Will Alaska fit your idea of what Alaska is? (Anchorage: Home Depot, utilities)

[Will d s]

I guess you need more younger people like me to move to Alaska then. I will be there as soon as I can.

[Dusty Rhodes]

[quote=Metlakatla;2043955]I'll try...

I also wish that people wanting to move here would closely examine their reasons.

Wow, I must be slow witted or something. I never expected that any one place I have visited and lived could change me for the better, or worse for that matter. Most of my residences I have enjoyed, (France is another matter entirely) I would like to live in Alaska for a while, mostly because the two things I enjoy most (with the possible exceptions of several Redheads, a couple of Brunettes, and a Blonde or two) are hunting and fishing. My grandparents taught me to fish, starting when I was around 3 years old. My grandmother, the best rifle shot I have ever known, also taught me to shoot. She also taught two others, a guy named Bum Holliday (a cousin to Doc, or so he claims) who was Georgia State High Powered Rifle Champion for several straight years. My uncle who was captain (actually Lt. colonel) of the Air Force Rifle Team for 15 years. When I was at Parris Island S.C. they told us to "forget everything you ever thought you knew about shooting a weapon, maggots!" and proceeded to teach me, almost word for word as my Grandmother did. I have been hunting and fishing for 50 years, give or take a month or two. I firmly believe that the worst mistake anyone can make in hunting or fishing gear and/or equipment is to try to economize. I liked the people I met in Alaska as we toured around in the rental car for a couple of weeks. I certainly would not expect either them, or the land itself, to "fix" me. For the most part, I do not consider myself "broken" well, bent in a place or two, but these things are survive-able. What new lands, and new experiences change are my perspectives, they broaden my out-look, enriching a provential thought process. The more I experience and learn, the better equiped I am to live in my own skin, I see and understand multiple ways of dealing with problems, methods I would not have found had I stayed forever in one place. When I get to Alaska again, will I stand out in the crowd? Probably not. I am just me, and I am comfortable with that.

[escapeTX]

user2,

You mentioned the population of the SE is declining. Do you know why?

[User 2]

Originally Posted by escapeTX

user2,

You mentioned the population of the SE is declining. Do you know why?

Mostly, it's declining job opportunities..

[DannyL]

Originally Posted by User 2

Mostly, it's declining job opportunities..

very true, this year it's right on track to drop for the 3rd year in a row (in Juneau at least).
The seasonal work just doesn't pay well enough to work 5 months and live here all 12.

[Metlakatla]

That's why it makes me sick when the tourons et al bubble on about the "cruise ships are good for the economy" ad freakin' nauseum.

[DannyL]

someone here used the word "theme park" like you said awhile back, I responded that actually the carpetbaggers are turning Juneau into more of a strip club. Greet them at the door with a smile, send them home broke.

[rotorhead]

So Danny,

Would that make it the "state of Alaska bush company" Hey...I kinda like it.

On a somewhat more serious note, the aging of our country is an issue thats been a ticking demographic bomb forever. It's just getting tougher for the politicians to ignore since they've pissed away every cent of the "social security trust fund" long ago.

[User 2]

......they've pissed away every cent of the "social security trust fund" long ago.

No, they haven't.

Keeee Reist,

.....the government's own Social Security website has to print pages of material debunking all the hogwash that's flying around in serial emails talking about the impending Doom.

Don't be so gullible that you repeat everything you get in your inbox.

Don't believe .us.gov? Try Snopes, they debunk hogwash all the time too.

[Xa'at]

Originally Posted by DannyL

very true, this year it's right on track to drop for the 3rd year in a row (in Juneau at least).
The seasonal work just doesn't pay well enough to work 5 months and live here all 12.

Perhaps I'm thick or something, but I really don't see the big deal in S.E.'s declining population. It's not a huge amount of people, and frankly, Juneau and a lot of these cities are going to run out of room eventually.
Everyone that I know that's leaving Juneau is leaving for one of two reasons:
1.) They are older to middle aged, have lived there for a very long time, and are heading for sunnier climes.
2.) They are young and have lived in Juneau all their life, and simply want to live somewhere else.
The fact that "it's hard to get a job" (which is, by the way, a myth as far as I know. Last I looked in the classifieds, there is a huge job market in Juneau) has never come up. The fact of the matter is, in the rest of the country the cost of living has skyrocketed and in many places is nearly equal to Juneau's. (I'm not speaking of Malibu, California or the Hamptons, but towns like the one where I am currently staying) Unfortunately, the pay is still not as good in these areas- as a Barista with some college experience, I am making $7.60 an hour. I have been offered about $9.50 an hour doing exactly the same thing in Juneau.