Kenai, Fairbanks, Anchorage or Juneau - where should I go? (Soldotna: college, campers)

[Lakester]

Kenai, Soldotna would be a good place to look into. There was talk awhile ago of some kind of med center or clinic going in in Kenai

[stiffnecked]

Originally Posted by danisiri

As for why we want some acreage, why not? Property ownership is a stalwart of stable societies and I like to be able to have some space to do things, whether to raise animals or grow ice-rice as was alluded (rice is a staple of our diet, after all).

On a more serious note then, if you're going to grow rice you might want to consider one of the wild varieties that is more suited to the Alaskan climate.

In southeast Alaska you could plant Northern Rice Root as pictured below. Or in southcentral Alaska you could plant Chocolate Lily. They both produce a rice bulblet that is edible.

On a nature tour I was doing in Ketchikan a few years ago I came across this plant. I was calling it a Chocolate Lily until it was pointed out to me that it was actually a Northern Rice Root. The differences are small but they are there.

[Grannysroost]

If you want some acreage, more layed-back lifestyle, not sure where you are now, but lower cost of living in AK (though higher than -48) I would stick with Kenai peninsula. You have a decent selection of grocery stores, other stores, and do not need to go far unless you want city entertainment, lots of outdoor activities, hey maybe they have a Thai cooking class at the community college, etc., or start one?

[Rance]

Originally Posted by stiffnecked

On a more serious note then, if you're going to grow rice you might want to consider one of the wild varieties that is more suited to the Alaskan climate.

In southeast Alaska you could plant Northern Rice Root as pictured below. Or in southcentral Alaska you could plant Chocolate Lily. They both produce a rice bulblet that is edible.

On a nature tour I was doing in Ketchikan a few years ago I came across this plant. I was calling it a Chocolate Lily until it was pointed out to me that it was actually a Northern Rice Root. The differences are small but they are there.

We have these all over the yard at our cabin! I had no idea it was edible.

[stiffnecked]

Originally Posted by Rance

We have these all over the yard at our cabin! I had no idea it was edible.

What you have in your area are probably Chocolate lillies. Good article in the Redbout Reporter, link attached.

Wait until late in the summer/early fall and there is a bulblet of rice lookin' stuff attached to it. You gotta soak it over night to take some of the bitterness out of it. In all honesty it's really just easier to buy a bag of rice at the store. But in one of those Bear Grylls survival moments it could come in handy.



Science of the Seasons: Pretty smelly

[NOTAM]

amazed that people dont know how much us RN's make. i have made way over 100K/year with just a little overtime or per diem work on the side.
most of the RN's i work with make a base pay of around 65-80K here in Texas

[danisiri]

Well...seems that our choices are being narrowed down to Soldotna or Fairbanks. Juneau seems nice climate wise, but the cost-of-living is higher than we would like, especially compared to Soldotna or Fairbanks. But perhaps it is worth it? I need to get up and take a tour of all these places.

That being said, is winter the worst time to visit, lol? Or perhaps the best, so that we can see the worst of the weather?

[naturesdreams]

Danisiri... Juneau is a friendly place with locals willing to help.. at least when I visited there and they found out I wasn't on a cruise ship

The problem with Juneau is you are locked in with only boat or air to get to other areas in Alaska. Since you would have the "income" to fly to other areas that might work out for you but like you stated the cost of living is much higher. I had asian food while there and it was great.. not Thai though.. good luck in your choice.

Like Ship posted... many helpful people in these Alaskan posts and there are so many posters such as yourself and myself wanting to move to Alaska and the first thing most Alaskan "wanna bes" must keep in mind... it is nothing like the lower 48 and thank goodness it isn't.. that's why I want to relocate myself... and I wish I could visit more before my move but the cost, at least for me, just isn't feasible.

[naturesdreams]

Originally Posted by stiffnecked

What you have in your area are probably Chocolate lillies. Good article in the Redbout Reporter, link attached.

Wait until late in the summer/early fall and there is a bulblet of rice lookin' stuff attached to it. You gotta soak it over night to take some of the bitterness out of it. In all honesty it's really just easier to buy a bag of rice at the store. But in one of those Bear Grylls survival moments it could come in handy.



Science of the Seasons: Pretty smelly

Stiff... very interesting... there are more things that are so incredible that one would have never have imagined... thank you for these..

[Marty Van Diest]

Originally Posted by danisiri

That being said, is winter the worst time to visit, lol? Or perhaps the best, so that we can see the worst of the weather?

I would say you should visit this winter...like in January or February, and then again in June. That would show you the best and worst of Alaska. It's like night and day. Part of what I like about Alaska is the extremes and winter and summer in Alaska are certainly extreme.