Texan longing to move to rural Alaska with teacher wife (Fairbanks: student loans, house)

[ThunderChicken]

Ok, so I'm not really a Texan. I moved to Texas from Michigan and was born in Ohio. I miss both Michigan and Ohio but I from what I've seen of Alaska through tv and pictures I like the idea of rural Alaska. I miss the cold climate and I'm a avid hunter. Raising kids in rural Alaska appeals to me because they will be away from the Twitter generation currently plaguing the lower 48 and I'm sure some of Alaska as well.

If we sell our house we would have a nice chunk of change to get started with but I'm still concerned about cost of living. My wife(Native Texan) has racked up a pretty good amount of student loans, however I did read there may be forgiveness programs for rural teachers.
What are property taxes like in rural Alaska?
I'd like to live cheap and get out of the student loan dept, does this sound feasible?

[heathen]

You need to specify what you mean by "rural." That could refer to somewhere like the Mat-Su, outskirts of Fairbanks, or Kenai Peninsula, which are most like rural areas in the lower 48 (meaning quite well developed by Alaska standards, with chain stores, high speed internet, etc). Then there's the really small, more remote towns on the road system, with 1000-5000 residents or so, basic services, spotty internet, etc (Talkeetna, Nenana, Delta, Tok, Glennallen, Valdez, etc). Down on the coast, there are several towns of roughly this size and development, but connected by state ferries rather than roads (Cordova, Sitka, Petersburg, Wrangell, etc). Then there's a few very small places out at the end of gravel roads in the interior, with nearly no services - maybe a convenience store (Eagle, Central, Manley Hot Springs, McCarthy).

And then there's the bush, meaning the towns and villages off the road and mainline ferry system. Out there are the hub towns with jet air service, basic services, and mixed white and native population (Bethel, Nome, Barrow, Kotzebue). Then there are the villages, with primarily native population, a small store and school, and reachable only by small plane service.

from what I've seen of Alaska through tv and pictures I like the idea of rural Alaska

And please note: that makes us all cringe.

[ThunderChicken]

Oh I know out makes you cringe, especially since it can't be at all accurate.
I want to live in the Bush.

[ThunderChicken]

Double post

[Haolejohn]

Originally Posted by ThunderChicken

Oh I know out makes you cringe, especially since it can't be at all accurate.
I want to live in the Bush.

Send me a PM. I'd love to talk with you about bush teaching. My wife and I are both bush teachers. It definitely has it's pros and cons. It's definitely not for everyone.

My first question: can you handle being a minority?

[Haolejohn]

Originally Posted by ThunderChicken

Oh I know out makes you cringe, especially since it can't be at all accurate.
I want to live in the Bush.

Send me a PM. I'd love to talk with you about bush teaching. My wife and I are both bush teachers. It definitely has it's pros and cons. It's definitely not for everyone.

My first question: can you handle being a minority?

Then, I ask:
Wife's certification?
Are you wanting to work?
Kids?
How big of a bush village you want to live in?

Seriously send me a PM and we can exchange emails. I will help you in anyway I can.

[Metlakatla]

Bush Alaska has its own particular perils for children, and you won't be able to get away from Twitter anywhere.

Loan forgiveness incentives exist, but you need to look for official information on that.

You won't live cheaply in the bush.

[Haolejohn]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

Bush Alaska has its own particular perils for children, and you won't be able to get away from Twitter anywhere.

Loan forgiveness incentives exist, but you need to look for official information on that.

You won't live cheaply in the bush.

I disagree. Sure cost of living is higher, but I've never had a savings account until I moved to the bush. I don't eat out. I don't spend $400 month in gas for my vehicle. I don't buy soda or make impulse purchases. I learned to eat portions and buy in bulk.

Last summer we went south to visit family and in 6 weeks we spent the same amount of money that we spent in a whole year minus plane tickets in the bush. Of course a moose helps in the grocery department.

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by Haolejohn

I disagree. Sure cost of living is higher, but I've never had a savings account until I moved to the bush. I don't eat out. I don't spend $400 month in gas for my vehicle. I don't buy soda or make impulse purchases. I learned to eat portions and buy in bulk.

Last summer we went south to visit family and in 6 weeks we spent the same amount of money that we spent in a whole year minus plane tickets in the bush. Of course a moose helps in the grocery department.

Yeah, that's true. I don't spend nearly as much on food when I'm up there because I get all the fresh seafood I want. I was thinking more of housing costs, and it seems that most families that move to bush villages from Outside spend a lot of money on trips. Also, the OP has to be resident for a year before he can get resident tags and fishing licenses.

[Haolejohn]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

Yeah, that's true. I don't spend nearly as much on food when I'm up there because I get all the fresh seafood I want. I was thinking more of housing costs, and it seems that most families that move to bush villages from Outside spend a lot of money on trips. Also, the OP has to be resident for a year before he can get resident tags and fishing licenses.

Yes to hunting, but not subsistence fishing. However, the outsider angle with hunting and fishing can be brutal. All depends on the village.