Sell or store your belongings there in Florida. Pack two bags with clothing and work gear. Buy the plane tickets. Take your two bags to the airport and get on the plane. Opportunity doesn't often knock twice.
How much preparation before taking the plunge?
- Thread starter kooky_
- Start date
4merguide
Well-known member
GOOD LUCK!!!!
mark knapp
Well-known member
I concur with this 100%, in my humble opinion, you are doing it all wrong (I've lived most of my life up here in remote areas) Just your questions and tentativeness make me a little nervous. It sounds to me like you may not be the right kind of person to do what you are talking about.
Lots of people try it and many fail. Pump the brakes and do it one step at a time. Don't overthink it.
The people in your last post that you see in videos differ from you in that they have already made the money they need to survive.
I moved to Alaska 40 years ago with one $20.00 travelers check left and have had a blast ever since. Throw all the romance out the window and be prepared to do what it takes. Also, forget everything you know about Dick Pronekke those things don't exist any more. All the land is taken up. And remember, that show was a show, made for a TV audience. You never saw the hard parts of living remotely. He spent much time in civilization and had quite a bit of support.
Stay safe, have fun, Mark
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Kooky,
If and when you get on that plane you will not regret it. You might regret waiting until your late 20's to take that step, better late than never. But in early April of this year you decided to make a life altering change and here you are not two months later ready to start a whole new life, naysayers be damned.
If and when you get on that plane you will not regret it. You might regret waiting until your late 20's to take that step, better late than never. But in early April of this year you decided to make a life altering change and here you are not two months later ready to start a whole new life, naysayers be damned.
4merguide
Well-known member
This could be true but it's hard to say. I think for many personalities, Alaska has a way of pulling something out of a person that he/she didn't really know they had in them.
iofthetaiga
Well-known member
...like a tapeworm.😱
mark knapp
Well-known member
The next step is your' step. Quit asking so many questions and do it, I did 40 years ago. Never regretted it for a second.
Well the flight cancellation window was today at noon, so it looks like I have some cold weather gear to buy, all I own are shorts, t-shirts and sandals...
The fact there's a USPS mail plane is pretty sweet and convenient. I can spend some earned notes right away to improve hobbies while I'm in the middle of nowhere. Thanks America! Too many passions to pursue that are remedied by a simple relocation... From summiting even a small mountain to going snowboarding for the first time, not the most expensive of things but they're things I personally want to do, and couldn't care less about anything else, no amount of money can replace my desire to do those things... as lifestyle, not as a vacation.
I have no plans right now on sticking around permanently for at least 5 or so years.. Leaving behind my favorite family dog for these months was the toughest choice in the whole thing, ironically something I don't think I even brought up as I rambled about other things. It will be difficult to return to her when she's more and more grey. Distance makes the heart grow fonder. I will not relocate permanently until she is gone. Maybe someday I can work some sled dogs.
Waiting on a ULA Ultra-Camino with bear spray holster to arrive in the mail as my carryon pack before I start organizing and deciding what creature comforts to stuff into the duffel bag since I can order whatever else I need via USPS. Almost guaranteed to bring my Cafelat Robot off grid espresso maker, bizarre how I have some coffee trees here in Florida but it's so much more fantastic in cold weather.
Once I get there, I intend to just work quietly, learn, and enjoy the scenery, live as I please to a great extent without disrespecting anyone. After that, it's onto buying land in a way I don't have to rely on 30 years of investing.
If anyone ever sees land for sale nearby and wants a neighbor, feel free to reach out. 110% serious about this. Once I'm done here I hope to go to a log cabin building 1-2 week internship to learn the ropes. I don't know the prices of log cabin materials, hauling them out, getting a compost toilet, water or whatever else going, but...
One step at a time. It's probably NOT as difficult as I make it out to be.
