We lived in Anchorage, Alaska (AK) for 14 yrs and we loved it. It is a beautiful state. God bless you on your big adventure!!

st. mary's though my villages four others right there along the Yukon.

thanks for that info

As an Alaska resident it is AK for Alaska and AL for Alabama

[QUOTE=MarleneC;5858717]

I don't know where you are moving from, but it you have ever suffered from depression the long periods of darkness can create problems. One way to combat this is with light therapy. They didn't know it when I was growing up in Seattle and had bouts of depression every winter, and no one knew why, but put me on medication. My husband was in the Navy when we got married and stationed in San Diego, and I have not had the problem since. Our longest period of over-cast weather is 2 weeks. It can creep up on you, so don't let it get to you.

The rest of the family had no problem with the depressing weather just me.

Your adventure sounds great to me. Not sure what you will encounter but it does sound like it will be an adventure and so have a good time.

Thank you I could not remember if it was Bethel or Nome that she went to. We all have different things that we like in our life take this move for what it is a great experience. You have lots of quilters who are willing to help if you just ask. If it were not for people like you who are willing to take that chance some of the services that these remote areas need would not happen. Many people come here like you and end up staying because they end up liking it. Those who are on the fence or don't like it usually leave. Its not for everyone but give it a fair chance.

I have lived in AK, but in the very 'civilized' areas - Juneau, Ketchikan, Homer. I know where you are headed, and wish you the best, and many many hours of happy quilting!

He didn't ask her this to be mean....

This is what " riutzelj " said....
He is very high level Asperger's and change happens SLOWLY so my going up and his visiting is the process for that to happen. He wants the quilts to stay because that is how he stays connected with me.


He wants them around to remind him of her. Since they are a part of her, this is how is coping with her being away.

I think you will have an interesting - no fascinating - 2 years in the boondocks of Alaska. You seem to have the right attitude and know what you are facing. Quilting may not be the main thing in your life while you are there, but you're smart to be thinking of it as an outlet when you need it! I'm wishing you happy times in Alaska!

I agree with ktbb. Alaska has a wonderful quilting community. We lived in Eagle River for 14 years and miss it terribly. I kept very busy with my quilting.

You sound like an amazing person. Wish you were moving next door to me! Enjoy your adventure.

i love wool batting and it works up beautifully by machine so i just can't imagine it not working beautifully by hand. you will fall in love with the wool batting!!

My daughter lives in Eagle River now and loves it. The military personnel are so friendly and helpful. She has two babies to keep her busy. Can't get her interested in quilting...wish that I could .
I have visited twice and had a wonderful time on both trips.
Alaska is truly a beautiful state and the people are warm and so freindly.

However, I can't wait until she gets back into the lower 48 so that we can hug those little ones.

I must correct myself for my attached statement. I went back and checked and found I'm old and my brain isn't working. I don't often make such a dumb whoops, but when I'm wrong I have to own up to it. I apologize for correcting what was already correct! Now I'm going to crawl back under my rock and be quiet!![QUOTE=Debbie C;5858261]I see many posts here referring to Alaska as 'AK'....the O.C.D. in me has to make a correction here. The abbreviation for Alaska is 'AL'......I am very excited for you - this sounds like an amazing opportunity. Please keep us up to date.

breaks my heart to think of you leaving yr quilts behind. Do you have a dear friend you can leave them with for the time being? I sure hope so. If I lived closer, I would keep them for you til you were ready for them again. Really think this all thru. I do like the idea of the space bags, may ck them out myself. Best to you!

She's leaving them with her very dear husband. :thumbup:

Sounds like a great adventure and it appeals to my pioneer spirit. I envy you and hope you have a great experience,:thumbup:

Alaska
 

You'd better look again. AL is Alabama. AK is Alaska.

