The Perks of Being an Alaska Resident

My husband is in the military and I'm from Georgia. When I found out that he would be stationed in Anchorage, Alaska, I was kind of excited, and looked at it as an adventure. Although I battled bouts of homesickness, I still greatly enjoyed various aspects of living in Alaska. If I were to go back, I would make fuller use of the wonders and beauty of Alaska. So, if you ever plan on visiting, or living there, here are some things to keep in mind.

Lack of Bugs

This was actually one of my very favorite parts about being in Alaska. The cold weather keeps the bugs away. I saw an occasional spider here and there. But, I didn't see any worms or other pesky household bugs that drive me insane. I hate bugs, they completely freak me out, which I wish they didn't, but they do. Living in Georgia, I see bugs all the time, especially during the hot summer. This was a pleasant difference. Anyways, appreciate the fact that there are not many bugs, if you are scared of bugs like me.

Sunlight during Summer

During the summer months it does not get dark. At all. And, I think it's one of the most wonderful things in the world. I loved it. Absolutely loved it. I think, after all, that this was my favorite part of living in Alaska. With my husband working night shifts sometimes, I didn't have to worry about being kind of scared at home by myself. I hate being at home at night by myself. I always have. But, for those summer months, I didn't have to worry. It was great. There was sunshine for most of the day. During the nighttime it would get darker, but it didn't look like night. It looked more like late afternoon/early evening. I wish it was like that everywhere. The constant nighttime during the winter didn't phase me too much though.

Recreation

Since I was pregnant or recuperating from pregnancy during most of my time in Alaska, I was unable to partake of the many cool recreational sports and activities that people can engage in while in Alaska. From hunting and fishing to hiking, skiing, and kayaking. The outdoor opportunities are endless, and sound like lots of fun. If you're an outdoor enthusiast, you will have a blast in Alaska.

Money

Residents of Alaska don't have to pay a sales tax. I loooved this about Alaska. And, on top of that, once a year residents received their Permanent Fund Dividend checks. This year's check to all residents of Alaska was $3,269.00. It's definitely worth living there to get a check like that each year just for simply living there.

For the most part, I enjoyed my time living in Alaska. I enjoyed that it's a lot more culturally diverse than what I thought it would be. The snow was beautiful to see, especially the snow capped mountains. If you ever consider living there or visiting, you'll probably fall in love with it. Most people there are not originally from Alaska, but they fall in love with it, and decide not to move back to their hometowns. Maybe you'll be next!