New in Alaska...and homesick (Fairbanks, Kenai: live, restaurant, price)

[AADAD]

Hang in there Kelly. Alan is the Pastor at the Church of God in town. He is a warm friend when chips are down. Sure he would help you and fam through the 1st winter. It gets easier.

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by Kelly_Soldotna

My husband, our daughter and 2 dogs recently moved to Alaska from Nebraska. I thought I had all my research and felt ready to move. Now that we are here we have encountered so many unexpected surprises! And with the higher costs I am actually making so much less than before. My husband hasn't found any work. On top of everything else I really think that the lack of sunshine is starting to already take its toll. I feel so out of sorts. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.

We've been in AK. for 9 years now. My very first winter up here, come February, I got the "blahs" - was very tired and just out of sorts. We got out alot walking our dogs and doing things but I still got the blahs. It did go away so take heart, your's will also. Even now I get tired of the long winters but I keep thinking of the summers up here which I love. Do your best to remain active and keep busy.

Sorry your husband hasn't found any work. Have you checked in your area to see if there are any food banks?

[bortstc37]

i'll just add to the pile of "get out more" that's already been suggested. enjoy the sun when there is sun. even the shortest day will have enough light if you're out for most of it. go meet people. you'll probably find that they are quite friendly. after you make a few friends, jobs will probably be easier to come by as well.

[akvarmit]

HI Kelly - I'm one of the other 99% that experienced the same thing when we got here last year. Last years Christmas was a little harder since it was the first one away from home and I wasn't even settled in here yet. Getting used to new place, new town, new job, new everything can be stressful - the passage of time is sometimes the best tonic.

This too shall pass.

I'll add to what everyone else has says. Get out as much as you can during the sunny times of day. Get involved in something in the community that interests you. Be especially easy on yourself right now.

And if all else fails, rent Mr Whitekey's DVD about Alaska. It's a historical comedy about all the crazy nuts that came before us to this Great Land. (He was a comedy club owner in Achorage, they should have it at blockbuster or a video store) I watched it instead of christmas movies last year......

[warptman]

Find some used skis and go out and enjoy the snow. Go on Craigslist and look around for used equipment. Winter mountain biking is fun, too. I ride year round. Kite flying year round its fun, too.

[Moose Whisperer]

Originally Posted by Rance

Cooks, housekeepers, truck drivers, laborors, welders, welder helpers, carpenters, roughnecks, mechanics, crane operators, security, emt's, heavy equipment operators...and more.

A foul mouth and a good appetite!

[WyoNewk]

Homesickness is a problem with lots of people when they move somewhere new. I'll sound like an echo in here if I just repeat what everyone else is saying, but they've got it right. Get out. Snowmobile, snowshoe or x-country ski. Drive to Homer. Join a club. Just enjoy what you can and start planning for spring.

If you've not spent a summer in Alaska yet, you've got a major delight ahead of you. I left there 39 years ago this week. And I've been homesick for it ever since -- except for the couple times I've been back. Hang in there. It's tough finding work everywhere right now.

[snkalaska]

Winters are hard, no question. What I would do that's not expensive is get some used skis and go cross country skiing. Check Craigslist.
I live in Kenai so I ski at the Kenai golf course trail but there's lots of trails in Soldotna. Also, there's ice skating at the Sport Center. Kenai has a rink too. There used to be a skate swap at the Sport Center where people sold their used skates cheap.
Also, do you have any hobbies? If you like gardening join the Garden Club. They have meetings with speakers all winter. Interesting and fun people.
Lots of people do crafting.
It's really hard moving to a new place. Once our husband gets work things will be much, much better.

[TedH71]

Start taking St. John's Wort pills daily. They helped me through the wintertime in Rochester, NY due to their Great Lakes snow effect...in other words, they snowed constantly for 9 months with very little sun. On two neg sides of St. John's Wort is you become sensitive to the sun a bit and can quite turn up your romantic side UP! I didn't consider those two negatives but could be for someone else.

[GrammasCabin]

Even after having spent a wonderful summer, my first winter back up here in '82 was really tough. Now I look forward to winter just as much as I do summer. It's the time to kick back, reflect on the year's fun, gather with friends to eat up the food you gathered all summer & fall, to read all those good books you never have time for.
Listen to what the other said but also, if your lifestyle allows, go ahead and spend the day in your jammies with a good book if that's all you feel like doing. I know money's tight, it is everywhere. You can save a lot on your food bill if you do all your cooking from scratch -and spending the day in a warm kitchen pumping out bread and pies gives you a warm fuzzy feeling during those gloomy winter days.
Hey, the days are getting longer from here on! Hang in there!