Talkeetna, help with information (Anchorage, Fairbanks: homes, income, living in)

[jeeg]

Originally Posted by alan roberson

Well, it's not that cold relative to the rest of Alaska, I spose. In the 10 years I've been here we had a 10 day period where it was -45f to -50f. Just the one time though... it's not uncommon to have a two week stretch of -30f. Right now it's -20. The last three winters it has been unusually warm - two years ago it went below 10f once , I think. Sometimes you get a warm spell in January when it is 35 and rainy.
The summers are the best. It has been as warm as 85, but 75 is more common.
I love the long days, and while the lower 48 was baking last summer we were enjoying our lovely sunshine w/o the intense heat.
I really like the small town life. It's nice to know everyone and be part of something and have the postmaster put extra postage on your letter if you forgot a stamp. There is a difference between small towns that I know of in the PNW and Talkeetna in that a lot of those small wheat towns or logging towns are 1: dying 2: "hickish" and/or 3: not much diversity. Talkeetna is a very alive place due to I think the tourism and also the sort of people who are attracted to this place. Lots of different kinds of people, political views, cultural differences, etc. And younger people - well, late 20s mid 30s with kids - like me.
Hope this helps - I'll be happy to answer any more questions.

We (wife, 2 toddlers, and myself) are planning on moving to Ak either this September or May of '08 (I know May would probably be better but there are other factors). I've been doing a LOT of researching of different areas and just found this site last night so I'm catching up on reading. I just wanted to say that your comment has definitely put Talkeetna at the top of the list! Sounds like it has everything we're looking for thus far

[mal_flisk]

It's a little remote for me, but I like city life and can't live without a good bookstore down the street.

Talkeetna is a nice place. Denali is right down the road and it's right on the highway.

I don't know of work available there, but if you're on the slope, or truck driving, you can live anywhere in the state, except maybe the Aleutians. You can be trapped out there by the weather, and if you don't have a reservation, you WILL have to wait for a flight until someone cancels.

[Sib mom]

I am an old retired guy and wife. build banjos and guitars for a hobby . Think this might be a good place to retire?

[Trouthunter]

Talkeetna can be heaven for some people. I would say that the people from the area have a far more laid back lifestyle than most people near a city or town. The community is very artistic in general and very spread out as well. I suppose having room to roam may lead to idealistic lifestyles for some artists/craftsman/musicians.

I would have to say that you might be able to make a living in the area, but I wouldn't rely on the locals for your living. Just not enough there, but many craftsman/artists/musicians make a living by spending all winter making things (stockpiling) for the summer tourist months. The neat thing about the artistic communities in Alaska is that they all seem to be very helpful of each other. I really haven't heard of anyone in Talkeetna making any instruments, so you might have a good thing going, but its hard to say. I suggest that you come up and visit the area and make some inquires about your trade in Talkeetna while your there. You would really enjoy the area I'm sure and probably find out if moving there would be worth doing.

[Rance]

She is gonna kill me...but I could not resist! If I did not know any better...I would swear she was a local!

[Metlakatla]

Thanks, Rance. It's always a pleasure to see a photograph of the best town in Alaska, and Hannah enhances it well.

[Sweden]

Originally Posted by Rance

She is gonna kill me...but I could not resist! If I did not know any better...I would swear she was a local!

Aaaaaaah! Raaaaaaaaaaaance!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You'll get for this!!!!!!!!!!!!
I say I look horrible, then you say I look no worse than any other in this town (Talkeetna), and then you say this town looks horrible! Morr!
And what's worse, you put this picture on CD! You...morrhår!

(By the way, guys/gals, there are no longer two Alaska flags in that bouquete...And if Rance tries to tell you it was my idea...he's lying!)

[MinuteMan]

Originally Posted by Sweden

You..morrhår!

Morrhår = cat whiskers? MorrhÃ¥r - Wikipedia, den fria encyklopedin

Did you two shop in the little store behind Rance in that photo? I bought my Alaskan licence plate there and proudly display it on my truck.

[Rance]

It was closed! This was fairly early in the morning. We were headed for the pull off out by the lodge to have a look at the mountain. We were just getting up after our first night in the man van so yeah...we fight right in with the locals! And I pretty much forced her to get out and stand by the sign. Thus the priceless look on her face! And one of those flags traveled from Talkeetna north to Deadhorse, south and east into Canada, south to the peninsula...and now resides in Sverige/Sweden!

[upstream]

You couldn't pay me to live in Talkeetna.


An example is the picture Rance posted. Crime is so rampant there, that shoes are even stolen!


Actually, you could pay me to live in Talkeetna. It'd make the construction of my cabin this winter easier on the wallet.

Ken