Q: Everyone wants to know, is the winter darkness bearable or not in Alaska???
A: Darkness is not the problem. Alaskans deal with darkness by becoming obsessed with Christmas lights. Perpetual daylight actually becomes more annoying, and you often see folks covering windows with black out curtains and aluminum foil (!?) just to sleep.
Q: How about that Alaskan weather?
A: Well if you hail from Minnesota or some other ridiculous place, winters are almost the same--but longer. The problem is, summer time can mean nothing but cold rain (it's so wet it makes Seattle look dry). But then you get a freaky weather pattern like in 2013 and summer is all sunshine, happy times and well, bugs.
Q: Should I move to Alaska?
A: Maybe. Jobs are always available. Construction, plumbing, grocery clerks, directors, social workers, nurses---all seem to be constantly seeking workers. But, check airfare first--often folks can't afford to visit family back in the lower 48, and wind up going to Hawaii instead-(as the tickets are cheaper). Is that a bad thing? You decide.
Q: Do Alaskan residents really get a state check every year just for living there?
A: Yes they do. Oil revenues from the 80's were invested into a fund, with a portion siphoned off the top each year for the residents of the state. Nobody complains much about these annual entitlement checks, regardless of political persuasion. But it's not enormous--say one round trip ticket to Hawaii (see above).
Q: I am allergic to dogs. Could I handle Alaska?
A: No you could not. They are everywhere. At the park, on hiking trails and dog sledding is the state sport. Loose dogs are totally tolerated everywhere outside of Anchorage, so expect to be sniffed in inappropriate areas on a consistent basis.
A: Darkness is not the problem. Alaskans deal with darkness by becoming obsessed with Christmas lights. Perpetual daylight actually becomes more annoying, and you often see folks covering windows with black out curtains and aluminum foil (!?) just to sleep.
Q: How about that Alaskan weather?
A: Well if you hail from Minnesota or some other ridiculous place, winters are almost the same--but longer. The problem is, summer time can mean nothing but cold rain (it's so wet it makes Seattle look dry). But then you get a freaky weather pattern like in 2013 and summer is all sunshine, happy times and well, bugs.
Q: Should I move to Alaska?
A: Maybe. Jobs are always available. Construction, plumbing, grocery clerks, directors, social workers, nurses---all seem to be constantly seeking workers. But, check airfare first--often folks can't afford to visit family back in the lower 48, and wind up going to Hawaii instead-(as the tickets are cheaper). Is that a bad thing? You decide.
Q: Do Alaskan residents really get a state check every year just for living there?
A: Yes they do. Oil revenues from the 80's were invested into a fund, with a portion siphoned off the top each year for the residents of the state. Nobody complains much about these annual entitlement checks, regardless of political persuasion. But it's not enormous--say one round trip ticket to Hawaii (see above).
Q: I am allergic to dogs. Could I handle Alaska?
A: No you could not. They are everywhere. At the park, on hiking trails and dog sledding is the state sport. Loose dogs are totally tolerated everywhere outside of Anchorage, so expect to be sniffed in inappropriate areas on a consistent basis.