I know I know, yet ANOTHER question about moving to Alaska (Anchorage: to rent, crime)

[karfar]

Thank you, as you can tell, I'm technologically challenged!

[Rance]

To send a DM...just click on a persons name and select "send a direct message".

[karfar]

Cool, thank you. So tell me, what's your favorite thing about living there?

[Rance]

I can't pinpoint just one thing. There are a hundred reasons why I live here. Scenery, wildlife, perfect climate, work, isolated from the rest of the US, northern lights, fishing, eagles, volcanoes, snowmachining, skiing...

[karfar]

Well, I'm excited to experience something different, although I'm trying to keep a realistic view on everything & not trying to romanticize it all. What are some major differences I should expect from living in the lower 48, other than the winters from hell!

[Rance]

I think coming from Wisconsin you'll find thwe winter here feels warmer in the same temps. Less humidity.
I lived in Arkansas a couple times back in the 80's. It's way different there than here although the country folk are similar. They've got a mind your own business and I'll mind mine attitude.
Other than that I can't tell you what the major differences are. You'd have to ask someone that moved here from "out there"!

[karfar]

Thanks for your help Rance, any bit of advice helps, it's a pretty big deal for me to move all the way up there, but it's nice to hear from people who actually experience it now, so thank you!

[Tressa]

Man I hate suburu's they are the slowest vehicle on the road, we've lived in Anchorage for 33 years now. I currently drive an all wheel drive Jeep, in the summer time I drive a corvette. It wasn't until recently that I had this jeep, a good front wheel drive will work wonderfully for you, Toyota cars are driven big time up in Anchorage so no worries. You don't want to drive a sport car in the winter months but any other car will do good for you as long as you know how to drive.

Only those that live on the hillside or don't know how to drive insist on 4 wheel drives. The rest of us can do fine with an all wheel front wheel and even a rear wheel drive I drove a rear wheel drive for more than 20 years up here in the winter times and yes I am female and blond. NO ACCIDENTS, NO TICKETS AND YES A BIT ABOVE THE SPEED LIMIT.

I guess is you choose Juneau you may need a 4x4 suburu it does appear that they are built on the side of a hill, but only been there on the ferry so not for sure.

[RayinAK]

You may be talking about older Subaru's being slow. The new ones are quite fast, including some with turbo chargers. Subaru is perhaps the number one seller in Alaska, but I don't have one. Subaru incorporated power to the wheels via a viscous system long before we started using such systems in the US.

I have been driving a small 1987 Civic Si (fuel injected) since I returned to AK in '87. I drove it from the East coast to Seattle, and then North to AK. I drive it to work and back each day, and has over 239,000 in the odometer so far. I replaced the water pump long ago, and also the brake pads and shoes every few years, and well as the CV-Joint boots every couple of years, but no work other than regular maintenance.

[cobolt]

karfar,

As a single female around your age who has been to Juneau, I am going to second Xa'at. Slower pace but you can find alot of what you need, and what they don't have you can do without or order online. No real traffic, laid back people, the cruise thing is only a problem in the summer (just avoid downtown Franklin St). I love Juneau b/c you can be 5 minutes from trails, there is great cross country skiing when they have snow, the Mendenhall Glacier, blah blah I could go on. Come for a visit this summer and see for yourself! I will be up there visiting again this summer.