Well I am about to leave for Maine my 2nd to last installment in this 20 year Navy career. If I was up for shore duty I would be the Recruiter in Charge in Fairbanks, but since the Navy wants me to go to sea duty (we have to do a 50/50 split) I am off to Maine until 2011 then back to Alaska for the rest of my life.

I have been an Alaska resident since 1999 when I moved up to join the North Slope Borough Police Department. I decided that I might as well finish my Naval service then return with that retirement pension coming in so that has been the plan.

My question, sorry for all the intro BS is if you could live anyplace in Alaska where would you live and why? I am going to be a teacher after I get certified, I am about 50% done with a BA and I have enough time to finish it and probably get a masters.

So the plan is to teach, and if I decide I don't like that I should have enough education and experience to do a lot else.

I liked Sitka, Barrow didn't bother me if you were only living there 9 months a year, Kodiak would work, I was thinking about Dillingham, Tok, and Valdez.

I guess the ideal situation is to live someplace you would want to be year round. But it really doesn't matter.

Hunting wise Kaktovik, Anakutuvik Pass, Nome, Tok, Dillingham, and Sitka would be good. With places like Kaktovik and Bethel giving the most variety.

I doubt many folks in Alaska hunt every major species every year.

Well, what do you think?

I'd go for Valdez. I've got a buddy who moved there from Sitka. Great fishing, good hunting and road access to the rest of Alaska (well, except S.E.)

<<MM>>

Love to connect up with you when you arrive as I live in Brunswick. PM me.

Jeff

Teaching is a good gig as it gives you the flexibility to live pretty much anywhere, though they've been moving up the school year which really messes with hunting season.

Personally I love fishing in saltwater and being out on the ocean, so it would be a SC or SE location. Kodiak is the one location that I've been too that I thought yeah I could live hear. The people there are great, it's got character, the fishing is phenominal and there is good hunting as well. I haven't been to SE, but would consider down there as well.

If you're more into hunting than fishing, than farther North is the way to go.

If my job allowed it, I would move to Tok so fast it wouldnt even be funny.

Winters can drag out but its all of that you make of it.

Around Tok is the only place I hunt, Have good friends there. So unless a job oppertunity comes up I gotta deal with the 6 hour drive here from anchorage.

Tok is a nice place to be. I am a teacher and love it here. I grew up in the area, so know it very well. Not sure you want to come in as a teacher with a masters degree. Everyone is cutting corners with budgets and having masters only means you come in with a higher starting salary. Might want to work on that "after" you get a job.

What's not to love about our cosmic village by the sea, Homer??????????.......

Joe

D99, welcome back!

I'd vote for Nome, Cordova, Valdez, Dillingham, and Kodiak, in that order, for me personnaly. It really comes down to your preference for hunting vs fishing and tolerance for rain vs cold and prefered species. Ain't it GREAT to have choices like that!?

When do you think you'll be back? What are you favorite games animals/activities?

Regards,
Bob

I work for the northwest arctic brough school district out of Kotzebue . lots of hunting up here moose caribou,(5 aday) musk ok , traping and some great fishing . but I'd check into what each district has to offer with housing and cost living conditions(gas and feul oil $5.00 to $8.50 a gal), starting wage ( i believe $40,000 up here )and benefits . most places up here you might need a sno-go, a honda , boat it make the hunting and fishing easier.or try to vist the area's first to see if you like the people and the country side then go from there ,

I have a million questions for you bush Alaska teachers if you don't mind pm-ing me.

I lived in Barrow and Sikta so I have a pretty good idea of what I am getting into.

Barrow and Sitka are metropolis' compared to a lot of places in the bush though.

...,//., Not that I would want to live there on purpose again ..But Ketchikan has a tremendous amount to offer...Blackies, Brn bear , Mt Goat , moose, deer. Huge elk on Etolin/ Zarembo, ect ..Lots of wolves !! lots of dungies , king salmon ...An awesome run of early fall silvers out on The Face ,Halibut and other great bottom fish,.,And it can all be accessed in an 18 ft lund .... Wrangell is the same but with way fewer people ..... The primary detractors for me is the darkness.and high priced land.. and for most other people , the rain ......But I have quite a few years there and now I prefer the need for a beaver hat and down parka ,to a new pair of Ketchikan sneakers and a set of Grundens,,...What a great Quandry tho

Might want to take a look at Seward or maybe even Cantwell.

I also like the Ketchikan area. You got Prince of Wales Island or the mainland Misty to go play in.

When I draw the Ketchikan Mt Goat tag I will just hike from my house and tag a nice Goat. How many people can do that !!!!!!!!!!