roughneck (Anchorage, Fairbanks, Anderson: homes, rent, travel)

[steveeo&juju]

Why anderson, because were buying 39 acres

[aquariusmom]

Why not buy 39 acres elsewhere though? I mean, 39 acres isn't a huge lot, you could certainly find similar lots elsewhere, so I'm just wondering why Anderson- I'd assumed before this thread there must be an employment reason, but really it seems like theres nothing binding you to that specific area...

[Magoon]

Originally Posted by steveeo&juju

Why anderson, because were buying 39 acres

I know better people than I have already said this, but no picture, description, or coordinates can let you know what the land is like. We just went through a similar thing; we had pictures and verbal descriptions...and each of us 'thought' we had a fairly accurate concept of what to expect.

All I can say is: wow...I wouldn't have even recognized a couple of the places we saw...even with the photos in our hands!

There was a time I thought we were going to buy something sight unseen and a couple of strong-spoken heroes from this board said:

"do not buy sight-unseen!" I for one am so happy that I listened...

Couldn't you maybe go up and rent for a little bit? Then you could get a picture of how very different the areas of Alaska are.

I totally understand your *want* to move up, but it would be a pity to sink all your money into something and then discover another area that would be better for you and your family.

Whatever you decide...good luck!

Deb

[steveeo&juju]

our credit isn t perfect, so financing through a bank isnt an option, weve both had liveed in the country b4, and want a small town compared to bigger ones.

[warptman]

MMMMMMM, Clear Sky Ranch bacon cheeseburgers...yummmm

[Metlakatla]

I was thinking salmon with salmonberry and Pinot sauce myself; absolutely heavenly.

[stiffnecked]

I hope it's OK to post this link. I don't think it's competing. But there are plenty of land deals out there where you can get owner financing and in locations that are closer to town. Please come up and check stuff out first. I've seen a lot of end-of-the-roaders who didn't know what to do next.

Remote Listings

[RayinAK]

In reality Anderson is a small town next to the Yukon, and not too far from Nenana. If you search the Internet for "Anderson, Alaska," you can find the web site for the town of Anderson.

It's always best to look at the property one is planning to buy, because some property have no road access. Besides, one has to make certain that somebody is not selling the land under a lake or something like that, a parcel in the middle of nowhere that can only be reached by aircraft, or boat, or snowmobile during the winter months. Also, one has to make certain that there is a title for such land, if it has been plotted, etc. In some areas of Alaska one has to build the cabin or house on stilts or peers, because the rivers nearby flood the whole area when the ice melts each year.

It is a tremendous hardship for a family to move to an isolated place in Alaska, specially if things don't workout as planned. If such is the case, it's best to have enough money saved for a way back to the lower-48, or at least several months worth of rent up here. Winters in the interior (Anderson, Nenana, Faribanks, Delta Junction, etc.) is brutal. Alaska town life is not anything like Hollywood TV shows such as Norther Exposure, or that new TV show "Men On Trees?" (I have no idea what the show's title is) of some town called "Elmo" or something like that. I watched one time and it was OK for laughs, and then stopped watching it when they introduced the usual Hollywood version of the local "gay" in town.

[mal_flisk]

Ray, I think you made a typo. No biggie. But I think Anderson is on the Tenana, not the Yukon.

[User 2]

Originally Posted by steveeo&juju

just out of curiousity where can my husband get a job being a roughneck?

Originally Posted by steveeo&juju

my husband works at home depot

Since I've done some roughnecking, I'm dying to know what roughnecking for Home Depot is like.