Dragging anchor and moving to Alaska (Wasilla, Palmer: house, to buy, to live)

[starlite9]

Kinda neat hearing the different stories of how/why people that didn't grow up here got here. Alaska is one of those places that hit both ends of the scale. Out of the fifty states (58 if you are Obama), Alaska was the best place to get divorced, get married, get rich, go broke and so forth.... It seemed to be either at the top end or the bottom, very rarely in the middle.

[blueflames50]

Originally Posted by starlite9

Well if you were interested in moving to Alaska and a job wasn't a high priority, I would go to Seattle, buy a boat and head to Southeast Alaska. You can check out a town, if you like it, find a place and stay, if not, drag anchor and head to the next one. Meanwhile, you have a place to stay and put your stuff and supplies until you find the right place. The trip itself will astound you, whales, birds, mountains and a host of other reasons the tourships do so well.

Oh, if you aren't boat savey, I would contact the Coast Guard Aux. and take some seaman ship classes before you set sail, well worth the effort!

But have the boat inspected by someone who knows about boats, if you don't they can be pretty expensive.....

Interesting suggestion Starlite!!! We bought land in Nikiski and still plan on building a home there.. but things have changed for us...the diesel school contract with our state fell through so hubby is in Marine Repair Tech school now!! He comes out with not only boat cert but Coast Guard Personal watercraft cert!! We had talked about checking out the Southeast area of Alaska but now it will be a real possibility!!! We figure there is boat engine repair work in Alaska!!!

[blueflames50]

oh forgot to add...we were in Alaska in 1981 and fell in love with the land, people and lifestyle...we made the pact that someday we would move to Alaska. Well, we were given the chance to start our lives over at 55 yr of age when the company my husband worked for the last 28 yrs closed!! yeahh!! Too date, we bought land on the Kenai, hubby's back in school for a trade that he can work in up there, house is going up for sale and we will be on our way and have a home built by 2001

[tigre79]

I keep saying I'm undecided but I just clicked 'I'm moving to Alaska.'

I've lived in a few different places, and while they've each had their plusses and minuses, none has felt like home. But Alaska did, in many ways. I'm not planning on living there forever. I'm not planning on leaving either. I just want to see what it's really like, to see if I was right about it being home, and I can't do that as a tourist.

Honestly, I do like the sound of being an Alaskan, and of being the sort of person who is tough enough to love it there. I love the openness, the wildness, and the intensity of the land. I love the idea of living at the top of the world, and seeing what nature does there. For someone interested in ecology and natural resources it's one of the most intriguing places on Earth. In addition, I'm looking for a different way of life than I've found down here. Something quieter and more challenging at the same time, with more opportunities for adventure. I want to have neighbors who love living where they do and are willing to work hard for the privilege. And I want to never run out of new places to explore or ways to explore them.

The cost of living is a concern, but I’m used to living like a grad student and don't really need any more extravagant a lifestyle than that. And the area I'd prefer to live in doesn't seem much more expensive than here, especially if you don't have kids. Real estate in MatSu looks pretty reasonable in terms of costs, and you don't have to live right on top of your neighbors like most people do here. Utilities also appear to be lower than they are both here and in Texas, and gas is just a tiny bit higher. I'm sure there are places I'd love that are cheaper, and maybe I'll live in some of them too at some point. But life is short and I only get one. I can't know that a place like that exists and not want to be part of it.

[nwcountrygal]

For myself I first came very briefly to Alaska in 87. I always wanted to explore the area with many other differnt places. If you would have asked me 2 years ago if I would spend part of the year in Alaska it wouldn't of even entered my mind due to work, life etc. I have always been a outdoor person and when I went to Hawaii the Humpbacks got me hooked.

I am in a position now that I can (very lucky me) take the time to check out differnt areas. I have been in WA for over 30 years and do love it when the sun comes out! Traveled the last year. Met people who invited me to Alaska. Took up the offer. I really thought I would just visit this year and visit again some time. Even after being there for a month I thought no I wouldn't want to live here even with its beauty. Too much to give up in WA during the summer. I know I don't want to live year round in Alaska.

