New in Alaska...and homesick (Anchorage, Kenai: beach, train, food)
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Now there is a thought for your own business! Start/build/create an indoor dog park! I'd imagine there are plenty of dog owners in Fairbanks that could use it.
I agree with Rance's suggestion. Staying active and getting outdoors during the winter is probably the most important single thing you can do to stave off SAD. Also, make certain you maintain a regular sleep schedule. Go to bed and get up at the same time every day. If you still feel lethargic, try adding a few additional lights around the house. The type of light is not as important as the amount of light (lumens). Spend at least 30 minutes each day in a room bathed in lots of light.
The good news is that we are now gaining daylight. By March we will have the same daylight to night ratio that you were used to in Nebraska.
I don't live in Alaska so maybe I don't know what I'm talking about
I did read somewhere once though that there are so many people who move to Alaska during the summer because of the beauty of it all. However, after winter so many people move away because of the cold and dreary days. Therefore, many Alaskans don't try to get to know you and you feel like an outcast until you've been there for at least one winter. Maybe you just need to give it a little more time.
I don't live in Alaska so maybe I don't know what I'm talking about
I did read somewhere once though that there are so many people who move to Alaska during the summer because of the beauty of it all. However, after winter so many people move away because of the cold and dreary days. Therefore, many Alaskans don't try to get to know you and you feel like an outcast until you've been there for at least one winter. Maybe you just need to give it a little more time.
That has not been my experience. If you approach someone in a friendly manner, they typically respond in a friendly manner. It does not matter if that someone is a tourist, or first year Alaskan, or someone who has lived in Alaska all their life.
I have never felt ostracized because I was not born in Alaska. In fact, I found Alaskans to be much more friendly, open, and generous than the people were where I was born - Los Angeles.
How people treat you depends a great deal upon how you treat them.
i think that some people may have experiences like that, but it also depends on a large number of circumstances.
for example, anyone who moves to the bush for any kind of work- most people don't stay very long. people who already live there are very slow to open up to newcomers when the vast majority of them don't stay. people make very tentative friendships, afraid to make any real emotional commitment when it is almost certain to be a waste of time.
in anchorage, fairbanks, or suburbs, i would guess that this would be less pronounced. anybody care to contribute from that perspective?
This is my first winter in Alaska as well and I am having a very hard time. Summer wasn't that great either - not hot enough for me. I am usually Mrs. Happy but lately have been acting quite lazy and gloomy. I also have 2 dogs. My favorite way to pass the time *used to be* taking my dogs for a walk or a hike. I cannot do not that up here. Even with enough layers on I am still rather uncomfortable, and one of my dogs cannot handle the cold temperatures for longer than about 20 minutes (and I even make him wear a coat). I feel so claustrophobic being indoors all the time - I can't even crack the windows open for fresh air - drives me nuts. But I also can't stand being outside when it's -30...ouch!
I wish there was some sort of GIANT off leash INDOOR dog enclosure...that'd be nice!
Come on up to Fairbanks, Kelly, and lets hang out
I lived in Fairbanks for 6 years and moved at the end of this summer. I have to say that it was the warmest summer we had the entire time I lived there.
The only problem with northslope jobs is you dont just apply for them on alaska jobs.com or carrerbuilder you have to know the right people to get on up there in any capacity and building your network could take a few years and alot of people start off working in town and get to know the guys in the in town shop and start from there. Also north slope jobs are really poor jobs for anyone with a girlfriend or a wife, at best you will be a one and one which is still a week away from the significant other and is not good on the "maritial relations" if you know what I mean especially if you are both young (cough cough sex). They are taking away alot of the bennies of working on the northslope now because people are more desperate for jobs so the northslope is not what it used to be, used to be back in the gravy train days you could take a 30-40% pay jump going to the slope thoes days are gone (from overtime, time and a half, double time, all sorts of multiplyers and your paycheck was sky high, all gone now). I would never work on the slope, I would leave the state before I went to work on the slope in a full rotation, day trips or overnight is ok but rotations would suck.
