What do you love about Alaska. (Anchorage, Fairbanks: home, school, living in)

[Co Sign]

Originally Posted by rhiannon67

I think that's what they mean. It's the monies generated through Alaska's Oil Revenues that get distributed amongst the residents, right?

Yes I think thats what it is. Some kind a oil tax share..

[phlinak]

Originally Posted by rhiannon67

I think that's what they mean. It's the monies generated through Alaska's Oil Revenues that get distributed amongst the residents, right?

There's a somewhat complicated formula that is used to determine the dividend amount (which changes fr4om year to year) but essentially, yes.

The Anchorage vicinity is a good choice.

I work in Anchorage but live in the Valley.

[AKStafford]

Originally Posted by rhiannon67

I think that's what they mean. It's the monies generated through Alaska's Oil Revenues that get distributed amongst the residents, right?

Nope, that's not how it works. Since the oil started flowing in the late '70's, a portion of the royalty payments have been invested by the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, a state owned entity. They've invested in stocks, bonds, real estate, etc and built the fund up to around 50 billion dollars. Each year a portion of the earnings of that fund are averaged with the previous 5 years and that money is distribute to eligible residents.
Last year is was $900 for each resident. This year it was $1884. To be eligible, you have to live in Alaska one full calendar year before applying. Applications are due by March 31st and the payout is in early October.
Permanent Fund

[Co Sign]

Originally Posted by AKStafford

Nope, that's not how it works. Since the oil started flowing in the late '70's, a portion of the royalty payments have been invested by the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, a state owned entity. They've invested in stocks, bonds, real estate, etc and built the fund up to around 50 billion dollars. Each year a portion of the earnings of that fund are averaged with the previous 5 years and that money is distribute to eligible residents.
Last year is was $900 for each resident. This year it was $1884. To be eligible, you have to live in Alaska one full calendar year before applying. Applications are due by March 31st and the payout is in early October.
Permanent Fund

Thank you, very well information. ..

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by AKStafford

Nope, that's not how it works. Since the oil started flowing in the late '70's, a portion of the royalty payments have been invested by the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, a state owned entity. They've invested in stocks, bonds, real estate, etc and built the fund up to around 50 billion dollars. Each year a portion of the earnings of that fund are averaged with the previous 5 years and that money is distribute to eligible residents.
Last year is was $900 for each resident. This year it was $1884. To be eligible, you have to live in Alaska one full calendar year before applying. Applications are due by March 31st and the payout is in early October.
Permanent Fund

Everything you said is right on the money, except for the part about paying out a "portion of the earnings." From the $50 billion in investments, the APFC receives dividends. It is those dividends, averaged over a five year period, that is paid out to every eligible Alaskan. The $50 billion principle stays invested and no portion is paid out. Which, of course, is why it is called the Permanent Fund Dividend check, and also why every eligible Alaskan has to pay federal taxes on those dividends.

[Glitch]

I love Alaska's forests, young mountain ranges, and abundant wildlife. I have been driving the same 100 mile route five days a week for the last 11 years, and I still have not tired of the view.

I also love how the Alaskan seasons are unpredictable, and forces one to adapt to unexpected changes. I do not think I have experienced any two winters or summers that were exactly alike in the 23 years I have lived in Alaska. I certainly cannot say that about southern California were every season, every year, is just more of the same.

Before I even considered moving to Alaska, I spent a lot of time in Glacier National Park in Montana. Particularly on the western side of the park where the forests were denser. I remember thinking that it would be the perfect place to live. Now I have Alaska, which is more than 312 times the size of Glacier National Park, with more forests, mountains, and wildlife than I could have ever wanted.

The only way I will ever leave Alaska is as a corpse.

[rhiannon67]

Originally Posted by Glitch

I love Alaska's forests, young mountain ranges, and abundant wildlife. I have been driving the same 100 mile route five days a week for the last 11 years, and I still have not tired of the view.

I also love how the Alaskan seasons are unpredictable, and forces one to adapt to unexpected changes. I do not think I have experienced any two winters or summers that were exactly alike in the 23 years I have lived in Alaska. I certainly cannot say that about southern California were every season, every year, is just more of the same.

