Moving to AK from TX (Fairbanks, Houston: houses, buy, living)

[warptman]

I'm in Bethel, 400 miles west of Anchorage, I go in at least once every other month to Anchorage/Fairbanks. Rayinak is up in Fairbanks, he'll see this thread eventually.

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by Ryehenry

So anyone on this forum in Fairbanks? Or most in Anchorage?

Most of us are in Alaska, and a few are in Anchorage.

Ray lives out in North Pole a dozen miles or so from Fairbanks. I lived in Salcha for twenty years, about 25 miles farther down the same highway. That's been quite some time now, so I don't claim to be up to date on who's what in Squarebanks.

Are you Army or AF? Ft. Wainwright is literally across the road from Fairbanks. Eielson AFB is 23 miles from Fairbanks. Last time I knew they account, together, for about 10,000 military plus perhaps as many dependants. Maybe more than that too. that are retired. The Fairbanks North Star Borough has about 100,000 people, so you can see that the military is a very significant part of the local population. And probably more so than most places, Fairbanks embraces the military as part and parcel of itself. That has been all the more true over the past several years while the combat units have been actively engaged in hostilities. (Alaska is one of the top two or three states as far as the number of "hometown" casualties in the Middle East.)

All of which is to say that while you'll hear that Fairbanks is good duty, you won't be able to believe some of it until you are there.

[Ryehenry]

Originally Posted by Floyd_Davidson

Most of us are in Alaska, and a few are in Anchorage.

Ray lives out in North Pole a dozen miles or so from Fairbanks. I lived in Salcha for twenty years, about 25 miles farther down the same highway. That's been quite some time now, so I don't claim to be up to date on who's what in Squarebanks.

Are you Army or AF? Ft. Wainwright is literally across the road from Fairbanks. Eielson AFB is 23 miles from Fairbanks. Last time I knew they account, together, for about 10,000 military plus perhaps as many dependants. Maybe more than that too. that are retired. The Fairbanks North Star Borough has about 100,000 people, so you can see that the military is a very significant part of the local population. And probably more so than most places, Fairbanks embraces the military as part and parcel of itself. That has been all the more true over the past several years while the combat units have been actively engaged in hostilities. (Alaska is one of the top two or three states as far as the number of "hometown" casualties in the Middle East.)

All of which is to say that while you'll hear that Fairbanks is good duty, you won't be able to believe some of it until you are there.

Well I have been studying the geography of Alaska this past week so I kind of know what will be around. She is ARMY and we will be in FT Wainwright. We still dont know if we will be living on Post or not. I have read that for living wise, it is a good yet bad thing to be moving in the summer. Good for daylight, but bad due to it being difficult to find a place cuz of tourism.

Any of you have any advice about living on or off post?

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Ryehenry

Well I have been studying the geography of Alaska this past week so I kind of know what will be around. She is ARMY and we will be in FT Wainwright. We still dont know if we will be living on Post or not. I have read that for living wise, it is a good yet bad thing to be moving in the summer. Good for daylight, but bad due to it being difficult to find a place cuz of tourism.

Any of you have any advice about living on or off post?

Just about all the housing units in Fort Wainwright are newly remodeled or newly built, including a very large hospital right by the main road and near the housing units. Living on post is very convenient, because the front gate is right in Fairbanks. The PX is small, and most military members and their dependents go shopping in Fairbanks, except for some groceries because the Commissary is quite nice. Some produce and other foods are cheaper at the Commissary, but Fred Mayer, Wall-Mart , and Safeway have their products on sale quite often, although Safeway seems to be more expensive than the others. Sam's Club also has good prices for produce and some other foods.

