From the -48: what you wish you would have brought (and not)

[JasonAndJulie]

AlaskaNana- Who knew turtles were so involved? Better yet, who knew they could find their way home after two months? That is so great! Isn't their life expectancy really long? Is she going to outlive all of us? It might surprise you to learn I've had a Zoology class but it's been a few moons ago! I can't remember anything LOL.

Do you really think she knows when summer is coming or are you kidding? Does she snap or bite? How do you know it's a girl? I thought it was one of those that is difficult to tell?

[AlaskaNana]

boys have a curved under shell to allow them to, ahhhh, be "friendly". (in case your kids read this). I have never known a box turtle to bite. Definitely does not snap. Just goes in the shell when she wants you to leave her alone. And YES I am absolutely sure, although I cannot prove it but look at hibernation which turtles do in the wild, she does know when summer gets here. Just like right now she is pigging out on the fruits and pushing aside the veges. She knows when I start adding veges the fruit won't last for much longer and eats all the fruit she can. I think partly it is instinct and part learned since I feed her with the same pattern every year. I don't know how long box turtles live. I know tortoises can be over 100 years old.

[FrancesJoyce]

I learned so much from reading the messages on this forum. I am a senior citizen contemplating relocating to Alaska. I still work and want to continue working at least part-time. The info re moving was really eye-opening as I was considering hving my furniture barged plus my two dogs and cat--oy --there's a lot to ponder and plan for. Anyone have ideas for a "senior Citizen widow" and best place to relocate--am drawn to sitka as it is so very beautiful (and I have a darling son living there)
Thank you all for reading and offering your suggestions. I hope to make the move next spring.in 2014.
FJoyce

[freezengirl]

I don't know what stage you are in for your move, but this might help. My husband and I drove up to Alaska from MN with just what we could fit in our car. I shipped my books that I just couldn't part with via the flat rate USPS boxes. I think the total charges came up to just under $300.00 but it was a bargain compared to how much replacing the books would have cost. Another thing that I found after living in Alaska (not in Anchorage area) was the usefulness of Amazon and their free shipping option (even to AK which is rare). I had never utilized their services very much prior to moving to Alaska but found that just about anything I wanted and couldn't get locally I could get on Amazon.