The fact there's a USPS mail plane is pretty sweet and convenient. I can spend some earned notes right away to improve hobbies while I'm in the middle of nowhere. Thanks America! Too many passions to pursue that are remedied by a simple relocation... From summiting even a small mountain to going snowboarding for the first time, not the most expensive of things but they're things I personally want to do, and couldn't care less about anything else, no amount of money can replace my desire to do those things... as lifestyle, not as a vacation.
I have no plans right now on sticking around permanently for at least 5 or so years.. Leaving behind my favorite family dog for these months was the toughest choice in the whole thing, ironically something I don't think I even brought up as I rambled about other things. It will be difficult to return to her when she's more and more grey. Distance makes the heart grow fonder. I will not relocate permanently until she is gone. Maybe someday I can work some sled dogs.
Waiting on a ULA Ultra-Camino with bear spray holster to arrive in the mail as my carryon pack before I start organizing and deciding what creature comforts to stuff into the duffel bag since I can order whatever else I need via USPS. Almost guaranteed to bring my Cafelat Robot off grid espresso maker, bizarre how I have some coffee trees here in Florida but it's so much more fantastic in cold weather.
Once I get there, I intend to just work quietly, learn, and enjoy the scenery, live as I please to a great extent without disrespecting anyone. After that, it's onto buying land in a way I don't have to rely on 30 years of investing.
If anyone ever sees land for sale nearby and wants a neighbor, feel free to reach out. 110% serious about this. Once I'm done here I hope to go to a log cabin building 1-2 week internship to learn the ropes. I don't know the prices of log cabin materials, hauling them out, getting a compost toilet, water or whatever else going, but...
One step at a time. It's probably NOT as difficult as I make it out to be.
mark knapp
Well-known member
I can be as inexpensive as you want it to be, you can start with a sod roof on a log cabin, and an out house.
(PS you are still thinking too much.) It won't be like any of us tell you it will be like anyway so what we have to say won't matter. You are in charge of making your own happiness in ways that only you will know.
(PS you are still thinking too much.) It won't be like any of us tell you it will be like anyway so what we have to say won't matter. You are in charge of making your own happiness in ways that only you will know.
Akgramps
Well-known member
This statement in itself leaves me shaking my head.. sorry dude, good luck...
Sorry I'm not a clone of you. I have no intentions of becoming a cave man.
Roughneck
New member
Kooky, here is my personal experience with Alaska and some background of mine. Grew up blue collar in Maine, self-employed since I walked out of high school. Mainly as a farrier/horseshoer plus got certified in welding. Always learned how to fix or do everything myself. Moved to Florida at 23 spent 17 years there and almost got killed in a wreck, walked out of the hospital and said life is too short sold everything packed up my shit moved to Alaska. Not knowing a single person there. Lucky my fiancé was as free spirited as me and she was excited to take on the challenge. Anyhow we drove all over Alaska and liked the Kenai the best. I wanted to do all the things you mention. I never got to do them all but I really enjoyed Alaska. You definitely have to be willing to do whatever it takes to make it anywhere including Alaska. I never worked for anyone and wasn’t to proud to work at Freddy’s in the meat section learning how to cut meat. I also worked at Northland Furs learning how to skin big game and deflesh hides which I had never done. My point is you have to willing to adapt and learn as much as you can. I made great friends but also met some of the out of norm people. Alaska has it all and will punch you square in the jaw when your not looking so be prepared to take it on the chin and then shake it off and keep moving forward. if your not the type of individual then it’s really going to be hard to be truly successful there or anywhere for that matter. I am not trying to attack you in anyway just trying to give you my perspective and maybe a different way of viewing things through someone else’s lense who has made that leap of faith because it was what I truly wanted to do and nothing was going to stop me.
Also I didn’t even touch on any things as far as how hard the hunting can be or gardening. It’s all hard work but if that’s your passion then it’s not really work. I ended up moving much further away from the Kenai and now up in the Tok area. You have to be part duck to live on the Kenai and that’s one attribute I lack LOL!
