Anyone on here in Alaska who is from Michigan? (or vice-versa)

[hellion43]

Anchorage is a big city and like most big cities it has its' crime and traffic issues. Rush hour traffic is bad no matter what city your in and there are spots in Anchorage that need alot of help. But generally Anchorage is easy to commute in and pretty safe to do so. The great thing about Anchorage is that it only takes a short drive to get out of town and to the places that most people picture when they think about Alaska. We have crime here and gang violence is rising in Anchorage like it is everywhere but it is nothing like Detroit, Flint, and Saginaw, but of coarse these towns are 10 times the size of Anchorage. The crime in MI is one of the reasons I decided to raise a family up here. Anchorage is still a great place to live and visit.

[jrmontag]

Does it get a lot of concerts there? Any idea if there are a lot of large shows that are put on in the area? I'm a bit of a music addict.

[Rance]

We used to have alot of concerts in Anchorage. Seems they've cut back.

[jrmontag]

I've heard different things about the gun laws up there (or lack of). What's the scoop on that?

[JustT&Me]

Jr... I'm a Midwesterner who lived SE AK for about a year and made 3 trips there otherwise. LOVE/d it and also Yooper territory. Actually considering moving either to U.P. or back to AK. Have things (basics) still stored in AK all this time. My best advice - ditch the car and fly to Anch. If you can secure a job first, that'd be better. I did this via phone interviews first trip. You can buy an AK car there once you arrive. You can get a 4WD, third-hand car for about $1000! Won't be pretty, but it will get you where you need to go. And as far as moving things up - anything you truly *need*, you'll be able to find in AK. Take up your cold climate - wear and if you have skis or something like that, take those on your flight. Otherwise, you can also buy things like that there very cheap second-hand. Getting a job is easier once you make the journey there, but if you don't have a job in-place, then take at least $2,500 to get you started in a place for rent and setup costs. If you are single w/no pets, you'll be able to find a roommate situation very easily. Check newspaper ads. You can even rent a room in someone's home for less - time enough to get a job. I LOVED AK and love the Midwest weather... it's actually *better* in AK (most parts) than it is here! (I live near Lake MI, so we don't get quite the snow other areas get.) Anyway... saw you were/are (were?) a Michigander, so I thought I'd reply. You'll find a lot of Midwesterners in AK. Similar climates but nicer living as far as freedom and independence goes, and WAY less taxes! If you go before summer, you'll be able to secure a job sooner than summer/international crowd. Then keep it to get you through the fall/winter until you find something better, although I'm guessing something in service/hospitality industry (if you don't have an education behind you) would pay quite well for tips summers - at least that what I was told by a fellow I met a couple of years ago while I was traveling there. Picked him up hitchhiking in the rain. Nice guy from Bulgaria. Anyway... that's another story. Save that one for now. Just get up and go - it'll be a once-in-a-lifetime experience you'll never regret!