decided it was better for my mom to be up there with the family so she moved up at 16.
My dad was a pilot in the Army stationed in Nome during WWII. My uncle fought in the Aleutians.
After the war my grandparents moved down to Sitka. I guess my grandfather did a term as mayor there.

[tmelwood]

Originally Posted by akrev

God brought us up to Alaska as construction missionaries.

Deb

This is the first time I have posted so hope I am doing this correctly.
Deb...you say construction engineers....where and what do you do? Are you in Alaska year round?

tmelwood

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by Tarina

If you were to bring something with you to Alaska when you move, What would you bring? Something thats not easily available there, like furniture, food or electronics. My family plan a life changing move to the Mat-Su area from the Gulf Coast Mississippi. Thanks,

SOOOOO TIRED OF THE HEAT & HUMIDITY

We have plenty of furniture, food, electronics and even clothes here in the Mat Su Valley.

[SarahB82]

Well I'm on my way but I've already got my story ready for the future when/if I get asked this. It'll be one of two ways - I moved here fifty years ago all on my own with a job, eventually met my husband and raised a bunch of hooligans who now look after me in my old age after I stumbled across a solution for world hunger OR I moved here fifty years ago all on my own with a job, got lots and lots of cats and became that crazy eyed lady that walks the streets in her nightgown who mumbles about a cure for world hunger.

Either way, I'll be well known. Of that I'm sure.

[Barkingowl]

Originally Posted by SarahB82

Either way, I'll be well known. Of that I'm sure.

Just don't punch Satch at the Mugshot & break their new plasma TV.

[DreamChasers8]

Well, I said we would do it and we did....YEAH. We just arrived 3 days ago and LOVE it to death. We lucked out too. Found a great place to rent with 20 acres and the Little Su river runs through the back of our property.
Now we just need to get some furniture

[elgusano]

Mat-Su is like most other large cities, only further North. Not only can you get furniture and electronics, but you don't have to fight the same traffic, crowds, heat, etc.

Here in Homer we do a lot of our shopping at yard sales from people who pack everything up to move here, can't stand it, and they're not about to take everything back. I assume it's the same up in the Valley.

[DreamChasers8]

We are watching Craigslist and yard sales for furniture. Seemed the smart thing to do.