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| Current Trends in Alaska's Economy Nov 2006 - 11/19/2006
We are expecting to have the gas line, be approved, rather, just who is going to come up with the "plan", so that all parties can get a piece of the action.
Like the pipeline, it will bring much money into the economy,right now there is not enough steel available in the world, to even construct the gasline. It will be a 5-to 7 year job when it actually starts- the project, will bring in jobs, people and money into everywhere. My experience is that there is alot of money in this state. For instance the Native $ which, since I am not Native is abundant, the oil revenues must give them their portion. The state spends way too much $, which is a given , so they can cont. to get it,but My son went to the only private prep school in Anchorage for a few years, was from K-12, but just recently went from K-8,( not enough older children, but the other grades are fully booked) They have a yearly auction, to support some of their expenses, or to give grants to kids whose parents cannot afford to pay to go there, but want to,etc. The auction in 2004, collected more money than any private high school in all the 50 states. The $ is here, has been here, and with the gas line going through, say in the next 1-2 years- there will only be more.You will not be able to tell by what the clothes people wear because most Alaskans do not like to dress up, you alot of times will never know if your standing next to a millionaire in line somewhere , we al lok the same. The wives maybe give it away a little more with their jewerly. Lots of Drs.up here the reimbursement rate is very good for their procedures and I am waiting, esp in Anchorage, how many more can come in a still make money, but so far it has not been an issue. Compared to WA, they get triple at least what they would make workig there. But you have to like the state and many wives do not , shopping is not the best stores, and it gets cold here and you have to enjoy this kind of life. It is not for everyone and I am glad about that, its getting too crowded.The People are friendly and when you break down on the side of the road , you do not worry (usually), if the person who does stop to help you, and they will help too, no worries of robbery, hijacking, abuse. At least in my experience and I ran away to come here 13 years ago from the East Coast and I am not leaving. i tried to , something brings you back. You get hooked.
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| Heavens Creation - 6/10/2006
Alaska is awesome !!!!!!!!!! I am a native Floridian and have lived here in the seventies and since 1991, there are no simple words to explain Alaska !!!! The Climate has changed since the seventies, it is warmer and more humid.....For people coming from the lower 48 this sounds good, however it also has meant that we are losing our Glaciers !!!!! People think that tropical flowers are the brightest, but they cannot compare to the colors up here.....Plant whatever and the color will be Brighter, Truer and Deeper !!!! Also, Biggger!!!!! The Rivers look like a swimming pool that's lit at night !!! Even when you're standing in them !!!! The Air is Clean!!!!
We have most of the same shopping as in the lower 48...we've had malls since the 1960's......We have Wal-Mart, Sears, Penny's, etc....Resturantes abound...chain and local !!!
The Postal System is the same as in the lower 48, which catalog people don't understand, therefore they charge extra !!!! Which is WRONG !!!
Also, our Food shopping is on par with the lower 48, we no longer get food by barge only in the summer...WE have a Hugh Fed Ex terminal here as well as UPS !!!
Also, we no longer travel by Dog Sled, except for fun...we have roads that are paved and kept in good condition !!!!
As far as Cabin Fever....well, you can get cabin fever in Key West if you don't like the heat or sun....get out and enjoy life !!!!
Also, the DARK everyone thinks about is not dark.....in the south when the sun goes down, it's dark !!!! Because of our location on the globe we never get dark...our winter is like dusk with reflection on the snow as an addition, but even if we have no snow, it's still not dark !!!
I tried to explain Alaska to my Daughter-in-law, but when she got up, she said "God Paints Pretty Pictures" !!!!! I can't say it any better...and I've never seen a photograph that could do it Justice !!!!!!!!
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| Life in Anchorage and in Alaska - 5/5/2006
Alaska is a wondrous place. Harsh, beautiful, majestic, a land where every resident is a pioneer. It is a land of extremes. Temperature, weather patterns, wind, dust, earthquakes, forest fires, etc.
A summer day in Fairbanks can be 90 degrees and sunny, but the sun can be obscured by raging forest fires. A winter day in the same spot can be -50 degrees, windless, so sunny your eyes weep at the glory, and last less than four hours from dawn to dusk.
That same summer day in Juneau may see rain and temperatures in the mid-50's. Winter looks much the same, maybe ten degrees cooler, without leaves on the trees and longer nights.
Anchorage summers may wander into the 70's, but won't be a relentlessy sunny as the Interior (Fairbanks region) or relentlessy rainy as Southeast (the Juneau region). Winters also fall into the middle, neither as cold or wet as the other two areas, with temperatures that hover around 32 degrees.
Discussion of Alaska isn't complete without mention of day length. Above the Arctic Circle, summer days can be 24 hours long. In the winter, nights are 24 hours. Farther south, where most people live, the change in day length is less extreme, but no where in the state is any inhabitant unaware of the gain or loss of light. In Anchorage, the largest city, change of day length can be measured over the course of a week. You may not notice a change every day, but over the course of a week, well, trust me, you'll notice. During the time of year with the greatest rate of change - the equinoxes - an hour is gained or lost roughly every 12 days.
This is an incredible place to live and no one who moves here will regret spending time here. Nowhere else in the USA can one find such challenging extremes. Outdoor sports are king here, with opportunities anywhere one dares to look. Hiking, skiing, biking, mountaineering, flying, kayaking, you name it.
That said, a word of warning is in order. Alaska can be cruel. The extreme climates, the lack of light in winter, the rapid daylength changes in spring and fall, and being stuck inside waiting for the right weather can cause madness. Some people can't take it and hurry away as quickly as possible. Others thrive. You won't know until you live here.
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