How did you end up in Alaska? (Soldotna: home, high school)

[Rance]

There was a MOUSE walking through your front yard?? Wow..

I've had all kinds of mouse in my front yard this winter. I see their tracks all the time. Not sure where they came from. Have not had any in 4 years that I know of...and now tracks everywhere.

[blueflames50]

Originally Posted by Rance

I've had all kinds of mouse in my front yard this winter. I see their tracks all the time. Not sure where they came from. Have not had any in 4 years that I know of...and now tracks everywhere.

first the wabbits eat your apples trees now ya got mouses, mices, mice....are you becoming the pied pipper of the small animals in Alaska Rance....just leave the bears for the fool who thinks their is buds!!

[akck]

Originally Posted by Rance

I've had all kinds of mouse in my front yard this winter. I see their tracks all the time. Not sure where they came from. Have not had any in 4 years that I know of...and now tracks everywhere.

My dog caught a mouse in the firewood stack. Probably a few more there because he keeps looking.

[thebushman]

Well I'm not in AK yet but i will be, so ill tell events that have led on to this and events that will lead me up there. My dad is a travel nurse, so 4 years ago after my parents got a divorce he moved to Dillingham for a year. He loved it so much, but his love for his family was bigger. So he came back to Tulsa to re-marry, and to see his family. He stayed for a 2 years and then moved back up in October of 2008. And now me my step sister, and step mom will be moving up this summmer.

[CSININDY]

My husband's job was eliminated in Indiana and the only places the company still had the position was Hawaii and Alaska. Hawaii didn;t have any openings. So we loaded everything we owned that could fit in a cargo trailer and tossed the cats in the truck and off we drove to the west coast and caught a plane after shipping our truck and trailer on the barge

[cblackwell]

came to alaska on mission trips and loved it, so when my husband found a job up here (army) we had to come! now my parents are coming up this spring! my dad has purchased a restaurant (another dream of his besides living in AK) and the adventures continue!

[Nephler]

Originally Posted by thebushman

Well I'm not in AK yet but i will be, so ill tell events that have led on to this and events that will lead me up there. My dad is a travel nurse, so 4 years ago after my parents got a divorce he moved to Dillingham for a year. He loved it so much, but his love for his family was bigger. So he came back to Tulsa to re-marry, and to see his family. He stayed for a 2 years and then moved back up in October of 2008. And now me my step sister, and step mom will be moving up this summmer.

I have to say bushman, that really is a great, touching story, and good for you.

[Ryehenry]

ARMY will be bringing my wife and I up there. After talking to the few on here that I have....I REALLY cant wait!!!

[rwjoyak]

My great grandfather arrived in Fairbanks as a laborer on one of ET Barnette's boats around 1904; his wife and young kids were living in Skagway then. He was killed a couple of years later in an accident and is buried in the Skagway cemetery, not far from Soapy Smith's grave. My great grandmother took the kids back to NY where they were from, but returned with them a few years later. She homesteaded where Ft Wainwright is now. Talk about tough; she and the kids lived in a tent all winter long the first year at -60F. My family's lived in Fairbanks ever since and there's even a school named after my grandfather (he was president of the school board for 25 years).
My wife's family has also been up there a long time; back into the 1890s. Her mom was born in Iditarod and her uncle was Lindy Lindberg, as in Lindy's Grocery for those of you who have long-time Fairbanks memories.
We were both born in 1951 and lived in Fairbanks until we moved outside in 1989; 20 years ago now although it sure doesn't seem that long. Our kids, both born up there, are 5th generation Fairbanksans, which was probably about the max possible at that time. All of us still think of Fairbanks as home and we get back up there when we can to visit friends and family. Due to health reasons my wife and I won't be moving back to live there again, but we still consider ourselves Fairbanksans first and Alaskans second. Anywhere else comes in a distant third. Once Fairbanks is in your blood it's there forever. And it runs deep in our blood.

[roadfamily6now]

this is a great thread and when I have time I will read more replies....

My own story is

After 2 years on Adak and many R&R's to Anchorage, Alaska grabbed ahold of our hearts and would not let go. We were then stationed on Whidbey Island and planned a career out of the Navy but life had other plans. My Hubby was medically retired from the Navy just 3 years later and they offered us a one way trip to anywhere in the US upon seperation.
Immediately we choose ALASKA!

We packed up all our belongings (what was left after our moving sale) into a Uhaul. Loaded up our 2 kids and away we went. We have all the money we had in our pocket and just drove.
We landed in Delta Junction with $150 and have somehow managed to create quite a life for us here!

13 year residents and counting!