43 years in Anchorage
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5/26/2011
I came to Alaska when I was 24. That was 43 years ago.
This is a wonderful place to live with tremendous opportunities for jobs even when the lower 48 is having hard times.
If anyone truly wants to work, they can find a job here within a few days.
But---the winters here are harsh. If you are young and tough this is not a problem. But if you are old and frail, don't move here.
This is a beautiful place to live but it is not paradise. Violent crimes like murder and rape are among the highest in the nation per capita.
Gangs and gang gunfights are common. Brutal murders are common. Violent rapes are common.
But almost all of that is limited to the north part of town.
I live in the south part of town, zip code 99515, and we enjoy pretty low rates of crime.
This is also a very expensive city to live in. Compared to southern Idaho, a family of three must make at least $2,000 a month more just to have the same standard of living.
Personally, my wife and I am moving soon simply because we can no longer afford to live here as we are too old to get a good job.
Bp | Anchorage, AK