Before I even considered moving to Alaska, I spent a lot of time in Glacier National Park in Montana. Particularly on the western side of the park where the forests were denser. I remember thinking that it would be the perfect place to live. Now I have Alaska, which is more than 312 times the size of Glacier National Park, with more forests, mountains, and wildlife than I could have ever wanted.

The only way I will ever leave Alaska is as a corpse.

That's my hope too once we're finally living there.

Where in Southern Cal did you live? I grew up in the San Fernando Valley....also known as HELL

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by rhiannon67

That's my hope too once we're finally living there.

Where in Southern Cal did you live? I grew up in the San Fernando Valley....also known as HELL

I was born in Los Angeles, but lived in Anaheim, Venice, Santa Monica, Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, and Reseda.

Any place west of the Santa Monica "mountains" was better than the Valley. Santa Monica and Venice were much nicer than living in Sherman Oaks or Reseda. Nevertheless, the winters got maybe 10°F to 20°F cooler than the summers, and there were a few days of heavy rains typically in December and March, but that was it. Frankly, that does not even come close to my definition of "seasons."

I want, or rather I should say I NEED, a distinct change of seasons in my life, and I get that in Alaska.

[rhiannon67]

Originally Posted by Glitch

I was born in Los Angeles, but lived in Anaheim, Venice, Santa Monica, Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, and Reseda.

Any place west of the Santa Monica "mountains" was better than the Valley. Santa Monica and Venice were much nicer than living in Sherman Oaks or Reseda. Nevertheless, the winters got maybe 10°F to 20°F cooler than the summers, and there were a few days of heavy rains typically in December and March, but that was it. Frankly, that does not even come close to my definition of "seasons."

I want, or rather I should say I NEED, a distinct change of seasons in my life, and I get that in Alaska.

The coldest it ever got during the winter on a regular basis might have been high 50s....almost never colder than that. Never once saw any snow falling for ANY reason....although the SFV has apparently seen snowfall in the distant past, for I saw photographs taken in Van Nuys back in the 1940s where there was ACTUAL SNOW on the ground!

My most awful recollections were every October spent in fear your house was gonna go up in smoke and every September having to start school with 105 degree temps by 10am and a third stage smog alert to go along with it.

Hell on Earth. I don't have a clue how anyone can like that kind of climate....but apparently my whole family do because they all still live down in SoCal, while my mother still lives in Chatsworth

I am so jealous of all the Alaska posters here. However, our time is coming soon!

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by rhiannon67

The coldest it ever got during the winter on a regular basis might have been high 50s....almost never colder than that. Never once saw any snow falling for ANY reason....although the SFV has apparently seen snowfall in the distant past, for I saw photographs taken in Van Nuys back in the 1940s where there was ACTUAL SNOW on the ground!

My most awful recollections were every October spent in fear your house was gonna go up in smoke and every September having to start school with 105 degree temps by 10am and a third stage smog alert to go along with it.

Hell on Earth. I don't have a clue how anyone can like that kind of climate....but apparently my whole family do because they all still live down in SoCal, while my mother still lives in Chatsworth

I am so jealous of all the Alaska posters here. However, our time is coming soon!

I do recall a few times when it actually snowed in Malibu.

Naturally, they panicked. They shut down all the schools and the city government until the snow melted the next day. We are talking about less than an inch of snow.

I hated those fires in southern California. They are a season unto themselves. Every year when those damn Santa Ana winds start blowing, sure enough there is a wildlife or two to go with it.

Most of Alaska's fires are started by lightning, and most of the lightning can be found north of the Alaskan Range in the Interior. It needs to be a fairly warm day to produce thunder clouds, and it does not typically get that warm in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley.

Interior Alaska has summers you would be familiar with, having lived in San Fernando Valley. As a result, they get more thunderstorms and as a consequence they get the majority (and the largest) of the wildfires in Alaska.

We do have something similar to the Santa Ana winds, however. We call them the Chinook winds, and they can be hurricane force (greater than 85 mph). The Chinook winds typically hit us some time during the winter, and can warm up south central Alaska by 40°F to 50°F overnight. They last about 10 days.

During the winters the Interior is typically also the coldest in all of Alaska. There can be more than 150°F temperature difference between summer and winter in Fairbanks. Compared to Anchorage, which is lucky to see more than 100°F temperature difference. While I do love Alaska's seasons, the Interior is just a little too extreme for my tastes.