Also I didn’t even touch on any things as far as how hard the hunting can be or gardening. It’s all hard work but if that’s your passion then it’s not really work. I ended up moving much further away from the Kenai and now up in the Tok area. You have to be part duck to live on the Kenai and that’s one attribute I lack LOL!
Akgramps
Well-known member
Lol, whatever that means......!
kasilofchrisn
Well-known member
I think for anyone to just randomly move to Alaska these days you're really going to need more money than you probably have saved up.
The exception being that if you have a place to stay and a job that will provide enough so you have the basic necessities covered.
Other than that you also need to be willing to do whatever it takes, legally anyways, to make it.
If that means working a slime line at The cannery with a bunch of people you don't like then that's what you have to do.
If that means working some pretty crappy jobs to get by and make ends meet then that's what you have to do.
If you're unwilling or unable to work with a bunch of people you don't like on a job that sucks then you might as well just stay home. Because as far as hardships go those kinds of things are going to be the least of your worries.
I guarantee it's going to cost you a lot more than you think and be a lot more hard work and physically and mentally difficult than you ever imagined.
But being as you have a place to stay in a source of income to cover your basic necessities you've got a shot.
And this is the probably the best opportunity for you to make it up here.
Do I personally believe that you will succeed at living remote and off-grid in Alaska with the information you've given us so far?
No, it would surprise me if you did succeed.
But you got one heck of an opportunity to give it a try and see if you really do have what it takes.
If a few years from now if you've succeeded or failed come back and let us know.
Don't be a stranger to The forum!
The exception being that if you have a place to stay and a job that will provide enough so you have the basic necessities covered.
Other than that you also need to be willing to do whatever it takes, legally anyways, to make it.
If that means working a slime line at The cannery with a bunch of people you don't like then that's what you have to do.
If that means working some pretty crappy jobs to get by and make ends meet then that's what you have to do.
If you're unwilling or unable to work with a bunch of people you don't like on a job that sucks then you might as well just stay home. Because as far as hardships go those kinds of things are going to be the least of your worries.
I guarantee it's going to cost you a lot more than you think and be a lot more hard work and physically and mentally difficult than you ever imagined.
But being as you have a place to stay in a source of income to cover your basic necessities you've got a shot.
And this is the probably the best opportunity for you to make it up here.
Do I personally believe that you will succeed at living remote and off-grid in Alaska with the information you've given us so far?
No, it would surprise me if you did succeed.
But you got one heck of an opportunity to give it a try and see if you really do have what it takes.
If a few years from now if you've succeeded or failed come back and let us know.
Don't be a stranger to The forum!
Buying more expensive things for life tends to be far cheaper in the long run, cost per year as long as long as the product is in service, more enjoyable to use, as well as resale value. Frugality lends itself to being able to afford only what I need in good quality versions so I can save more in the long run and share more with others.
It's just a mechanically simple robot device that doesn't need electricity (even though the entire place is powered by hydro). All it needs to make world class espresso is a kettle of water boiled on a fire and a hand grinder. It's a bit bigger than cowboy coffee pots and smaller than the majority of electric drip makers. Not sure what the big deal is. It was designed for off-grid/remoteness... I love coffee.
I've never had coffee in the snow, kind of a dream of mine, although I may have to leave before it snows... Still, coffee in the cold rain is great too.
Not falling victim to negativity anymore.
It's just a mechanically simple robot device that doesn't need electricity (even though the entire place is powered by hydro). All it needs to make world class espresso is a kettle of water boiled on a fire and a hand grinder. It's a bit bigger than cowboy coffee pots and smaller than the majority of electric drip makers. Not sure what the big deal is. It was designed for off-grid/remoteness... I love coffee.
I've never had coffee in the snow, kind of a dream of mine, although I may have to leave before it snows... Still, coffee in the cold rain is great too.
Not falling victim to negativity anymore.
I might need to get one of those! And hell yes to good coffee and other creature comforts when out in remote places.
Do it, man. This is fun to see you moving forward.
Do it, man. This is fun to see you moving forward.
