Lkg 4 Feedback From People Who Moved To Alaska (Anchorage, Kenai: rental car, rental)
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Thanks to all for the feedback. A lot good points dcbrewmeister. Making a trip in the dead of winter is a good idea too. I won't let it dissuade but I'm thinking it could also be a financial nightmare. So for now i'm reevaluating.
AKJohn - I really have to ask, have you ever actually been to Alaska? I have talked to a lot of people who have the "dream" of moving to AK, but who have never actually been or visited on a cruise... This would be a HUGE HUGE HUGE mistake... did I mention it would be a HUGE mistake? Alaska is very different than anywhere in the lower 48 then you could EVER imagine...
This is very true. I don't think anyone should ever move here unless they've spent significant time here in the dead of winter. I see a lot of people idealizing Alaska, usually people who have only been here in the summer, or not at all.
I've been here a year and a half and have hated it. I'm moving out asap. I had visited in the summer and fell in love with Alaska. After spending some harsh winters in MN, I thought it couldn't be that much worse. I was wrong. It's much worse, lol. It also has a very different "vibe" than the lower 48. Some people like it, some don't. I didn't.
So before you spend tons of money moving here, make sure you are being realistic. It's expensive to move here and expensive to leave, so make sure you know exactly what you are getting yourself into before you make the move. There are a lot of potential negatives to living in Alaska so make sure you aren't idealizing it and creating a fantasy in your mind that doesn't actually exist.
This is very true. I don't think anyone should ever move here unless they've spent significant time here in the dead of winter. I see a lot of people idealizing Alaska, usually people who have only been here in the summer, or not at all.
You are overlooking the "adventure" aspect of moving to Alaska.
I had never been to Alaska before moving from Los Angeles. That was just over 21 years ago, and I have absolutely no intention of ever leaving.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Heather223
I've been here a year and a half and have hated it. I'm moving out asap. I had visited in the summer and fell in love with Alaska. After spending some harsh winters in MN, I thought it couldn't be that much worse. I was wrong. It's much worse, lol. It also has a very different "vibe" than the lower 48. Some people like it, some don't. I didn't.
You also happen to be here during a record-breaking winter. The last time south-central Alaska got that much snow was in 1956. There have also been winters when Anchorage, Kentucky, got more snow and colder temperatures than Anchorage, Alaska. In the 20 winters I have spent in Alaska, each one has been different in some way. That is also part of living in Alaska, adapting to whatever nature throws at you.
As far as having a different "vibe" than the lower-48, nothing could please me more. One of the reasons I love Alaska is because it is not like the lower-48, and I want to keep it that way.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Heather223
So before you spend tons of money moving here, make sure you are being realistic. It's expensive to move here and expensive to leave, so make sure you know exactly what you are getting yourself into before you make the move. There are a lot of potential negatives to living in Alaska so make sure you aren't idealizing it and creating a fantasy in your mind that doesn't actually exist.
That is probably prudent advice, and you are right, it is indeed expensive to move to Alaska. That is also the primary purpose of this forum, to help people have a realistic understanding of what it means to live in Alaska.
Best thing I've ever done is move here. It's given me a new lease on life. I made the mistake of moving away for almost a year after being here for a year and that was a huge mistake. Now I'm back and have no intentions of leaving again.
I spent 3 weeks in Anchorage in February 2011, and it was actually colder in the Texas Panhandle (where I'm from) than it was in Anchorage! I was house/dog sitting for my kids while they were on vacation. It was like a vaca for me too.... I enjoyed the little bits of snowfall here and there, had no trouble going to the grocery store or shopping, walked the dogs.
The only "bad" thing was when I shoveled the 2-car driveway and as I was putting away the snow shovel, the guy next door came out and fired up his snowblower. I've always thought he watched me doing that and laughed....
I get that it's difficult to verbalize a "vibe", but could someone give it their best shot?
Hmmm, I'll give it a shot. Keep in mind this is just my perspective on the "vibe", coming from someone who doesn't like it here. People who love it here will give you an alternate view of the "vibe."
