What do you miss, living in Alaska? (school, prices)

[Raven and Bear]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

I haven't been outside for awhile but I know that when I go there this winter I am going to miss the silence and the feeling of inevitability (for lack of a better word) that comes when the first snow sweeps down out of the Alaska Range, when the sky turns steel gray and you know...it's coming... I'll miss the first major snow day when the power is out but still the cabin is warm because we all have stand alone heat sources. I'll miss knowing my neighbor's name. I'll miss the Northern Lights and the stars seeming so close you can damn near reach up and grab them and most of all I will miss that mean old momma moose who used to sunbathe in the path between my front door and my pickup. I'll miss the mornings when it's forty below and the sky is a shade of blue that most people can not even imagine in their wildest dreams and the way the sun rises and sets at the same time and the alpenglow is all around the horizon. I'll miss the moon being out for days.

Metlakatla, that was some real nice writing and makes me think about what I do like about living here and would miss if I leave. What I miss from the lower 48 is Dick's Drive-in, Seattle, where the waitresses come out to your car to take your order, David Letterman being on TV at night at 11:30 PM, not whatever weird time his show is broadcast here, the double-feature drive-in movies on Whidbey Island, a little league season where the parents don't have to wear parkas to the games, those seasons called spring and fall, trick or treating where you can actually see the kids costumes (not hidden by winter coats), and most of all major-league baseball at Safeco or any other MLB stadium in the lower 48. There's nothing like walking into the stadium on a warm summer day to the smells and sounds and anticipation of the game, hearing the crack of the bat as the teams warm up, finding your seats, the general buzz of the stadium filling up, the National Anthem, the excitment of the game beginning, the first pitch, watching the scoreboard, having a hotdog, riding the bus home with other fans talking about the game...I miss MLB something wicked!

[Emeraldwolf]

My hubby and I just moved back to Alaska because we missed it. We lived here from 2001-2004, and missed the bigness and beauty. Som much of what we grew up with in the Northwest, Eastern Washington, Northern Idaho Panhandle, Northwest Montan is all getting invaded from city people who have no understanding what wilderness is.
We missed Alaska, and have no plan on ever returning to the lower 48.
It has everything we love, and a life time to finish exploring.

[openless]

isnt that rest. where they come out in rollerskates called SONIC?

[Arcticthaw]

Originally Posted by PghREA

I have to laugh . . . I just came back from spending 2 weeks in the state, which was absolutely awesome. Before I came, I fully expected to have my Sunday morning cafe vanilla light frappucinno at a Starbucks in Fairbanks. What a shock!

Hey we have Starbucks coffee, you just have t go to Fred Meyers!

[Glitch]

There is absolutely nothing I miss about the lower-48. Everything I could ever want I can find in, or have shipped to Alaska. I am truly one happy camper!

[Ken G. Brown]

The only thing we don't have is Henning Mankell. But at least we have his books!

[Sweden]

Originally Posted by Ken G. Brown

The only thing we don't have is Henning Mankell. But at least we have his books!

Oh my! But to be fair, we don't either...he spends a lot of time in...Kenya? Ah, some African country. But he still has a house somewhere in the country... One thing I miss here are the Swedes. Hm, maybe we should invite Henning over?
Another thing I miss here are big trees. But they are supposedly to be found on the panhandle, so I guess it doesn't count when it comes down to it...
Oh, and REAL milk without anything unnatural added to it...Otherwise it's actually very nice here

Thank you all for your answers- it seems like you can miss all sorts of things, but that Alaska still has enough to give to prevent the population from declining

[Rance]

There is a certain Swede I'm missing right now! Other than that...I grew up here...so I really don't miss anything.

[aldersonarts]

We live down here in the lower 48 in southwestern Pennsylvania. We moved into an old farmhouse that is the only house on our side of the street in a tiny little town. We picked this house because it was the ONLY house on this side of the street, so we have an acre of property in town.
That's as isolated as we were able to manage on our income. I've always wanted to have my home away from the rest of the world, but still have opportunity to go and "visit."
We're not hermits, or anything close, it's just that we like our own space, and we like that space to be a little private. I think that because we have that mentality built into us we miss Alaska even though we have never been there yet!
My wife and I aren't into mountain climbing, kayaking whitewater, or anything that is so adventurous. We just like peacefulness, and the quiet beauty of nature without industrial sounds.
Reading these posts all over this forum about Alaska, and seeing the beautiful pictures that have been taken I can say that I miss Alaska even though I haven't been any farther north than Erie, Pennsylvania.
Even though that bitter cold has become painful due to some nerve damage I don't think that even the North Slope would be a problem for us since we aren't going to be testing our mettle by trying to survive in an igloo on the Chukchi Sea.
I suppose all that I need is for Bill gates to send me a check or two since the posts I have read about the prices are much higher than my local Wal-Mart.

[ShadowCaver]

aldersonarts - have ya spent much time near Williamsport, PA, and up towards Leonard Harrison State Park and/or the Tioga State Forest?
Like you, have not been to AK yet either, but also in my plans someday. Anyhow visited those areas in PA a few months ago, very scenic, desolate, and wonderful.