I, for one, love Anchorage. It's certainly not for everyone. I hope I can be so lucky as to be hired and forced to fly an MD-11 out of here for the rest of my life. Being in the military you get to see both types, people who have fought their entire careers to get here and those that were forced to move here. Most of the ones who wanted to be here, love it, and I'd say a third of the ones that it was forced on, end up loving it too. One thing seems for sure, you either love it, or you hate it. There doesn't seem to be too much in between.

You do have some valid points. Housing is fairly expensive. The cost of living as a whole is expensive, but it's no more than many other places in "the lower 48". I'd be willing to bet that your crime and alcoholism stats were "per capita". It's not hard to rank as the number one state when there's less than 3/4 million people in the entire state. This winter has been especially cold it seems. The people who hate the winters don't get out and do anything. My wife and I (and our 2 and 4 year old boys) took up cross-country skiing this winter. Last winter we enjoyed snowshoeing and ice skating (to play hockey of course!...not figure skating ). Imagine any winter fun that requires snow, and it's happening here. As for the summers, well there's no where in the world that will beat them. My family enjoys RVing all over the state. I am an avid hunter and fisherman, so many times the RVing does follow the salmon runs in the summer. But, you don't have to enjoy hunting and fishing to love Alaska. If you like to do anything outdoors, there is no where in the world that compares. Hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, camping, rock climbing, ATVing...I could go on and on. It's all here.

One aspect that is essential to your happiness here is that your wife loves it too. I have seen many guys in my squadron who were miserable because their wife was miserable. Fortunately for me, my wife loves it too! She helped pick out the RV!

Hopefully this sheds some light on why people love Alaska. No offense takin', and hopefully I don't sound defensive, because I don't mean to be.

Trouser

 

I've occasionally toyed with moving back to america from ANC but stopped when I saw it would cost me about $22,000 for state income/sales taxes in most desireable locations. Schools were worse in america and housing was A LOT higher.... Our drunks here stay within staggering distance of 4th ave and our criminals are usually busy shooting each other. (We had a great 2fer last month, the cops luv 'em.) Please commute.... I don't want anyone sharing my lakes. It annoys the crap out of me when there is another floatplane within 50miles. Another nice thing about commuters... My family really likes the nonstop to HNL less crowded (remember that $22k saved?). Gotta go and stoke the woodstove(-30C out). Can't wait til spring, with daylight savings time I think it will be light outside in early May. The winter has been mild... snow drifts don't even cover the 2nd floor windows this year. My Grandfather had it easy and only had to hike 5 miles to school.....

 

Thought I could share some insight, as I am a guy who grew up in ANC but now lives in DEN yet is based on the MD-11 in ANC.

Reasons to move back for me: 1.) Sick and ungodly pow at Alyeska. That mountain got 288 inches of snow...in December. Vail won't see that all year. 2.) Legendary mountain biking/ road biking from your driveway with minimal traffic. 3.)The most beautiful summers in the world. 4.) One of the best GA communties in the world. If you don't know someone with an airplane up here you need to get out more. Which leads to 5.) World class fishing.

I've always said that one of the greatest things about Alaska is that when you're here and you take a look around, you know it's Alaska, not anywhere else.

And to top it all off I don't have to ever see Memphis again if I don't want to! The only time I have to hear the 'Crime and Collierville' drama is RFOing, and it's usually nice to get rumor updates from the bubbas.

You got a dream job with a great company flying big daddy jets to some of the greatest cities in the world. Give it a shot and you may actually enjoy it up here. The schools are legit, there's a lot to do even if you're not into the abundant outdoor-rec opportunities, and there's no state income tax. (Though the high prop tax may offset this, haven't owned in the AK yet.)

Otherwise, just commute and quit bitching about how lame ANC is without ever living here.

 

Ifly,

I'm sure that you've lived in many places in your career thus far. I have lived in too many numerous places to list. I have always, always found some good in everywhere that I have lived.

I have several friends that have busted their a$$ to get back to ANC after having lived up there and moved away for other opportunities. Most after spending years downstate have successfully relocated. I have visited ANC several times and had the great pleasure of touring the state in a C180, C402 and a Lockheed Electra. It's absolutely amazing! I interview in two weeks and hope that I have the opportunity to return as a resident. Having said that though, I am from Northern Michigan and love the snow, I hunt, fish and generally would rather be outdoors than in.

They do have two week stretches of RSV as well as a 13 day but I would think that quality of life with a family would be worse for a stretch that long. Good luck on your decision; have you interviewed already? Or is it coming up soon?

 

Sorry to butt in, but it sounds to me like you really aren't looking for an answer to your statement. But I've got to tell you, many of the guys who live up there love it. Pure and simple, they love the great outdoors, they love the daylight hours during their "summer season", and they of course love being able to get the hell out of dodge during the winter months. At least at FedEx, the most junior guy(s) always hold lines during fishing season. It's because reserve goes so damn senior. But you don't want to hear any of that, now do you?

This is why I started and ended my thread with an feed-forweard apology. You ANC lovers sure are sensative.

I am posting my question because I am hoping someone will give me the magical answer about why anybody lives in ANC besides "great hunting and fishing". Yes, I've pretty much made up my mind that our family is not moving to ANC, even for an upgrade. Unless, like I said, there is some terrific attraction to ANC besides hunting and fishing.

Part of my post is now curiosity. When big brown announced the ANC base and I saw how junior it went, my wife and I made up our minds that night to take an upgrade five years sooner than we expected. The next day we did our research and were awestruck at what we found (crime, poverty, poor schooling, poor weather). That is what prompted my post, which is logical for a person who grew up in the lower 48.... Why on earth would anybody move to ANC.

Maybe someone a little less emotionally sensative and more reasonable and logical can reply.

Thanks is advance.

 

I'm not sure if I'm going to sign the 3 year deal, I'm still considering it. The reason I said I had no choice was because that was the domicile I was assigned as a new hire. I have weighed the options and commuting on probation sounds like a poor choice. So yes, I have to move up there. Don't get me wrong, the idea of being mid level seniority to start makes ANC more palatable; and it should be an interesting lifestyle change.

 

THIS IS everywhere sir, and NO i don't live up there nor am i based.

 

can you explain the 3 year deal. what if you do not take the deal, when can you move to another base/plane? what if you take the deal but want to move after a year? do you owe UPS money?

Thanks

 

Go for a visit. Look around. Do the things you think you would like most.

Then the awe factor would be taken out of the equation and you could make a better, long term decision.

I wouldn't ask here. Go talk to a travel agent and a real estate agent.

 

I feel certain that the ANC is in my future being a prior KC-135 driver. If assigned to ANC, I'm trying to decide whether I should just move up there. Right now, My two dependants are a lab and a Jack Russell I alos have practically free housing arrangements in SDF for a couple of years anyway. I don't know whether I should give commuting a try or just take the plunge and move up there. Will an ANC newhire be on reserve up there for sure? How long on reserve? Can some of you with experience chime in with more info about commuting from SDF to ANC? Thanks.