Thoughts on Anchorage

[Reddie]

Anchorage Mad Dog guys (or anyone else who has lived there)
Looking for opinions on living in Anchorage vs MEM (QOL, cost, Schools, ect).
Also good areas to live in and any good real estate agents.
The wife has finally had enough of MEM and we're looking at options before the next bid.
Thanks

 

[Whale Rider]

Anchorage Mad Dog guys (or anyone else who has lived there)
Looking for opinions on living in Anchorage vs MEM (QOL, cost, Schools, ect).
Also good areas to live in and any good real estate agents.
The wife has finally had enough of MEM and we're looking at options before the next bid.
Thanks

Doesn't the US Gov't pay people to inhabit Alaska??? Thats got to be a plus.

 

[PurpleTail]

Anchorage Mad Dog guys (or anyone else who has lived there)
Looking for opinions on living in Anchorage vs MEM (QOL, cost, Schools, ect).
Also good areas to live in and any good real estate agents.
The wife has finally had enough of MEM and we're looking at options before the next bid.
Thanks

If your wife and kids don't mind the winters and the cold I would have moved to ANC. All trips out of ANC are international pay, cost of living could be worse (LAX) and there are lots of outdoor activities for family and kids.

For me, ANC was too cold for the wife and MEM was NOT even a consideration.

GL

 

[Chronic Jetlag]

You get a check every year as an AK resident called a Divident check. Check out a small town just north of Anchorage called Eagle River. It's less than 30 minutes from the airport. Nice little town. Anchorage is actually not as bad as say Chicago or Minnesota during the winter. It's dry and mild during the winter. I never actually lived there but spent about 9 years flying through and layover there; sometimes as long as 4-5 days at a time.

 

[psysicx]

Is it true the sun doesn't set in ANC in the summer?

 

[banned username 2]

Is it true the sun doesn't set in ANC in the summer?

It sets, but at around 11:40pm and rises around 4:20am (end of June)... In the summer it never gets totally dark at night, always a bit of twilight... At least from the beginning of June till about the end of July...

Now at the end of December it sets around 3:45pm and rises around 10:15am...

Now in Barrow, AK, the sun rises on May 11 and doesn't set until August 1, of course it sets on Nov 19 and doesn't rise again until January 22 (for a whopping 49 minutes of sunlight!)

 

[Miyagi]

Doesn't the US Gov't pay people to inhabit Alaska??? Thats got to be a plus.

THe program is called the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend and is run by the Alaska Department of Revenue. Here is a look at their five-year history:
2004 - $919.84
2003 - $1,107.56
2002 - $1,540.76
2001 - $1,850.28
2000 - $1,963.86

You can get more dividend history at: http://www.pfd.state.ak.us/dividendamounts/index.aspx​

 

[turbodriver]

And dont get your panties in a bunch about free money either. It ain't tax free.

I don't miss getting it myself. It just pushes my taxable income that much higher.

 

[CSY Mon]

ANC is nice, more so in the summer...Ya tolerate the winters...Then there is the non-stop pax flight to Hawaii for a week of R&R...Or it used to be.

I got married in ANC and did the honeymoon in Hawaii...6 hours straight South on a DC-10 if memory serves right,

So, yeah, ANC is good and far milder than ORD or MNP in the winter..

Also good people up there.

Would move back in a flash if I was not hooked on Florida anf them Bahamian Islands and my sail boat.

 

[HoursHore]

Purple Tail,

Where do guys live in LA? Is it possible to get anything nice for 300,000? Are LA Guys worried about the Domicile closing? Thinking about trying for LA on the next bid.

 

[psysicx]

You could buy a shack in Canyon County for under 300,000. And that includes a trout stream in your back yard. Or if you don't mind a little drive like an hour and half depending on traffic you could live in Wrightwood. Its up in the mountains by a ski resort. Buy a lot for 60,000 and use the rest to build your dream home.

 

[AlbieF15]

Anchorage winters are about like Chicago's, but you do get hit with some -40 weeks. Big problem with winter is not the intensity, but the length. Snow is still covering ground in April, and you've been longing for Spring since late Feb. Those last 8 weeks can be tough. That aside--loved it up there for 3.5 great years.