Also regarding getting out during the day, I dont know about other people but I work from 8 to 5 so its dark when I drive to work and dark when I get off work so the best you can hope for is getting out during your 2 whole weekend days and take vit E supplements. You could try to get outside during your lunch hour or something, every little bit helps but the bottom line is the work day pretty much consumes all the day light hours. If you can swing a window office with a view that would help, of course once again thats usually pretty rare. I know the SAD (seasonal effective disorder) effects people but I have never seen it effect people unless there are unfavorable circumstances tied to it, like your fiancial issues, family issues/drama, work issues/drama, etc. People who's lives are happy, SAD has a fairly nominal effect on them, the seasonal disorder is usually the ising on the cake of worse problems in your life. If you live in san diego and are unemployed you can just say eh I will just go to the beach and chill out and can forget about your problems for a few min but in alaska the miserable weather conditions and darkness will amplify any issues you have.
Everyone is saying January a bunch of work is going to be starting, I will believe it when I see it, BP just had a bunch of slope workers quit because of drama from London and CPA is capping oil producing wells so thats not a good start.
The only problem with northslope jobs is you dont just apply for them on alaska jobs.com or carrerbuilder you have to know the right people to get on up there in any capacity and building your network could take a few years and alot of people start off working in town and get to know the guys in the in town shop and start from there. Also north slope jobs are really poor jobs for anyone with a girlfriend or a wife, at best you will be a one and one which is still a week away from the significant other and is not good on the "maritial relations" if you know what I mean especially if you are both young (cough cough sex). They are taking away alot of the bennies of working on the northslope now because people are more desperate for jobs so the northslope is not what it used to be, used to be back in the gravy train days you could take a 30-40% pay jump going to the slope thoes days are gone (from overtime, time and a half, double time, all sorts of multiplyers and your paycheck was sky high, all gone now). I would never work on the slope, I would leave the state before I went to work on the slope in a full rotation, day trips or overnight is ok but rotations would suck.
Also regarding getting out during the day, I dont know about other people but I work from 8 to 5 so its dark when I drive to work and dark when I get off work so the best you can hope for is getting out during your 2 whole weekend days and take vit E supplements. You could try to get outside during your lunch hour or something, every little bit helps but the bottom line is the work day pretty much consumes all the day light hours. If you can swing a window office with a view that would help, of course once again thats usually pretty rare. I know the SAD (seasonal effective disorder) effects people but I have never seen it effect people unless there are unfavorable circumstances tied to it, like your fiancial issues, family issues/drama, work issues/drama, etc. People who's lives are happy, SAD has a fairly nominal effect on them, the seasonal disorder is usually the ising on the cake of worse problems in your life. If you live in san diego and are unemployed you can just say eh I will just go to the beach and chill out and can forget about your problems for a few min but in alaska the miserable weather conditions and darkness will amplify any issues you have.
Everyone is saying January a bunch of work is going to be starting, I will believe it when I see it, BP just had a bunch of slope workers quit because of drama from London and CPA is capping oil producing wells so thats not a good start.
Uh...wouldn't that be SED? Try 'affective' instead. I see you didn't get a dictionary for Christmas.
I would take a guess that 99% of the people that moved up here have gone through the exact same feelings.
This is so true. To the OP - have you been here during a summer yet? Last summer was a reminder of why we put up with all the other nonsense. Unfortunately, such summers are not every year but when they happen, it feels like heaven on Earth up here.
But your feelings are natural. There is this sense of remoteness. However, let's see how you feel during the summer. You may be surprised.
But I do have to say - moving to Alaska without a job. Not wise. I hope you can discourage others from doing the same.
My first winter I was in an apartment and made some new friends. I purposely went out and met people which is easy to do in Anchorage. Strangers will talk with you and get into your business which is exactly what a person needs when lonely IMO. When I did get the blues I would call family. My daughter said "oh Dad you just need a garage".
She was right. =)
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