The opporunity of working in Summer in seasonally jobs and enjoying what Alaska has to offer outdoors and fishing! After another month I think I am hooked. When I had to leave to come back to WA I became really sad to leave. The people are incredible that I met with such diversity and independance locals and seasonal. Even better I know I just saw the tip of the iceberg!Since I have been home I find myself missing Alaska.

I am in a easier position being I can stay with friends don't have to buy a house and deal with moving everything and can leave when the snow flies. I am enjoying after years and years of working no vacations of not being in one place year round. I know I will never be an Alaskan by only coming up in the summers but I sure will enjoy being a snow bird there.

If I can make it work - which I believe I can from the contacts and friends I have made, I will be making Alaska my summer home in the future. And no Palin had nothing to do with it.

[blueflames50]

Originally Posted by blueflames50

oh forgot to add...we were in Alaska in 1981 and fell in love with the land, people and lifestyle...we made the pact that someday we would move to Alaska. Well, we were given the chance to start our lives over at 55 yr of age when the company my husband worked for the last 28 yrs closed!! yeahh!! Too date, we bought land on the Kenai, hubby's back in school for a trade that he can work in up there, house is going up for sale and we will be on our way and have a home built by 2001

dang fingers and wrong keys...house built and living in by 2011!!!

[starlite9]

Originally Posted by blueflames50

Interesting suggestion Starlite!!! We bought land in Nikiski and still plan on building a home there.. but things have changed for us...the diesel school contract with our state fell through so hubby is in Marine Repair Tech school now!! He comes out with not only boat cert but Coast Guard Personal watercraft cert!! We had talked about checking out the Southeast area of Alaska but now it will be a real possibility!!! We figure there is boat engine repair work in Alaska!!!

Well finding work for boat repair isn't that hard to do if you are a marine mech. What is hard is finding one that pays you well for what you do.

If you buy a boat, and since most of the boat work is done in the harbor, you can live on the boat and start your own company working out of it on other boats. Lower overhead and you make the full $80.00 an hour most charge without the overhead.

Just a thought....

[Marty Van Diest]

Sat through a presentation by Neal Fried an economist. He studies the Alaskan economy. Basically, he says that Alaska always gets the most in-migration when the rest of the country is having trouble. This time is no exception in that regard.

But what is different this time is that Alaska is also in recession. Often, Alaska is counter-cyclical and is growing when the rest of the country is not. We aren't in as bad shape as many places in the country...but it isn't a bed or roses here either right now.

The economy doesn't look good in the near future either.

So we have a lot of people moving here, more than are leaving but we don't have a net increase in jobs. I think things will get more interesting before they get boring again.

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by Marty Van Diest

Sat through a presentation by Neal Fried an economist. He studies the Alaskan economy. Basically, he says that Alaska always gets the most in-migration when the rest of the country is having trouble. This time is no exception in that regard.

But what is different this time is that Alaska is also in recession. Often, Alaska is counter-cyclical and is growing when the rest of the country is not. We aren't in as bad shape as many places in the country...but it isn't a bed or roses here either right now.

The economy doesn't look good in the near future either.

So we have a lot of people moving here, more than are leaving but we don't have a net increase in jobs. I think things will get more interesting before they get boring again.

Marty do you find that the newbies are more interested in buying homes or renting?

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Marty Van Diest

Sat through a presentation by Neal Fried an economist. He studies the Alaskan economy. Basically, he says that Alaska always gets the most in-migration when the rest of the country is having trouble. This time is no exception in that regard.

But what is different this time is that Alaska is also in recession. Often, Alaska is counter-cyclical and is growing when the rest of the country is not. We aren't in as bad shape as many places in the country...but it isn't a bed or roses here either right now.

The economy doesn't look good in the near future either.

So we have a lot of people moving here, more than are leaving but we don't have a net increase in jobs. I think things will get more interesting before they get boring again.

Good points. A lot of people moving here without a job will be in the unemployment line, while a lot of others in Welfare. There will be seasonal jobs during the summer months, but full-time employment is rarely available these days unless one of the locals dies or retires, but these vacancies are usually filled by other locals who are already in line for the job.