 

[inline]

Anchorage winters are about like Chicago's, but you do get hit with some -40 weeks. Big problem with winter is not the intensity, but the length. Snow is still covering ground in April, and you've been longing for Spring since late Feb. Those last 8 weeks can be tough. That aside--loved it up there for 3.5 great years.

Anchorage doesn't get temps to -40. In extremely rare occurances you might see a spike to -30 near the mountains. the average Jan temp is the mid 20s. Warmer than MSP. And when it's cold for the most part the wind is calm.

 

[Reddie]

thanks for all the replys guys. If this next bid has vacancys up there, does anybody know if training dates are awarded strictly on senority or on staffing need (ie we need crews up there faster than MEM so they get trained first).

 

[turbodriver]

Anchorage doesn't get temps to -40. In extremely rare occurances you might see a spike to -30 near the mountains. the average Jan temp is the mid 20s. Warmer than MSP. And when it's cold for the most part the wind is calm.

Anchorage does get temps down to -40. I've seen in on many occasions while living there. Doesn't happen too often anymore, due to the last few winters being very mild but 5-10 years ago, we were seeing -30, -40 type of temps.

 

[Singlecoil]

The lowest official temperature ever recorded in ANC is -34F in Jan. 1975 according to yahoo weather. The city does have a lot of microclimates, -40 could be possible on the east side of town.

 

[turbodriver]

Yahoo weather?

I can distinctively remember back when I was in junior high school one morning, before I walked outside my house to walk across the street to catch the bus to school, I looked at the thermometer. It read -40F in the early morning. THis was in the late 80's.

Back before yahoo....

 

[mrvmo]

F Street

Humpy's

 

[321 busdriver]

I lived there from 1979-1983 and never had anything approach -40. Back before there was yahoo wx and cheap outdoor thermometers.

Yahoo weather?

I can distinctively remember back when I was in junior high school one morning, before I walked outside my house to walk across the street to catch the bus to school, I looked at the thermometer. It read -40F in the early morning. THis was in the late 80's.

Back before yahoo....

 

[WorldOnTime]

From the National Weather Service's website, record low temps for ANC:

Top 5 Minimum Low Temperatures
-38 degrees...........February 3, 1947
-37 degrees...........February 4, 1947
-36 degrees...........December 25, 1917
-36 degrees...........December 24, 1917
-35 degrees...........January 30, 1947

 

[AlbieF15]

....hehehe...didn't mean for my misinfo to stir the pot so much....

How about this for a summary. MOST of the winter, its pretty cold, but no worse than a Great Lakes midwest winter. A FEW nights, however, an artic blast will drop things down for a spell and make it *& cold!

As for -20, -30, or -40, your car may tell the difference. Once I was out hoofing in below 0 weather, however, my frozen eyelids and nosehairs couldn't tell much of a difference.

All that aside--if I wasn't already so invested physically and emotionally in Bay County, I'd already be back in Anchorage. We sometimes discuss moving back for a "tour"...a 1-2 year move just for the benefit of our kids. We loved it there, and I'll bet you will too....

 

[justthewife]

Lived in Anchorage for 4 years, moved about 6 months ago back to the Southwest. Both loved it and hated it.

Good points:
1. Some excellent schools available via lottery (you apply, and they pick names out of a hat, basically).
2. Some of the nicest people I've ever met.
3. Laid back attitude; not so much concern about what clothes you wear, what car you drive. There is a spirit of live and let live that I've not seen anywhere else in the US.
4. Most beautiful summers ever; not too hot and LONG days.
5. Parks within walking distance of almost every neighborhood with trails for bike riding and running/walking.
6. Lots of outdoor activities year-round, and it's beautiful almost all the time.
7. No sales tax and no income tax. Also, a small amount given each year called the permanent fund dividend, lately usually around 1,000 dollars.

Bad points:
1. Too far away from everything!! It costs around 400 dollars per ticket to fly anywhere in the US.
2. You can't go to a neighboring state very easily for a competitive price on anything, like cars, etc.
3. Prices can be insane for everyday things, and you have no choice, because you can't exactly drive to another state very easily for better prices. Also, very little competition among businesses, so good deals are few and far between. Basically, EVERYTHING is more expensive, and not just a little bit; at least 15% more.
4. Healthcare was terribly expensive for us.
5. The winters are misery if you have any proclivity to seasonal changes in mood. It's dark a lot and makes you want to eat all the time. Not unusual for a 10-pound winter weight gain, and then a 10-pound loss in the summer.
6. High car insurance.
7. Most franchises/chain stores in the United States run promotions which are not valid in Alaska; this gets annoying really quickly.
8. Not a lot of places to shop. One Nordstrom, Gap, JC Penny, Sears, and Fred Meyer. Not exactly a lot to choose from, and catalog/online shopping can be a pain with the extra charges just to ship to ANC.
9. Not exactly a cultural mecca, but a decent symphony.

