moving to alaska, what you need to know

Ready to move to Alaska and head upwardly north to the Concluding Frontier? Leaving information technology all to move to Alaska seemed like the only solution for the problems Army life and armed services service had given the states. So in 2016 we sold a lot of our stuff, packed the station wagon and hit the road for a identify nosotros thought nosotros could exist free from all that.

We left everything to motility to Alaska.

Since moving to Alaska in 2016 nosotros've learned a few things about what information technology takes to not only alive but also thrive here. But there are a few things y'all should know before you head to the well-nigh wild place in America. Hither's the scoop.

1. Heading outside is a style of life when you motion to Alaska.

While not every single Alaskan spends their time playing outside, the cracking outdoors is the heartbeat of Alaska. No matter how y'all shake it, getting outside is just a part of the culture, with annual schedules revolving not just effectually fishing and hunting seasons, but also snowfall, ground thaw, warming temperatures in the summer, subzero temperatures in the winter and whatsoever take a chance you can get to snag those succulent Alaska mount blueberries.

2. Everything revolves around the light — and that can be hard.

E'er celebrated winter or summer Solstice? Neither had we earlier we moved to Alaska. Winter Solstice marks the darkest day of the year, with only virtually five hours and xxx minutes of daylight in Anchorage, and a day we celebrate the impending return of the sun. Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, has about xix hours, xxx minutes of daylight, but never truly gets night as the twilight lingers overnight. Alaskans celebrate "the midnight sun" with parties all nighttime and late-dark hikes.

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But loving the lite ways that you take to put upwardly with the darkness. For many people, that can be very hard. The darkness makes usa very sleepy, and we note each January that nosotros have to put in extra endeavour to feel proficient past purposefully heading exterior.. We call back the seasons of light make information technology worth it, but we also know the darkness isn't for everybody.

3. Groceries are more than expensive.

Since Alaska produces most none of its ain food — at that place's one dairy subcontract in the country, for example — everything is shipped up the "outside." And since getting information technology here isn't inexpensive, everything also has a higher price tag.

We've all seen those photos of $40 watermelons. Those are prices in the "bush," or very rural areas of the state, where things must be transported even farther. Only prices are still loftier fifty-fifty in big population centers. Merely for perspective, here's some price differences nosotros've noticed between here and where we moved from in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Gallon of Milk:
Clarksville, Tennessee – $1.50
Anchorage, Alaska – $3.50

Sweet potatoes (per lbs.):
Clarksville, Tennessee – $.80
Anchorage, Alaska – $1.70

Loaf of bread:
Clarksville, Tennessee: $1
Anchorage, Alaska: $ii.50

Those are but three items that are a footling more expensive, but you tin bet those costs add up.

4. Everything is bigger in Alaska

They say everything is bigger in Texas — but everything is even bigger in Alaska. Thanks to the long summer sun, the vegetables are the biggest you'll observe anywhere (seriously, they're tape breaking). Denali, formally known as Mount McKinley, is the largest mountain in Northward America. We joke that mosquitoes are the state bird, not but because they are plentiful, but also considering they are huge.

Everything is as well very spread out, and driving from 1 population center to some other can take many hours. In fact, about of the state isn't even on the route system, and getting there requires either a boat of a plane.

5. You actually exercise get paid to move to Alaska.

Ok, information technology'due south non quite every bit simple equally that. Information technology'due south more like you get paid in one case you live here as a resident. Alaska state law grants residents a yearly payout known as the Permanent Dividend Fund (PFD). To qualify for it, Alaskans must maintain sure residency requirements and have showtime been a resident for a full calendar twelvemonth. While the PFD fluctuates annually and is a hotly debated political event, it'due south recently been virtually $i,000 per person, including children. When you lot combine that with other savings such as no country income taxation, living hither can bring in some extra cash.

half-dozen. Y'all might spend all of that extra cash trying to go out.

While you might not want to leave, sometimes you'll have to if you want to visit family and friends or go on business concern trips. And that comes at a significant cost. Plane tickets out of Alaska are hands hundreds of dollars even one way. For example, circular trip tickets for iv people from Anchorage to Los Angeles, a relatively low-cost trip, recently toll us almost $2,000. Yes, merely to Los Angeles.

seven. Once you alive hither for a year, you'll never want to live anywhere else.

We believe that once you become through your first full winter and successfully experience both the dark and the lite, y'all'll never want to live anywhere else. Certain, at that place are folks who leave and relocate elsewhere. Just guess what? They oftentimes eventually come up back. In that location's just something near these mountains, air, broad spaces, friendly people, bounding main and sky that gets you. You're going to want to stay.

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Source: https://humansoutside.com/2020/04/7-things-to-know-before-you-move-to-alaska/