Suggestions for upcoming move to Anchorage (lease, purchase, where to live)

[akbelle]

I'm moving to Anchorage mid-August from Fresno, CA and would love any feedback on where to live, what to bring versus not to bring, cheapest method of shipping (ship boxes vs. renting a Relo-cube), car purchase or lease? Any other info I'm not covering that you might find important.

My deal: I'm a single female pretty much doing this move on my own. What I do ship from Fresno will be sent in late June and I will not be up there until mid-August. I'll be working at the VA but prefer to live in place that has easy access to running trails and the such.

Any and all input is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[justa]

Retired from there ..there are trails up and over the slope to the south and all along the ocean.. no lack of good well traveled hike/ski trails through out the ANC area..
Car ins. is high as there are many fender benders and skilled labor comes at a premium .. well graded snow roads/streets ...in April when it freezes at night and thaws during the day .. the ruts are to deep to climb out of so you tend to hang on and try not to stop until you are able to climb out. The weather tends to leave pot holes after the thaw.. They run studs Oct. thru April and the large trucks will stay on your bumper until you get out of their way when going cross country on these snow roads.
The orb around the street lights that tend to stay on all winter.. just twinkle from the frozen moisture in the air. The moisture leaves and the air gets dry and if it stays between 20 and 30deg's the temp's not bad.
In late fall folks from the out lying areas tend to hole up in town and its a good idea to take into account where to locate as it tends to get a little rough after the first of the month checks arrive.
Your eyes will water from the beauty when tundra and leaves turn in the fall.
In the summer everyones running out of town (fishing or enjoying the outdoors) in the winter the local indoor haunts stay heated. The snow gets piled up along the streets to make a barrier so they can hold car races or a one dog through unlimited dog races ..starting with the little 5yr old kids through 65yr old adults.
The locals can't wait until the freeze the put their ski's on the planes and dig out the snowmobiles . They can cross the rivers and land about anyplace they please .. plus all the snowbirds are gone.