Move to Alaska or Montana? (Ketchikan, Palmer: real estate, construction, school)

[masrebrag555]

Hi Everyone,

I am looking for some relocation input from people who are familiar with both Alaska and Montana. I would like to have somewhat of an open ended discussion about the pros and cons of both places, considerations I may not have thought of yet, and any other helpful advice you all may have.

A little bit about me to help:
Originally from Oregon. I am about to graduate with my bachelor's in civil engineering, but I'm most interesting in construction management related jobs. I currently have job offers from companies near Bozeman, MT and Prince of Wales Island, AK. Both of these jobs are very similar as far as compensation goes. Also, there is another job possibility based in the Palmer, AK area. I enjoy the outdoors and the "wilderness feel" of both places.

Thanks in advance.

[Metlakatla]

What company offered you a job on POW? There's a lot of fly-by-nights here. A few good ones I guess, but construction seems to be suffering as a whole. Living expenses can be high here...what are you looking for in a community?

[masrebrag555]

Southeast Roadbuilders. Seems like cost of living is pretty high in Bozeman too, though I think the real estate is the driver of that.

[Metlakatla]

I guess you could do a lot worse than that company.

Don't know anything about Bozeman so can't offer a comparison.

Places to live can be hard to come by here, but maybe your employer can help with that. Should be a pretty good fish year for silvers, but you'll have to work off a nonresident license until you've been here a year. If you're the kind of guy who needs nightlife, you're SOL. Outdoorsy types usually like it okay here until something like today happens and they wish they lived somewhere else.

[masrebrag555]

Yes, I have a place to live lined up with both companies. So that's not really an issue. Why do you think the construction industry is suffering there? I grew up in western Oregon, getting about 50 inches of precipitation a year. Is there much of a transition to the 100-120 inches in Southeast? I like the idea of the coastal life, getting a boat eventually, the fishing, etc.

Thank you for your replies, Metlakatla.

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by masrebrag555

Yes, I have a place to live lined up with both companies. So that's not really an issue. Why do you think the construction industry is suffering there? I grew up in western Oregon, getting about 50 inches of precipitation a year. Is there much of a transition to the 100-120 inches in Southeast? I like the idea of the coastal life, getting a boat eventually, the fishing, etc.

Thank you for your replies, Metlakatla.

It's good that you have a place to live; people often want to move here but can't because of the housing shortage.

I was born in Western Oregon...the thing about that is that summers are damned nice there. I've seen people move up here and get Seasonal Affective Disorder in July. It all depends on you, I guess. I always found that Western Oregon had more and better opportunities for outdoor recreation. In fact, I am going to Oregon myself soon so that I can experience spring again.

You can learn a lot about what's here by looking on the Prince of Wales Chamber of Commerce Website.

This article talks about the current state of the construction industry in Alaska.

Alaska Journal | Construction forecast down 10 percent

[Arktikos]

Originally Posted by masrebrag555

.. Is there much of a transition to the 100-120 inches in Southeast? I like the idea of the coastal life, getting a boat eventually, the fishing, etc.

Thank you for your replies, Metlakatla.

If you want to boat and fish, POW blows the other two places out of the...water.

Weather wise, instead of a 6 month rainy season as in PNW, you have a 12 month rainy season.

Summers aren't quite as warm, and winters are a bit colder.

[masrebrag555]

Originally Posted by Blind Cleric

If you want to boat and fish, POW blows the other two places out of the...water.

Weather wise, instead of a 6 month rainy season as in PNW, you have a 12 month rainy season.

Summers aren't quite as warm, and winters are a bit colder.

Yeah, that's what it looks like. Bozeman certainly has it's own beauty and attractions too (although I would probably only be in Bozeman 6 months of the year due to work travel).

As far as the 12 month rainy season, it is definitely something I'm aware of, probably just one of those things I'd have to try and see if I was susceptible to SAD. Although POW seems to get 80-100 inches of precip vs. 140 at Ketchikan, for instance. What' the general culture like on the island and SE? How are the people generally? (Obviously that depends on how a person treats them first to a large extent)

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by masrebrag555

Yeah, that's what it looks like. Bozeman certainly has it's own beauty and attractions too (although I would probably only be in Bozeman 6 months of the year due to work travel).

As far as the 12 month rainy season, it is definitely something I'm aware of, probably just one of those things I'd have to try and see if I was susceptible to SAD. Although POW seems to get 80-100 inches of precip vs. 140 at Ketchikan, for instance. What' the general culture like on the island and SE? How are the people generally? (Obviously that depends on how a person treats them first to a large extent)

I'm not a fan of the culture here, but as a local business owner, I try to be tactful sometimes. Maybe today isn't one of those times.

Everywhere you go, someone's got their hand out. The sense of entitlement is off the charts. The social event of the season was a turkey shoot. Animal abuse/neglect is rampant. It's major Trump country, if politics matter to you. Lots of drugging and drinking. On the flip side, religious fundamentalists are well-represented among the populace here. School sports are big here. No real arts community or culture to speak of. ETA this is not in response to SE in general but rather to this specific area.

There are good people here, though. Your potential employer knows a lot of them. I'm pretty much a crabby old misanthrope myself.

ETA it's not so much the precipitation here that gets to people as the gloom. Just because it's not raining doesn't mean there aren't low-lying clouds much of the time. If you're the type who gets outdoors a lot, you might be fine.

[SanyBelle]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

...until something like today happens and they wish they lived somewhere else.

What happened there today?