Moving from Texas to Alaska

[hippyman]

So this has been a goal of mine for as long as I can clearly remember. I feel like I have no prospects down here in the South, and am wanting to relocate permanently. I was thinking a city to start with, like Anchorage or Juneau, then eventually getting to a point where I can live semi-off-grid. I have had a lot of tragedy in my life and I am seeking to start over, if you will. I know it will take a lot of work, time, and patience, but I am willing to put in the effort. I was wondering if the people on these boards could possibly help me out with some tips for my quest.

 

[Hkrjohn]

There may be more opportunities to explore Alaska based out of the Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley verses Juneau. Juneau is a wonderful city, but the only way in or out is by boat or plane. Completely different weather as well. Obviously your occupation may determine the best location.

I’m good friends with several ex Texans who made the move up here. The said the biggest adjustment they had was getting used to how big everything is in Alaska compared to Texas.

 

[hippyman]

You do have some valid points. Anchorage having a connected road system might help me adjust better. Also, I was wondering, what would you suggest is the best way to get a real taste of Alaskan life, as opposed to the tourist viewpoint?

 

[SmokeRoss]

Are you planning on working, or are you retired? If you want to work, South Central is where you should relocate. And ditch the cowboy boots. They're no good in the ice and snow. I have a funny story about watching two guys in cowboy boots trying to winch a van out of the ditch in the snow.....on a hill. Every time they let go of the truck or winch line, they would ski to the bottom of the hill. Then they had to get over into the deep snow and slog back up the hill a couple hundred feet. In places where the snow was too sparce, they had to crawl. My son and I pulled over to watch and had a ton of laughs. Sadly it was long before the days of smart phones, so no video. Good luck in the new chapter in your life, Hippy.

 

[Daveinthebush]

If you can buy a truck camper or a small towable you can travel on weekends to various areas and experience them. I camp in a lot of areas that are not camp grounds when I hunt or even in the summer and there are plenty of places out there that you can do that. If you hunt, you may want one anyways. The road system is just that, giving you a mild taste of Alaska but much of Alaska isn't connected. Unless you fly into those places you won't experience what I call real Alaska. Nome, Bethel, Ruby, Tanana, Unakaleet..... Problem is that many places there is no place to stay. No B&B's, hotels, nothing. Some places just don't want you there, period. Anchorage or near there is a good place to start.

 

[hippyman]

If you can buy a truck camper or a small towable you can travel on weekends to various areas and experience them. I camp in a lot of areas that are not camp grounds when I hunt or even in the summer and there are plenty of places out there that you can do that. If you hunt, you may want one anyways. The road system is just that, giving you a mild taste of Alaska but much of Alaska isn't connected. Unless you fly into those places you won't experience what I call real Alaska. Nome, Bethel, Ruby, Tanana, Unakaleet..... Problem is that many places there is no place to stay. No B&B's, hotels, nothing. Some places just don't want you there, period. Anchorage or near there is a good place to start.

Where to stay for the duration, while I go out and explore was my main concern. I have a conversion van but it's old and I seriously doubt it would make the trip. I'm not a hunter, but I have fished in my past. It's just been years since I have, lol. What about a lodge, how long can people rent out those?

 

[SmokeRoss]

Where to stay for the duration, while I go out and explore was my main concern. I have a conversion van but it's old and I seriously doubt it would make the trip. I'm not a hunter, but I have fished in my past. It's just been years since I have, lol. What about a lodge, how long can people rent out those?

Staying at a Lodge would likely cost more than you wanted to pay even in the off season. If you were to rent a small place on the Kenai Peninsula, you could find one under 1000 a month, especially if you looked into a cabin with minimal utilities.

 

[iofthetaiga]

I was wondering if the people on these boards could possibly help me out with some tips for my quest.

My best tip: Set aside a significant chunk of cash. Put it in a CD, or something to keep it separated and out of immediate reach, but accessible if you desperately need it....so that when you're busted flat and have realized Alaska isn't your land of milk and honey you can still get back home.

 

[SmokeRoss]

My best tip: Set aside a significant chunk of cash. Put it in a CD, or something to keep it separated and out of immediate reach, but accessible if you desperately need it....so that when you're busted flat and have realized Alaska isn't your land of milk and honey you can still get back home.

I was considering posting something similar. Long time Alaskans are certainly aware of just how much the landscape here is littered with the broken dreams of those who come here looking for a new start that just doesn't work out.

 

[AKBEE]

I spent much of my life in San Antonio and miss the people and food. Alaska is simply amazing in so many ways. We live in Anchorage and have land in Matsu. Visit when you can and narrow down areas of interest. You will either love it, or leave pretty quickly, so take seriously what others suggest about having cash set aside. Best of luck!

 

[4merguide]

Have any of you caught the new reality show called "100 Days Wild"...??? It's about a couple from Alaska that asked 5 other people to come up and join them on the Tanana river valley to try and create a community. It's not working out so well....

 

[SmokeRoss]

Have any of you caught the new reality show called "100 Days Wild"...??? It's about a couple from Alaska that asked 5 other people to come up and join them on the Tanana river valley to try and create a community. It's not working out so well....

It never does.

