Move to Alaska (Anchorage, Fairbanks, Delta Junction: how much, house, find a job)

[liz5645]

Hi. My husband and I would like to move to Alaska. We can't afford an expensive area, but would like a quiet peaceful place. I can carry my job with me but he needs to find a job. Does anyone know of any jobs involving routers or pipe making. He has about 20 years experience of drawing designs for routers and also instructed in the use of machines for many years. Thanks in advance.

[Marty Van Diest]

Don't know of any jobs like that, but it sounds like he could transition into other jobs pretty easily.

[liz5645]

Yes, I think he could transition fairly easily. I think our main problem is just getting there to do this. We have to make sure of where we are going in Alaska first of all and find out about the jobs in the area before we can sell back home and officially make the move. Arkansas is a long way from Alaska. We are so determined to get there.

[Glitch]

You best bet for success in Alaska is to move to Anchorage first temporarily. The jobs are more plentiful and the cost of living is lower than anywhere else in Alaska. Juneau or Fairbanks would be the next best choices. Once you've been in Alaska for a while you will begin to understand what you can realistically do, how much it will cost, and learn about other communities where you might want to eventually settle.

[Arcticthaw]

Originally Posted by Glitch

You best bet for success in Alaska is to move to Anchorage first temporarily. The jobs are more plentiful and the cost of living is lower than anywhere else in Alaska. Juneau or Fairbanks would be the next best choices. Once you've been in Alaska for a while you will begin to understand what you can realistically do, how much it will cost, and learn about other communities where you might want to eventually settle.

This is sage advice, though consider if your struggleing or getting by with the occasional bowling outing, Alaska will suck up all that extra $ pretty quickly. While your getting ready for the transition to the woods, local costs can thwart your dreams, so come well heeled. An example is last year the small house I have 750 sq feet. used 750 gallons of fuel for heat and hot water. Fuel has jumped over 30 cents a month the last couple of months. I expect $3 a gallon verry soon. That is a $2250 a year, and this is a SMALL house, admittedly not the best built but could be average. The normal 1200 to 1500 sq foot house will use about 1200 gallons a year. This is in Fairbanks. If your in the hills or south of the Alaska range you will save some $.
I am not sure where Glitch came up with 9 cords of wood a year, is that for Anchorage, or a general estimate? I would expect a few more cords would be needed. Then I use oil and not wood except at the cabin in the fall or in the tent out hunting.

[Glitch]

The 9 cords of wood (1,152 cu. ft.) is the minimum you will need to make it through the winter for a 400 sq. ft. cabin in southcentral Alaska. Naturally, if you live in the Fairbanks, Delta Junction, Glennallen areas, you will need more.

[Rance]

Man I remember those days. Spending half the summer cutting and splitting and stacking wood. Then all winter hauling wood before and after school. The getting up early and stoking the fire and doing a running dive back into bed until the room warmed up a bit.
I used to seel firewood for a living. Some winters I barely had enough in my own yard to heat my house. Somehow I miss those days...yet I don't.