Moving during the summer could make housing off post more difficult to attain, but it also allows you to shop around for winter clothing your wife and you will need. The Army will provide her with military cold gear, however. But civilian attire for her to wear can be found at the stores in Fairbanks, if not at the PX. The Gymnasium is modern and quite large, located right across the PX and Commissary. So is The Package Store (liquor store), and Burger King. The Sports Store is located at the other side of the main road, across the housing units and the Hospital. There is a small grocery store, a fire station, a school, and a gas station at the opposite side of the hospital (on the housing units side). Living on post is very convenient, since you will be right close to town, while providing you with some added security.

[Ryehenry]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

Just about all the housing units in Fort Wainwright are newly remodeled or newly built, including a very large hospital right by the main road and near the housing units. Living on post is very convenient, because the front gate is right in Fairbanks. The PX is small, and most military members and their dependents go shopping in Fairbanks, except for some groceries because the Commissary is quite nice. Some produce and other foods are cheaper at the Commissary, but Fred Mayer, Wall-Mart , and Safeway have their products on sale quite often, although Safeway seems to be more expensive than the others. Sam's Club also has good prices for produce and some other foods.

Moving during the summer could make housing off post more difficult to attain, but it also allows you to shop around for winter clothing your wife and you will need. The Army will provide her with military cold gear, however. But civilian attire for her to wear can be found at the stores in Fairbanks, if not at the PX. The Gymnasium is modern and quite large, located right across the PX and Commissary. So is The Package Store (liquor store), and Burger King. The Sports Store is located at the other side of the main road, across the housing units and the Hospital. There is a small grocery store, a fire station, a school, and a gas station at the opposite side of the hospital (on the housing units side). Living on post is very convenient, since you will be right close to town, while providing you with some added security.

Yeah I have noticed that every base a Burger King and only a Burger king lol!

What about furniture? Its a bit of a long interesting story (which I can explain later) but my wife and I dont have much for it. Would it be smarter to buy it here in the lower 48 or buy stuff there. I have read that the cost of pretty much everything up there is doubled, but yet it may relieve some hassle. Just thought I would throw that out there too.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Ryehenry

Yeah I have noticed that every base a Burger King and only a Burger king lol!

What about furniture? Its a bit of a long interesting story (which I can explain later) but my wife and I dont have much for it. Would it be smarter to buy it here in the lower 48 or buy stuff there. I have read that the cost of pretty much everything up there is doubled, but yet it may relieve some hassle. Just thought I would throw that out there too.

You can buy furniture at the furniture store on post, although the selection isn't large. But there are quite a lot of furniture stores around town. I imagine that if you have the cash, now is the moment to buy whatever you want, specially in places of the lower-48 where the economy is the worst. It hasn't hit Alaska so far, perhaps because our State is a year or more behind (don't really know). Keep in mind that the movers break a few pieces of furniture during the transport, otherwise it should be fine.

I would not buy too much stuff over there, since you won't know if there is enough room in the new apartment for it.

[simplechoice]

Search on and off base for whatever you need and do not feel ashamed to ask if you have everything right.
I went from MS to Delaware on an Air Force Base and decided that if I had to change than they had to help. The military may be a pain in the ass, but they are also a very welcoming society.
Relax, it will be alright. And, of course, you have these wonderful people to help.

[browncoatflan]

What is it with the military sending people from Texas to Alaska for the last 6mos or so???

So far, I've read back in the archives pretty far, and in the last 6 months of archives there's been like THIRTY posts from people being sent up there from Texas bases.

Too bad there's no base-specific forums, or one labeled specifically for people moving up so warptman can have 10 stickies on the same old questions :P


Shan

[warptman]

Maybe they're paying back the state of Texas on what Bush did to the country and sending the military to the coldest place in the states. lol.

[snkalaska]

Like Ray said it's probably a good idea to get an essential set of furniture you like and bring it with you, especially if the Army has a moving allowance. My impression is that "stuff" is cheaper in Texas than in Alaska, especially furniture. Plus, you should be able to get a good price for it when you sell if. You can get an idea of prices by looking at Sadler's website. Sadlers > Home They're one of the major furniture retailers in Alaska.