 

[greyinggrayling]

Depending on where you are from in TX, Anchorage can be a huge PIA.
As you know, there is “City” Texas and rural Texas. Same up here.
If you want your life micromanaged by the City, and want to pay 3 times the price for everything, in trade for a Seattle/Portlandia lifestyle, then you’ll be comfortable in Anchorage.
If you want to be left alone and have a little peace and quiet to settle your soul, then Anc is not the place.
There is a benefit to Anchorage for Texans, though. If you are not used to Alaska winters, then Anchorage is Alaska on training wheels. Roads get plowed (fairly) quickly, you can drive slow to the grocery stores or work, get proficient at winter driving before making the jump to a rural setting. Also delivery to your door is readily available.

(moved from Texas to AK in 2016, cannot wait to get the hell out of Anchorage. We have to stay in Anc due to work right now)

 

[Daveinthebush]

One hint, do not move up in the fall or winter. Move up in the spring. Right now days are getting shorter, weather turning, fishing way down. For many used to the L48 conditions this will just depress you.

 

[stillapa12drvr]

If the OP is the same Hippyman from earlier, I'll put in my thoughts from the 2015 timeframe below. Nothing's changed other than my username which got lost in a software upgrade.

I would triple down on what IoftheTiaga and Smoke Ross have written: have your well-funded bail-out account ready to go.

Alaska was a better place to move to in 2015 than it is in 2020 and 2015 would have been better than 2021 is likely to be: From my perspective of growing up in Los Anchorage, I can only agree with the others that it's a PIA. In the 60's and 70's, it wasn't quite so far from Alaska...now Anchorage is a bit of a slag heap.

stillaPA12drvr





So....a few thoughts from a displaced Alaskan in Texas:

- All of these are based on a very small amount of direct experience, a whole heap of observation, and a bunch of (hopefully valid) opinion;
- There is nowhere in "Bush" Alaska this as accessible as the most remote area of Texas. Alaska doesn't have FM roads, RM, roads or "County Roads": parts of Alaska have logging roads which just ain't the same thing;
- As mentioned above, a certain paradigm seems to apply to the L48 dreamers: Move to Alaska with big ideas; buy all sorts of questionable Shtuff; leave it either in piles or helter skelter; move back to the L48 or to the fringes of the "city" (Los Anchorage, Squarebanks, or possibly JNU/KTN)

Want to live in remote Alaska?
- Put a d***** hard effort into figuring out "why" (Lots of very good reasons, "I can't stand people" won't holdup under reality as a strong enough reason)
- Focus on or acquire a number of very portable and practical skills: Trades (Carpentry, electrical, painting), "Commercial" (bookkeeping, accounting, administrative, etc)
- Focus on or develop a personality that shares and people like;....there's a reason for this
- Put all of the foregoing together and find a small town in AK...sounds like SE is right up your alley...and find/buy a place to stay in that small town. In a small town you can be on the edge of town and that means on the edge of the bush (to a sort of mild degree); that doesn't apply the same in Los Anchorage or (with small variability) Squarebanks;
- Use the foregoing skills to find any paying occupation in that small town to generate a few $$....other than the surroundings, if you can't get out to fish/hunt/climb/sightsee, living in small town Alaska is not a whole lot different than living in Flatonia or Blanco or Orange or ....any number of small towns in Texas...in fact, if you can't do those activities, small town life in AK is worse 'cause there are less conveniences, including access. And doing those activities takes either $$ or.....;
- Use the foregoing personality to "Informally" barter: Trade putting a new roof on for 3 boat trips to the hunting spot; do someone's tax return for a drop-off flight to a fishing hole;
- After at least 5 years of doing the foregoing, see if you can find a plot of land to purchase that is within air/river transport distance of the aforementioned small town. THEN build your cabin/yurt/etc....when you know enough to know what you want.

Opinion......

 

[AGL4now]

In my opinion..........you will never see Alaska from asphalt. From the asphalt you see (some) majestic beauty and feel a nearness to safety. I think well more then 90% of Alaskans, including those born here and lived here 80 years.........never have seen Alaska. Even those who do some fly-in hunting or fishing trips only see a minuscule speck of Alaska.

 

[Gerberman]

I've been traveling to Alaska since 1969, I have a house there and I still have not seen most of Alaska, I have worked in SE, Kodiak, Adak, and The Kenai area, still many miles of roads and air to see a little more of the great State. The small villages are great, but you have to have an IN to get to know the locals. Once you are IN you are welcome to participate with the locals. It is amazing how they will help you if you listen to them. You have to make a determination to see more of Alaska, It is a lot of land to see.

 

[Alaska Bush Hunter]

Due to the economy of Alaska and Biden War on Fossil fuel I do not suggest Alaska a place to retire or work. BP left the state and sold out !
unless your in the Government Alaska is not worth it .
Fairbanks average wage is like 34k which is terrible in Alaska.

 

[iofthetaiga]

Fairbanks average wage is like 34k which is terrible in Alaska.

I live on a lot less than 34K. A lot of people here live on a whole lot less than that. Terrible maybe, but could be a whole lot worse.

 

[Alaska Bush Hunter]

It’s good that you live on less
Rule of thumb don’t live above your means here.
But here in Fairbanks it cost a lot more to live
Housing is high Fuel is high it’s just a high cost area with high property taxes going up yearly you don’t get a lot for your money.
more people are leaving the state than coming in ! Here in Military 1991 to 1993 and return again 1998 to present .