Answers to FAQs

After we decided to move to Alaska, people started asking tons of questions. Here a few of them with the answers: 

1. Doesn't the sun never go down in the summer and never come up in the winter? 

• It depends on where you are in Alaska.  If you are in the northern most parts, then yes, this is pretty accurate. In Wasilla, it seems like it gets dark around 11 pm and light around 5 am in the summer.  In the winter, it's the opposite.  The sun is up from mid-morning to late afternoon. 

2. Do you need to be careful about polar bears?

• It depends on where you are in Alaska. The northern most parts have polar bears, but we do not have polar bears where we live. And yes, you do need to be careful because polar bears are dangerous animals - not a cute, white bear that drinks Coke. 

3. Isn't it really expensive to live there? 

• It depends on where you are in Alaska (notice a trend here??).  Things do seem to be higher priced for us, but most things aren't totally outrageous. The things that I have noticed a big difference on are dairy and produce. Basically, anything fresh.  But good deals can still be found. Housing prices varies depending on the location within the state. Prices where we are seem to be comparable to California. 

4. Where are you going to shop?

• The same places that you do - Target, Sams Club, Costco, Walmart, Fred Meyer, Sports Authority, Best Buy, etc. Anywhere surrounding Anchorage (the largest city) will have a decent selection of stores. However, if you live on a remote island or in a small town, options will be limited and prices will be high. 

5. Is it expensive to travel there?  

• In short, yes.  But you can find decent deals on the off-seasons.  A few more airlines recently opened up flights to/from Anchorage, so this should drive down the prices a little bit because there is more competition. 

6. Do people live in igloos?

• I have yet to see any igloos here. In fact, the houses look pretty normal to me. :)

7. Are you going to live with Eskimos?

• If you are picturing a person wearing a thick coat made of animal skins with fur surrounding the hood, then no.  But we do live among Native Alaskans (proper name) and they look and dress just like everyone else.  I would venture to say there are places in Alaska where the Native people have kept more of their Native lifestyle, but I haven't encountered any. 

8. Don't you get paid to live there?

• Kind of. After attaining residency (living in Alaska for 1 year), every man, woman, and child receives a yearly check (amount varies depending on the year) - this is called the Permanent Fund. It is basically from oil revenues and the state shares it with the residents. I have heard the amounts are around $800-1000 per person per year. Many families use this money to start college funds for their children. 

9. Aren't you going to freeze to death???

• Probably, but time will tell. :) But again, it depends on where you are in the state. In Wasilla, the winters are long and often windy, but it's not in the negatives every day either. I haven't experienced a winter here yet, but from checking www.weather.com everyday last year and talking to people, I feel like comparing it to Northern Utah, Idaho, or Montana would probably be accurate. 

10. How long do you think you'll stay up there?

• That's a hard question. We have no idea. We're going to take it as it comes. :)

Feel free to ask more questions!