Eyes Open
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5/3/2009
I have lived in Fairbanks for 30 years and am now looking at moving for a change in career. Fairbanks is not an especially bad place, but be careful. Cost of living is very high, the weather in the winter is harsh, causing housing and automotive problems. Fuel and gas are both very expensive. Fairbanks is a university town, and as such is home to a significant population of young white prople with dreadlocks and other liberal green earth types. we call them earth muffins. If you find a muffin who is over 30 or 40 years old, they are ususally good people as they have enough living to understand reality as well as their "ideals", but the young ignorant ones can be a pain. Drugs in Fairbanks are bad, as is alcoholism. The lack of any activities in the winter kinda causes that. Fairbanks is the air hub going to all of the northern villages, so drugs/alcohol going there come through faribanks first. Crime is noticeable, but tolerable if you are aware. Fairbanks is not a "leave your doors unlocked" place, however, most of the crime is drug/alcohol related. Be careful of where you live. Very little gang activity, but we do have occasional flare ups as we have 2 military installations within 30 miles. Lots of mosquitos and light in the summer, and cold and snow in the winter. Rural life here is very hard, but rewarding if you can cut it and keep prepared. construction wages are very high in the summer (like $30.00 or better an hour), but everyone gets laid off in the winter and it gets a little tight. Lots of North Slope oilfield work right now. Fairbanks is not for the timid or weak, and has a lot of problems, but is far from the worst place you can live. Lots of politics. Someone once called Fairbanks a "dirty little river town", and that really does sum it up rather well. By the way, with the military bases the pop goes up to over 70,ooo people (and the nearby rural folk). Another good point is that "wilderness" is only a 10-15 minute drive away. Also, the average guns per household in Fairbanks is 7. Great place for hunters/fishermen/sportsmen. Good Luck
Stuart | Fairbanks, AK