Post about regrets or not? Why so many? Here is my thoughts

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by cobolt

It's probably a person with a bad experience who has decided to stereotype the area and its people based on that. Rarely in life are things so simple or black and white as to put all the onus on one place, person or thing, as if.....

Absolutely. They mention drunk drivers in the Valley while Anchorage is full of them, and sadly, it is all over. This guy obviously is just not happy in Alaska and it's obviously not for him, however, there are planes leaving everyday.

[alaskarain]

Travelmate, with all due respect to the fact you have your own views and opinions. I disagree with almost every thing you said.

First off you don't have to own a home or land to take pride in where you live. I am happy in my apartment and have a wonderful view from any window I look out of, and I love coming home to it, when I have been away.

SO the "pie in the sky" don't pan out, at least they had the courage to try it. I admire that in anyone.

Yesterday was my 1 year anniversary arriving in AK, The winter has not been bad at all. Infact the winter back in Bama and Oklahoma, where I have lived before was far worse then here. Everyone told me all about the long dark hours. I gotta say it wasn't no where near as bad as everyone made it out to be. There is plenty to do here to keep you busy, if you are the kind of person who has no motivation, no imagination, and a blah outlook on life then yeah it maybe a miserable time for you, but thats on you. No one can chance that but you, its not "Alaskas" fault. I find it a acceptable trade off to deal with the long nights and long day light just to live in such a wonderful place, where the air is so clean you can taste it when you breath in deeply, where the water taste so good and beauty surrounds you in any direction you look.
So i've spent my winter here and I can't dream of ever leaving this place.

Who are you to cast stones and stand in judgement of people in the valley or anywhere as far as that goes?
Have you ever walked in anyone elses shoes but your own, until you do then you can not give a accurate opinion on whos lazy and whos unreliable.

People of diffrent cultures, races, religions, beliefs and background can be found in every single city in the united states. People who are hell raisers, homeless, mentally ill, rednecks, and "good ol boys" can also be found in every single city and state. Dumba$$ come a dime a dozen, so contrary to your assumptions, Alaska don't corner the market on idiots. For everyone of the "bad guys" theres 10 "good guys". Peace is not unity in similarity but unity in diversity, in the comparison and conciliation of differences.
Instead of spending so much time looking for all the bad, put forth the effort to find the good.

Having come from hickville usa (rural Alabama) with a population of maybe 500 people, my kids education has not suffered any, after school activities are plentiful. I had no trouble what so ever fidning a job and I hadn't work outside my home in over 8 years.

It is very apparent you don't like it here, I can respect that. However, your perception of the people here and the life one can, could or might make here is in fact just that, your perception and you can say your opinions and point of views respectfully and not be so insulting to the people who live in these areas. You are insulting them unneedfully, you can get your point across without ruffling so many feathers.

[Tressa]

Wow Travelmate38 appears to be a very unhappy person and nothing will change that. I"m not from the Valley and never lived there but I did vote for our Governor that grew up there and now she is being pursue for Vice President so I must disagree with you take on the valley.

I'm an import as my husband says I'm from Los Angeles he is born and raised Alaska I've been here for 33 years now. My children were born here they are now 31 and 28 the oldest lived in Arizona for five years and returned the youngest had the opportunity to go to UCDavis and declined as he didn't want to leave Alaska.

So again thanks for sharing your views and hope you find happiness elsewhere, perhaps in a bigger city with more people, more crime, more drugs, more traffic, more lines to stand in. I like my State and the "lazy folks in it.

[Tressa]

Ok so I tried to post twice, I guess this really irritated more than I thought.

[Rance]

It just occured to me. The most scenic place I ever lived, was on a hill top over looking Moose River...in a trailer house. Never bothered me then. Does not bother me now. Some times I'm lazy. Because I can be. That don't bother me either.
As my kids would say...somebody call that guy a whaaaaaaambulance.

[Xa'at]

Originally Posted by Tressa

Wow Travelmate38 appears to be a very unhappy person and nothing will change that. I"m not from the Valley and never lived there but I did vote for our Governor that grew up there and now she is being pursue for Vice President so I must disagree with you take on the valley.

Not to be a total nitpick, but she actually grew up in Idaho, the poor thing.

That said, I agree with alaskarain, and before that cobolt.
Alaska may be the land of incredible beauty, but it also tends to be the land of disillusionment.

[Barkingowl]

Originally Posted by Xa'at

Alaska may be the land of incredible beauty, but it also tends to be the land of disillusionment.

That really surprises me, even after I've read umpteen posts & counter posts on the subject. You have to be happy with yourself if you're going to be happy anywhere. You can't just sit back & go into a pity mode when you expect others to help you out & ease your way in life.

You can be disillusioned anywhere. Now I'm starting to get depressed because its not August & I'm not on my way north.

[Tressa]

Sarah did go to school and graduated from Wasilla High.

[karibear]

Originally Posted by Xa'at

Not to be a total nitpick, but she actually grew up in Idaho, the poor thing.

That said, I agree with alaskarain, and before that cobolt.
Alaska may be the land of incredible beauty, but it also tends to be the land of disillusionment.

I don't think it's disillusionment so much as unrealistic expectations. No place is going to 'fix' anything. The surroundings, maybe - urban vs rural, for instance. After so many years of being in AK there's no way on earth I could adjust to life in a city apartment, my soul would shrivel to nothing. Not that cities aren't fun to visit once in awhile, I just couldn't LIVE in one. And I grew up in one, so I do know what they are like.

I've seen a lot of people come to AK, and a lot of people go. It always fascinated me. There were a lot of the 'riffraff' types who came to AK and changed their names and a lot of them changed their lives as well. Some of them became outstanding citizens, others... well, they brought themselves with them. Some of the most unlikely people got off the plane or ferry and felt like they'd finally come home, whatever that meant to them. Others did the same, and within 48 hours they were well on their way to being hardcore alcoholics.

One of the saddest ones I ever knew was a Coastie who'd joined on his 17th birthday, I think, came immediately to the local base and didn't go off it again until his 21st birthday when some buddies brought him to town to celebrate. He was very bitter about how unfriendly the locals were, he'd never seen anything off the base, and when I asked him why, he said 'No one ever invited him to go along.' I asked him if he thought he needed someone to invite him to live, period, and he got all huffy and said I was just like all the rest. Poor kid, he went from living at home being taken care of by mommy and daddy to a service that did the same. I've wondered a time or so if he ever learned to take responsibility for himself.

[rotorhead]

So all those Mat-Su folks are lazy, OK...compared to what?

If you're comparing Alaska residents these days to people who lived up here in the old days, we're ALL lazy.

Imagine, the life of luxury that people consider normal these days...eating actual green vegetables in winter, living in a warm house without felling, hauling, cutting, and splitting (by hand, of course) your own firewood, meat on the table that you don't have to hunt and butcher yourself, graded (or even paved!) roads, and the womenfolk don't even have to birth their babies at home anymore.

I have a lot of respect for the old-timers, they either did it theirselves or they did without. Not that I admire them so much that I'd want to live back then, of course! I've grown rather attached to indoor plumbing and modern medical care, amongst other "luxuries" of modern-day living.

BTW...you want to see lazy, try living in New Mexico for a while and keep an eye on the state road crews.