how is it to live in alaska?

Question

fairbanks, alaska....military move

Answer 1

First to correct a few other answers: While it obviously gets cold here, it also gets warm in the summer, expecially in Fairbanks which is often 80F in the summer and can get into the 90s. Fairbanks is the coldest city in AK in the winter. -40F happens for a while most winters and -50 happens occasionally.

Sunlight in December is only 3 hours or so, but usable twilight is about 6 hours. Versus 22 hours of daylight in June and it never really getting completely dark.

Things are not more expensive for locals in the summer because we don't take tours or stay in hotel rooms (which do increase in price). A loaf of bread or pair of socks costs the same in July as in Feburary.

And there are no pengiuns. Not even in the zoo. Those are in Antarcticia.

On to your question: Fairbanks is an odd mix of an urban/commercial distribution point for the entire northern half of the state while being a pretty small city. If you're on base, then, well, you're on base. But if you or your spouse gets in involved in Fairbanks activities of any kind (sports, arts, politics), you'll see the same people in many different settings - a real small town feel.

It is also an odd mix of a university town (largest campus of UA) and military town. Each of which has its own, somewhat opposite view of domestic and world politics.

It will not be the best place to be if you want lots of places to dress in high fashion (high fashion is clean Carhartts ), year-round mild temps, or a beach.

But if you can enjoy the challange of the very varied seasons, want to hunt/fish/hike/4WD, like smaller cities and see your time there as an adventure, then you'll have a great time. A lot of people who serve in the miltary and pass through Alaska end up liking it enough to come back after they demob. That's been true since WWII.

Alaska as a state tends to be pretty supportive of the military personnel and their families that come through. Even through they are only here for a year or two (and tend to be here less time now that so many get shipped off to Iraq), they get resident hunting/license fees, etc. from the start.

Answer 2

Things are more expensive - especially in the summer because of all of the tourists. But, if you live in Anchorage or along the coast the weather is pretty moderate (yeah, it'll get cold, but not AS cold as other places). In the winter you'll sleep a lot and in the summer you won't. You'll have a lot of amazing scenery to enjoy every day, but you'll have to watch out for bear and moose. Also, if you're willing to sign a contract for a couple of years in some jobs you can make really good money - some will even pay off your student debt from college.

Answer 3

other than the obvious answer... cold. In the cities I hear its rather nice. If you live in a rural town you'll likely know EVERYONE. There won't be many shops and deliveries will be few and far between. Everything is imported so everything is expensive. However certain sites make it worthwhile: that among them the aroura borealis and penguins!

Answer 4

Cold. And the biting flies! And the 6 month winter with nearly no sun....

Answer 5

cold brrr...