Reviews & Comments
Wasilla, AK
Breathtaking Scenery with a hint of civilization! -
7/27/2022I've lived in Wasilla for two years so far and I love it. I have no problems with the valley. I live about 10 minutes south of the center of town in Wasilla and bought my first house here. I moved here from Austin, TX in 2020 and aside from being far from family & friends I love it!
I enjoy great scenery everytime I drive into town or even to Anchorage every once in a while and have only had a couple of run ins with bad apples but Austin, Texas was by far more crazy and worse! I'm retired military and used my benefits to buy my first house in Alaska! despite the fact I don't know that many people up here really I have no complaints nonetheless. I'm quiet & introverted so I like being away from big civilization and doing things on my own.
I love the winters here! I had a big knack for cold, snowy weather that I never received while in Texas for 24 years! so I knew what I was getting myself into moving 4k miles from my home state of Texas! It gets -20F in the deepest, darkest part of winter with extremely little sunlight (the sun only touches the horizon and drops for like 3 hours). Which I find fascinating! it feels like living on another planet!
The Summers are one of a kind! Its only 75 max on the most typical hottest day! The midnight sun keeps you up but I just go to my basement to sleep and problem solved! The midnight sun bothers me somewhat if I was being honest but not enough to dissuade me from living here! I enjoy hiking and not having to worry about "when is it going to be dark", haha. The salmon fishing in Willow is the best spot closest to Wasilla that I go to alot during summer! I also bought blackout tint for all my windows of my house during the midnight sun for when I'm out and about in my house around 9pm when its still full sunshine out the window so it feels like nighttime inside my house (for mental sanity)
You get paid to live here! the amount changes every year apparently. This year I'm getting $3000 and some change to just be a permanent resident of Alaska! I also have a lifetime registration for my vehicle here! Weed is legal which doesn't bother me at all and I don't even see it as a "drug", despite the massive conservative politics here (I myself am very conservative) I differ with my fellow conservatives with pot and "backing the blue". Otherwise I love guns and am mostly Republican myself
I'm giving 5 out of 5 stars because I have greatly enjoyed everything Alaska has to offer compared to Texas. Even living up here all alone with no friends or relatives. I still have no complaints and enjoy living the "extreme lifestyle", of The Last Frontier in the USA. if there is one thing I've learned about Alaska over the past two years its you either LOVE IT or HATE IT! there is no inbetween like in the lower 48. Sure were cut off from the mainland but I can see it in a good way since only the people dedicated to the outdoors and extreme weather, checking out of society, and getting closer with nature and "simple living" choose to stay here permanently. I can't really comment on the job market since I live off my military benefits.
The only crime I've witnessed myself here is someone stealing something from Walmart here in Wasilla and running out the door. Otherwise I've witnessed none personally. I know Alaska has a huge crime statistic, which is why I'm commenting on it.
I love COLD WEATHER, being isolated, dark winters, fresh and mild summers (with bad mosquitoes I'll add) getting paid to live here, the fresh air (breathes cleaner than Texas), the small town vibes, leaving society with a short drive away with nothing but breaktaking mountains, landscapes, and bald eagles, the PEACE & QUIET I never got from city life in Texas and the lax attitude on the plant called Marijuana! (its just a plant! get over it!)