Help - what do i wear? (Anchorage, Fairbanks: sale, transfer, to buy)

[teridb]

I was offered my dream job in Kotzebue, now need to figure out what I need to survive in the Arctic! I know my regular wardrobe will be fine indoors BUT what do I need to buy for outdoors? Any suggestions for where to purchase especially on line. I am in Florida so not many in store options for real winter wear.
I was told I should send myself food items as well - dry/canned goods. Any other suggestions are welcome! I will be arriving in mid-October so I know it will be COLD!!!

[Alaskan Mutt]

If you have a day or two in Anchorage you might want to head to Costco or Sams and pick up some canned goods to mail to Kotzebue. I would not recommend doing it from Florida as parcel post mail has a funny habit of taking 4 to 8 weeks to find it's way to Alaska.

You might check with your employer in Kotzebue to see how they go about with their grocery shopping. They might know of a service out of Anchorage that does your grocery shopping and ships it to you. Check and see what their delivery timetable is and place an order to arrive shortly after you do.

[Dakster]

Anyways when you are coming up you can spend a day or two in Anchorage to go shopping?

You'll be happier shopping at the stores up here for warm clothes - I lived in Florida for over 40 years before we just moved up here. If you don't mind used stuff, Value Village and Salvation Army are good places to check out. If you do, then the local stores here should have anything you could need. I ask people around me what I need so I can get what works in the area we are living in. Your area may be different... I am sure your co-workers will be more than helpful in this area as well.

[riceme]

I was transferred to Florida and had to live there for... I don't know, about 8-years, I think. I don't even think they sell cold weather gear there, do they?? Not in Pensacola, that's for sure.

I highly recommend VV... the one in Fairbanks is pretty great. People get rid of perfectly good stuff. Last year around October there were a bunch of bunny boots in our VV. And Big Ray's just had a big sale on them, too. Do you all have a Big Ray's down there? That's not a bad place to buy new gear.

Regarding your regular wardrobe, I hauled summer clothes from Florida to two states before I finally got rid of them before I moved here. Never wore any of it after I left the Redneck Riviera. I would plan on layering. Also, I don't know how they roll in Kotzebue, but "business casual" here has a radically different definition than in the lower 48. I work at a gold mine and business casual means Levis/Carhartts/Wranglers, t-shirts or hoodies and steel toed boots. I worked in heavy industrial manufacturing in the lower 48 and business casual meant that I had to wear a skirt and heels. When I went out into the shop or out in the yard (easily half my day) I wore steel toed boots... the guys always teased me that I looked like Olive Oyl, lol.

[riceme]

Oh, enjoy your produce (and the prices!) while you can. I miss avocados. We have them but they're $2/ea.

If you have specialty grocery items that you *really* enjoy, I would definitely ship those items to yourself, even if they do take a month to six weeks to arrive. I find that good coffee is kind of hard to find and the good coffee I do find is pretty expensive. My sisters ship me up a lot of coffee. My folks ship me dried fruit and tasty treats from Trader Joe's for birthday/holiday stuff.

Especially if you're coming up on your own it might make it a little easier to have some creature comforts. I came up alone but I have family here and I've moved all over the country by myself... it was not a big deal to me. I think it might be a little harder for a different sort of person.

But yeah, as someone above said, I'd ship the standard stuff from Anchorage if I were you.

[Atkutuq]

You can purchase anything you need including fresh meat in Kotzebue @ the Ac store just to name one source.
I would never ever live in Kotzebue again because it gets just too darn hot in the summer time. Absolutely unbearable!

[riceme]

Originally Posted by Atkutuq

You can purchase anything you need including fresh meat in Kotzebue @ the Ac store just to name one source.
I would never ever live in Kotzebue again because it gets just too darn hot in the summer time. Absolutely unbearable!

I was thinking the prices were probably pretty high there, no??

I am not a hot wx person either... I thought I was going to die in Florida but somehow I survived. Those wussies in Kansas thought it was "hot and humid" there. They have no IDEA what hot and humid is!

[Dakster]

riceme - Yep. Lived in South Florida. That is hot and humid. (and so is Central and Northern Florida). And business casual means the same where my wife works and she is an accountant...

Warptman - LOL... Are we going back to that discussion again. I could handle the eating of raw meat (fish) to stay warm, but that other stuff is snot funny at all...

[riceme]

Originally Posted by Dakster

riceme - Yep. Lived in South Florida. That is hot and humid. (and so is Central and Northern Florida). And business casual means the same where my wife works and she is an accountant...

Warptman - LOL... Are we going back to that discussion again. I could handle the eating of raw meat (fish) to stay warm, but that other stuff is snot funny at all...

I lived one summer in Orlando while in transition to Kansas... I was utterly miserable. I don't know that it's hotter there than Pensacola, but I do not like cities one bit (Fairbanks is huge to me). Never would be too soon for me to return to Orlando.

Oh, and I was wrong... avocados are $2.50/each :/

[AADAD]

You will need

Down coat rated to -50. LL Bean Baxter State Parka $199.00
Sub Zero boots. Many choices. Make sure they can fit ice cleats.
Warmest gloves.
Baklava for your face. I recommend moisture wicking synthetic over wool.
Cap, eye and ear protection. Don't get fancy (unless you're a girl)
Moisture wicking socks. Warmer the better. Sock liners as well.
Silk or low weight undergarments like long johns. lightweight.
Sunglasses specifically for glaring ice. I like Julbo Glacier Glasses.

If you have a pair of ski pants with suspender type that is the way to go. Put over your regular pants they will keep you warm when you are out for a while.