Moving to Alaska from Florida!! (Anchorage, Metlakatla: vehicles, rain, clearance)

[Metlakatla]

Sounds like the hellscape Frostnip described ^^^

Also, for every person who moves to Alaska and ****s it all up, there are others who thrive. Friend of my brother's came up with nothing a few years ago, and he owns his own construction company now. We hired a guy from Oregon who came up a couple of months ago and has fallen in love with Alaska ... he's going to do fine here. I'm hoping he'll take on a key role in the business.

We've bought a few tickets out ourselves for people who somehow got stuck, but there's no way in hell I'd spring for a trip home for someone with a BSN in nursing. That person could have fixed her own problems, and probably would have been better off for it.

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by Meemur

Too many corn fields?

The mechanic wanted to go because he likes to hunt and fish and thought he'd have superior opportunities, but he had to sell all but one pistol to help finance the trip. He also thought he'd be a big stud with the women, but I don't know why. (Got no dates the entire time)

Is he the one who made that thread in the Anchorage section about how women didn't exactly respond favorably to his stalkerish advances?

[6.7traveler]

If you can't find a nursing job in AK, you're not trying very hard. According to indeed.com there are 695 open RN jobs in Alaska, with 390 in Anchorage alone. Some of them have sign on/relocation bonuses of up to $20,000 if you sign a 3 year contract (if you leave before then you pay it back). There is also a lot of travel jobs that pay pretty well. I think Bethel is hiring travel nurses at $55 an hour right now, which is pretty much the highest wage in the U.S. for a RN outside of maybe NYC or San Fran/L.A. If you can't afford rent on a RN wage up here you have money management issues. Of course, OP has to finish the RN program first. And new RN's won't qualify for the travel jobs until usually after a year or the higher paying ones. Still I don't think there's a RN job at a hospital here that pays less than $30 an hour.

[Frostnip]

Originally Posted by Meemur

Have you lived there recently? It's great training! It gets really cold and there's lots of characters.

I have. Giving someone Minnesota when they want Alaska is like giving someone a kick in the teeth when they want a kiss.

If a young person employed as an RN can't hack it in Anchorage they're not gonna do much better anywhere else other than mom's basement.

[Frostnip]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

Sounds like the hellscape Frostnip described ^^^

Also, for every person who moves to Alaska and ****s it all up, there are others who thrive. Friend of my brother's came up with nothing a few years ago, and he owns his own construction company now. We hired a guy from Oregon who came up a couple of months ago and has fallen in love with Alaska ... he's going to do fine here. I'm hoping he'll take on a key role in the business.

We've bought a few tickets out ourselves for people who somehow got stuck, but there's no way in hell I'd spring for a trip home for someone with a BSN in nursing. That person could have fixed her own problems, and probably would have been better off for it.

Yeah, almost everyone I know who's failed at Alaskaing either would have failed anywhere, and/or had really unrealistic, uninformed expectations. I mean, there are also some people who've moved here, found it wasn't for them, and left under their own steam for greener pastures, but I'd call that more an adventure than a failure, lol.

I know a lot of young people who've really hit the ground running here. I think there's maybe an open niche for young adults here in many commodities because so many 18-25 year old Alaskans go Outside for school, work, adventure, etc.

[REE312]

Ok, you will freeze. Thats a given. Go to BigRays.com and get yourself a parka. Even if you do not use it its good to have on hand. But I lived in the south for awhile and I think you will use it. ;-)

Make sure you get 4-wheeldrive. Essential. Anything else will just imprison you to the city.

Research areas of town that are bad in Anchorage because there are bad areas. I have not lived there in 15 years and dynamics have changed abit but it looks like midtiwn is questionable now and part of South Anchorage. It used to be "avoid Spenard and Mountain View" but things are different now. Jewel Lake is good. East Anchorage is ok in many areas. Since you will be an RN you will probably want East. Stay away from Fairview. Its bad.

Everyone, and I mean all 400,000 people, who live in Anchorage go to Kenai to fish. Bring wire cutters and a first aid kit because chances of a hook in you is high. North to Willow and east to Copper River or further south to Homer might be better for less congestion. Don't do the Copper River without a seasoned guide. Lots of people die on that river.

Never hike or camp without at least a .44. Bears are everywhere and have thick skulls and .44 or higher can penetrate it. Better yet, bring a shotgun. Forget the .44. Shotgun. Even liberals carry a firearm up here. You will see hiking trails off the road here and there and it willbe tempting to go up there half assed. Don't do it. Arm up. Bells and bear pepper spray are good IN ADDITION, but not the solution.

Do not make the mistake of thinking moose are like a horse. They are dangeous and kill people via charging or kicking. Look at a distance. Given them respect.

Do not cruise bike trails alone. Moose, bear and men with bad intention cruise them. The bike trails are massive spanning the city. Just bring a friend and again, go armed with a pistol. You can conceal carry here without a permit but take a gun class for safety.

Always go prepared. There is no OnStar outside Anchorage and there are rockslides, avalanches, etc. be prepared with food, water for a few days, a way to produce heat and have a working knowledge of the basic mechanics of your car.

I'm a third generation Alaskan and have seen a lot of people come up and leave or learn to hate it here because they were not prepared. You'll do fine but AK is not a forgiving place so just prepare. Snd no matter your views on firearms, get one. There are predators here in all shapes and sizes.

Good luck!

[Arktikos]

Originally Posted by yurijock

However, since I would be coming from Florida, which is a complete 180 degree flip, what should I keep in mind?..

The long days of summer and the long nights of winter. Some people have more of a problem with the darkness than the cold.

You're right, Anchorage isn't that cold, but it's pretty cold. Check out the average highs and lows for each month. However, it seems the past few years have been much warmer than average, especially winters.

You don't need a 4WD or a gun. People have and do survive without them.

However, if you're planning on a pickup I'd go with four wheel drive because 2WD trucks are the worst in snow and ice.

[REE312]

Originally Posted by Blind Cleric

The long days of summer and the long nights of winter. Some people have more of a problem with the darkness than the cold.

You're right, Anchorage isn't that cold, but it's pretty cold. Check out the average highs and lows for each month. However, it seems the past few years have been much warmer than average, especially winters.

You don't need a 4WD or a gun. People have and do survive without them.

However, if you're planning on a pickup I'd go with four wheel drive because 2WD trucks are the worst in snow and ice.

He is an outdoors kinda guy. If he plans on hiking in the wilderness or backcountry camping he needs a firearm for protection frim bears and 4wheel drive to get there.

Just saying... Safety is important.

In town, not so much,

[REE312]

Also, DEET.

Bugs are bad in back country. I reccomend high DEET bug spray.

[Frostnip]

Personally I've found ground clearance and good tires a lot more important than 4wd. There are lots of 4wd vehicles that aren't that great on difficult terrain, and some AWD and 2wd vehicles that are.

RWD is some BS, though.