How do you you people make money in rural Alaska (Bethel: rentals, insurance)

[TheKezarWoodsman]

Don't get me wrong, I would love to live in Alaska, but being a diabetic it does not seem a well, smart move, unless I live in a big(ish) city. Maine reason is I either need about 10k extra a year for supplies, or good insurance, and I mean good. So, how do you people make enough to live a "normal" life.

[Crossfire600]

Originally Posted by wolfhelm

Don't get me wrong, I would love to live in Alaska, but being a diabetic it does not seem a well, smart move, unless I live in a big(ish) city. Maine reason is I either need about 10k extra a year for supplies, or good insurance, and I mean good. So, how do you people make enough to live a "normal" life.

"Normal" life is not defined the same way in the bush as it is outside. Folks that move to the bush live much differently than folks outside so you can't compare the two. It's like comparing apples to oranges. Money is a .338, your store is the land and your meat comes off the hoof. As far as making money, most villages are welfare driven because there are not a lot of jobs. Jobs that are there are in larger places like Kotz, Bethel and are jobs that support transportation, health care etc.

[Metlakatla]

Most people who live in Alaska don't live in the bush.

What kind of job you can get in the more populated parts of the state depends on your skill set. Economically, things aren't looking good for Alaska right now, so finding work might be difficult.

[RayinAK]

What Croosfire600 said above (relating to rural Alaska).

If any jobs, these are very few and available from the local governments. If you don't have a job, nor a pension, then:

-Welfare
-Medicare/Aid
-Social Security

[TheKezarWoodsman]

Ya, I would love to live in rural Alaska, but being diabetic doesn't seem smart. Regarding Medicaid, seems Alaska requires kids, not good until I do. So what do people do who dont live in a town, to continue paying land taxes, afford a car, gas, even if you hunt for food you need ammo, ect. Now take a state that sit known for cheap living, and give a resident a medical issue which needs expensive treatment or he dies, how would one do it. Any of you guys got a idea?

Becuase ya, even Alaskan Medicaid won't go to far, in order to qualify for Cama I need less than 300 a month, and I don't know what that even covers regarding the supplies I would need...

[Metlakatla]

There's a reason why bush populations are shrinking.

What do you mean by "rural Alaska?" People seem to have different interpretations. To some people, it means a 30-mile drive to the closest store; to others, it means an airplane ride. Finding rentals or property to purchase is pretty tough in the bush as well. Please don't be one of those who thinks they can buy OTC land and live on it full time by raising chickens and growing "veggies."

It's quite possible to live a rural lifestyle in Alaska without going into the true bush. But you don't say what your skill set is, and honestly, it's not a great time to move to Alaska due to the economy.

[G0DDESS]

Healthcare is profitable worldwide... next teaching and technology careers.

I have a difficult time figuring out why anyone would even want to live in Alaska to begin with... Even the poor Dakotas would be better than Alaska as far as amenities and accessibility go.

[Metlakatla]

I have a difficult time figuring out why anyone would want to live on the east coast.

[G0DDESS]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

I have a difficult time figuring out why anyone would want to live on the east coast.

Superb governmental positions..... catch my drift?

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by G0DDESS

Superb governmental positions..... catch my drift?

I can see the allure of job security, but I'm self-employed and like it that way.