Alaska is my home. I lived there 32 years, longer than anywhere else. I lived in Fairbanks, Kenai/Soldotna, Kodiak, Anchorage, and even Bethel. My kids were born there and my first two grandkids. Two of my kids still live in Wasilla. I made the mistake of following my daughter (the one with the grandkids) to Georgia when we retired. Now we have bought a house and are STUCK. The daughter (and, more importantly, the grandkids have moved to OK. Oh, how I wish we were still in Alaska. Having said that, good luck to you. I lived in AK for 24 yrs. prior to moving to Bethel. I had lived in Kodiak for 6 yrs. and that remoteness did not prepare me for Bethel. Of course, I had heard all the horror stories about Bethel. Most of them are true. You have to be one tough individual to survive life in the bush. I made a lot of friends in Bethel, and did a lot of quilting. There were 2 stores that carried some fabric, but I was fortunate in that I could get into Anchorage fairly often and shop. We had a super guild in Bethel and had some great times, even did "retreats" in the FAA housing community center. People in Alaska are divided into two groups: those who love it, and those who hate it. Those of us who love it wish those others would just leave or shut up.
Best of luck to you. I would love to hear about your adventure.

Hear! Hear!...about the two groups of people, especially. (I felt the same way about a few places I've lived and that's why I left them....) You never really know what you'll like till you try it...

Amazon has it for $18 and a Kindle download for $5.

You sound like a person who will love the adventure of living in the bush (or in the swamps) of Bethel. Enjoy all the different types of people you will meet. I would suggest that you get an LLBean catalog and buy some of the $15 socks because there will be times when you need them and all supplies will be much cheaper to get before you go. Don't forget Bunny Boots or whatever they call them now.! We wintered one year in Fairbanks and our biggest problem was seeing (we both wear glasses and they freeze or mist over quickly)! A wool scarf for your neck and face and a good wool cap for your head, long johns... wool, wool, wool! Maybe take old blankets (quilts) with you that you never really liked that much and won't mind leaving when you come back for good.

People are people all over the place and if you don't limit your "type" you will make lots of friends, from the simple, plain living natives (think of rural American farmers of a few decades ago) right on to the scientists, teachers, priests, etc... Alaska has lots of quilt stores (what else to do all winter?) but getting it brought in will cost, even if you find some good shops in Bethel.

Had to laugh when you said you were going to rural Alaska, because that essentially means "not Anchorage, which is only 30 minutes away from Alaska". I was offered a teaching job in Bethel and was really being wooed by a couple of priests until they found out my husband was a counselor for problemed youth... and I became chopped liver and they spent time trying to woo him. That was years ago and I suspect Bethel has reliable electricity now.

Don't neglect the advice about getting sun therapy in the winter! We met a gal who thought the people from her office in Fairbanks were discusting the way they ran outside at noon, opened their jackets and blouses at the top, threw their arms wide and stood in the street facing the few minutes of sunshine they could get... until she got so depressed her fellow workers forced her to participate and she realized it was a pagan ritual, but a matter of physical survival.

We took jobs in Asia, instead of Alaska, but we go there regularly because we have family there... we thought if we took jobs in Alaska we'd never move and we wanted to see more of the world. Can't be sorry, but still love Alaska!!! Enjoy the northern lights!!!!

Welcome to Alaska! Bethel definitely is something different, and quite an adventure. It sure is one of those 'once in a lifetime' kind of things that only so few of us have experienced.
I live in Anchorage area, and have been to Bethel a few times for work stuff. As an Alaskan village it is ok. I would take my quilting stuff with me if I were moving out there. There is not that much to do so you would probably get tons of quilts done while out there. Shipping of stuff can be a trouble since you have to rely on USPS solely, no UPS or Fedex available. So online orders will take a few extra days to get there but at least there is a post office and all in Bethel. Lots of people living out there do fly to Anchorage more or less frequently to do shopping since the local store has a pretty limited supply.

When ordering online, pay attention to the shipping rates. A few times I have been just rolling my eyes when the shipping charges to AK are almost as much as (or sometimes even more) than my whole purchase. Keepsake Quilting has been pretty good with online shipping.

Wool Battng is the nicest thing to handquilt on there is, so agree a huge # of handquilters. hee hee

Yes, you are correct. :)


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