So...*to me* the vibe is sort of a, "F it all, just gettin' through the day" sort of vibe. Let me see if I can try to explain it -
There just seems to be a lot of "mediocre" here, in all respects. Restaurants are mediocre (if that), parks are mediocre, libraries are worse than mediocre, community services are mediocre, medical care is mediocre, education is mediocre, etc.
There seem to be a lot of unhappy people here. A LOT of homelessness, alcoholism, domestic abuse, rape and violence against women, etc. There is a lot that is ugly about this place. There are people who find a lot of beauty here too, but I guess I'm not one of them. I came from a really beautiful place in the lower 48, so the beauty of Alaska was kind of, "ehhh..." for me. It's definitely pretty here, and I think Alaska is a fantastic place to visit in the summer, but living here is a totally and completely different story. The beauty doesn't make up for all the negatives, imo.
Anchorage is not a visually appealing city (I'm talking about the architecture and buildings, not the natural surroundings.) There are a lot of older, run-down, industrial-like buildings. It just has a dirty, grimy feel, especially during break-up.
You don't have the highly competent, cutting edge professionals here that you'll find in bigger cities in the lower 48. It's "good enough" here to get a degree (or not) and just go to work, and lots of people don't get further specialized education/training in their field. That's probably because it's so expensive to leave for that training. There are exceptions of course, but generally, LOTS of things are about 10 years behind the times.
Safety isn't as much of a priority. I've seen lots of people riding bikes next to busy streets without helmets, kids not buckled up properly, large 4-lane roads without line markings, etc.
A lot of people seemed really down and depressed this winter and seemed to just be trudging through...trying to make it to spring. It's expensive to leave, and I think a lot of people are "stuck" here and can't afford to make the move. There was recently a story about how badly dressed people are in Anchorage, and that sort of contributes to the "vibe" as well. Now, I hate superficiality and brand-name obsessions as much as anyone, and I like the casual atmosphere here, but many people here wear very dirty, stained, ripped, ill-fitting clothing, and look homeless even if they aren't.
So that's what comes to mind when I think about the vibe. Sorry to be Debbie Downer. Hopefully someone who loves it here will give you a different perspective on the "vibe." Some people really do love it here. I've heard you either love Alaska or hate it. I hate it, but I'm glad there are people here who love it. I'll be glad to get out of their way asap so they can enjoy it without the Debbie Downers.
"parks are mediocre" - I saw another post by someone, although I can't seem to find it now - not important, complaining about "the lack of greenspaces"... LOL you are living in one of the BIGGEST parks in the country and you're complaining about city parks or greenspaces? I would kill to have some of the trail systems you have up there near me... down here most of the - LOL "trails" are made of crushed lime so they are practically paved.
Down here all the land is fenced off, posted and built on... state parks near the city cost to use, as well as the ones away from the city, what am I paying taxes for?
And no Anchorage is not visually appealing to me either - but trust me when I tell you I don't care, not moving there to look at buildings... But if you are moving there or planning to and like to be in the middle of the "social circle"... you are probably moving to the wrong city.
That's why I say if you are planning on moving to AK and have never been... you are just being foolish and unrealistic...
I would kill to have some of the trail systems you have up there near me... down here most of the - LOL "trails" are made of crushed lime so they are practically paved.
Yeah, I really think it depends on where you've lived before. I used to live in the Pacific Northwest, and the parks and trails and ability to get out and easily access the outdoors were WAY better than it is here. Not to mention, you weren't surrounded by swarms of mosquitoes every time you went into the woods either. But if I had grown up in Kansas or something, the scenery and outdoor offerings in Anchorage might be more impressive. I will say that the actual city parks in the area are poorly maintained. The playgrounds for kids here are embarassingly bad. They are not maintained, the equipment is old and sometimes even quite dangerous. There are a few good ones, but they're absolutely packed in the summertime, because there are so few decent playgrounds for kids.
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I was house/dog sitting for my kids while they were on vacation. It was like a vaca for me too.... I enjoyed the little bits of snowfall here and there, had no trouble going to the grocery store or shopping, walked the dogs. 
Hopefully someone who loves it here will give you a different perspective on the "vibe." Some people really do love it here. I've heard you either love Alaska or hate it. I hate it, but I'm glad there are people here who love it. I'll be glad to get out of their way asap so they can enjoy it without the Debbie Downers. 