I'm torn as to whether I'd live there again. For the most part, either people absolutely love it and never want to leave or they hate it and can't wait to go. Very few of us are between the two extremes. Good luck on your decision!

 

[US Flyer]

Lived in Anchorage for 4 years, moved about 6 months ago back to the Southwest. Both loved it and hated it.

Good points:
1. Some excellent schools available via lottery (you apply, and they pick names out of a hat, basically).
2. Some of the nicest people I've ever met.
3. Laid back attitude; not so much concern about what clothes you wear, what car you drive. There is a spirit of live and let live that I've not seen anywhere else in the US.
4. Most beautiful summers ever; not too hot and LONG days.
5. Parks within walking distance of almost every neighborhood with trails for bike riding and running/walking.
6. Lots of outdoor activities year-round, and it's beautiful almost all the time.
7. No sales tax and no income tax. Also, a small amount given each year called the permanent fund dividend, lately usually around 1,000 dollars.

Bad points:
1. Too far away from everything!! It costs around 400 dollars per ticket to fly anywhere in the US.
2. You can't go to a neighboring state very easily for a competitive price on anything, like cars, etc.
3. Prices can be insane for everyday things, and you have no choice, because you can't exactly drive to another state very easily for better prices. Also, very little competition among businesses, so good deals are few and far between. Basically, EVERYTHING is more expensive, and not just a little bit; at least 15% more.
4. Healthcare was terribly expensive for us.
5. The winters are misery if you have any proclivity to seasonal changes in mood. It's dark a lot and makes you want to eat all the time. Not unusual for a 10-pound winter weight gain, and then a 10-pound loss in the summer.
6. High car insurance.
7. Most franchises/chain stores in the United States run promotions which are not valid in Alaska; this gets annoying really quickly.
8. Not a lot of places to shop. One Nordstrom, Gap, JC Penny, Sears, and Fred Meyer. Not exactly a lot to choose from, and catalog/online shopping can be a pain with the extra charges just to ship to ANC.
9. Not exactly a cultural mecca, but a decent symphony.

I'm torn as to whether I'd live there again. For the most part, either people absolutely love it and never want to leave or they hate it and can't wait to go. Very few of us are between the two extremes. Good luck on your decision!

This person hit the nail on the head. We lived there for almost five years and loved it. Winter weather there NORMALLY much milder than that of Detroit, Minneapolis, etc.

We would move back in a heartbeat to avoid all of the traffic, corruption, heat humidity, pollution and attitude that we deal with on a daily basis in ATL. Don't know who you have car insurance with, but mine was very reasonable in ANC- it almost doubled when we moved to ATL.

Enjoy it if you move! Its especially great if you love the outdoors.

 

[Reddie]

How is the healthcare network for FedEx up there? Its pretty good in MEM, but I have heard not so good things about other locals.

 

[blineak82]

AK Pilot friendly realtor

Several NWA pilots have been satisfied with Laura Halverson of Dynamic Properties and her assistance provided in their relocations to Anchorage, Alaska. PM me for her contact info if interested.

Another important point that I'm not sure was mentioned is the fact that Alaskan residents do not pay state income tax on earned income.

 

[aeronautic1]

And if your wife and kids don't mind you turning into an alcoholic... ANC is you bag baby!!

If your wife and kids don't mind the winters and the cold I would have moved to ANC. All trips out of ANC are international pay, cost of living could be worse (LAX) and there are lots of outdoor activities for family and kids.

For me, ANC was too cold for the wife and MEM was NOT even a consideration.

GL

 

[Huck]

Don't forget - the company considers it a domestic base, so the move is on your nickel.

That said, we are considering it - like Albie said, a "tour" for the experience. It was my second home at GAC and I loved it. Outdoor writer Ed Abbey said that the United States was once a platter of pork chops, and Alaska was the last one left....