Give me your worst. (Anchorage, Fairbanks: living in, costs, stores)

[JavaPhil]

Darn I mis-spelled Title. I really have to watch what my fingers are doing!

[Nephler]

Originally Posted by HighlandLady

And in all honestly...just HOW important is donning Armani around here in the Winter or even the summer?! Thank you, but I'll stay with my Carharts. I prefer the husband's cooking...you can keep the fancy restaurants where you are.

Couldn't agree more.

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by fau2010

I lived in Alaska for 13 years and now currently live in Wasilla 6 months out of the year. Can you name one other major national bank besides Wells Fargo? Did I say there are no major banks...? Is there Holister, Brookstone (besides airport), armani exchange, etc? Maybe if you live somewhere where there is diversity, you would see that Alaska has hardly any...St. Paul isn't much better. Alaska is what 80% White, look at the restaurants, there are maybe a handful of Indian, a few Japanese, Chinese, Korean and the ones they do have serve Sweet and Sour Chicken, which is 100% westernized and caters to White people. Myabe you should join Palin and explore this country, better yet the globe and you will see what diversity is. My post wasn't remotely offesive and overall said Alaska is a good place. You sound like you have the intelligence of a 10 year old...or Sarah Palin. Yes, I am poopu and phony and i probally pal around with terrorists. Grow up you freaking redneck!

If you weren't, deep down, racist, you wouldn't care one bit about others' races. 80 percent White or 80 percent Black or 80 percent Native wouldn't bother you, you'd see people not races.

As for those stores...over-rated, over-priced, and not needed. Leave the ridiculous consumerism elsewhere. Makes me think of all the people I see even here in VT all worried about fashion in the middle of winter (read: wearing "fashionable" clothes that are far from warm in the dead of winter while complaining it's cold, wet, etc. outside). Putting fashion over practicality is stupid.

[karibear]

Gee, I though 'fashionable' meant getting something new from Eddie Bauer or REI, instead of getting it from one of the thrift shops. I really liked the Shetland wool sweaters, and there was a guy in Kodiak whose wife was from Iceland, he'd sell handmade Icelandic wool sweaters her family made every year about a month before Christmas at the year's biggest bazaar. We all of us, men and women both, wore Carhartts, Frisco Jeens, long johns, wool socks, knit caps, baseball caps, and a few cowboy hats, and Woolrich shirts. I still have quite a few Woolrich shirts, they may get damaged but they never ever wear out.

[warptman]

I'm a Walmart specialist and on occasions, Fred Meyers.

[SaucySophia]

Hmmmm, I don't care so much about a lack of Armani. In fact, I have plenty of high end stores here and I don't really care to waste my money on any of them. I have four kids and I'd rather spend my money on them and their needs. Trust me, they don't need Armani. lol Not to offend but it is exactly that mentality that I'm moving away from. We shop at Goodwill, not because we have to but because we want to and it's common sense. My kids don't stay in their clothes long enough to warrant buying brand new.

I'll tell you guys I'm a little disappointed in the lack of negatives. At this point my "rose colored glasses" are firmly planted on my face and I don't see them being dislodged any time soon.

I'm so excited. I told my sister I want to try cross-country skiing and she asked me if I was nuts. She says it's painful and you move and move and don't get anywhere. I can't wait to try it.

Thanks all for the great info. I can't wait to get there and start a new chapter in my life. 6 months and counting.

Saucy

P.S. Btw, sold my first bit of stuff. Woooohooooo.

[Grannysroost]

Originally Posted by JavaPhil

I own one (1), count 'em, one, suit. It isn't Armani, de Laurente or any other tag displaying son of a gum. I wear it to weddings, funerals and the annual company Christmas party. I am, however, the proud owner of MANY ties, due to 3 sons, and things like birthdays, Father's Day and Christmas. (I never said my boys had imagination).

I own 8-10 flannel shirts, 4 pairs of Dockers, and 20 pairs of jeans, in addition to Carharrts and Refrigiwear. Sweatshirts and tees, and I am NOT a "redneck". I am by far a more typical Alaskan than that. Alaskans are erudite, well-read, and, above all, mildly amused by the antics of those who profess to be Alaskan and still don't get it. "Make it work, or make it do, or do without."

I miss the myriad bookstores of Chicago and Seattle, but between C&M books on 4th, Tital Wave on Northern Lights, Borders, and Rachel's Twice Told Tales, I am content. There is always Abebooks online, and failing that, e-Bay.

I would like an Olive Garden, but can live without it. Ditto, Krispy Kreme, White Castle, Portillos, and a dozen others. Sonic never appealed, and the rest can go hang. If Trader Joes won't sell on-line - Pee on them.

I don't own a gun, but if someone said they wanted to take them away from others, I'd hide my friends' guns for them and try to get some of my own. If I'm pro-choice and my neighbors are pro-life, who gives a hoot? They're great neighbors and that's my bottom line.

Diversity is where you look for it. My kids go to Dimond HS. Asians, Natives and Hispanics outnumber whites in this affluent neighborhood by 2-3 percent. I realize it's not a "true" reflection of the population demographics of the globe, but I say that that is a darn well diversified crowd. My opinion here only, of course. (Does the sarcasm bleed through the black and white print, or should I change the font to red for the clueless.)

Right on guy, I so own guns and he wants to call me redneck with mind of a 10...so be it...I do have guns...but most do, if this is what we are..I like my neighbors for the most part, and my friends here and if most of AK was here, I think we would all be the same....amen Mal, another good one....I wear flannels and stretch pants, sweats, have to sit at computer all day...jeans too tight for at home....won't go there.....

[aurorawatcher]

Alaska Real People, Real Life.

[warptman]

Diversity, all this time I thought white balance meant having equal number of Caucasian friends, now that I'm into photography it's all good!

[aurorawatcher]