Being talked into the Last Frontier.
October 30, 2010 11:45 PM Subscribe
Has anyone ever tried to convince someone to move to Alaska when the person didn't want to, and had it work out?
This post was deleted for the following reason: You need to give us a better idea of what your situation is before this is an answerable question; right now it's just a very specific yes/no without context. -- cortex
vporter: "Has anyone ever tried to convince someone to move to Alaska when the person didn't want to, and had it work out?"
I'm absolutely certain that *someone* has done this, and had it work out, which is within the parameters of your question. But it might be hard to find that someone here on MetaFilter.
Life is a big ol' funny thing, no telling what could happen, might be they'd move up there and totally fall head over with, oh, I dunno, Kodiak grizzly bears, or moose, or Sarah Palin, or some other exotic bit of Alaskan wildlife or lore or whatever. Could be that they'd find it's just perfect for their writing, could be that it's the complete turnabout needed to spin their head and heart so as to be able to get freed up, and the words start flowing, like priming a pump or something. Conversely, maybe their words will dry up, maybe their words and their work is flowing perfectly fine where you are at and they do not at all want to jam that up.
I think you'd help us give you a better answer if you were to tell us more about who this person is w/r/t you and what are the dynamics involved and do they like winter or whatever. We don't know if you're trying to get your brother to go with you or your great-aunt or your new lover or what.
Anyways, it's interesting to puzzle over, piqued my interest enough to come on in to the thread, I hope you get good advice, and I bet you will.
posted by dancestoblue at 12:25 AM on October 31, 2010
I'm absolutely certain that *someone* has done this, and had it work out, which is within the parameters of your question. But it might be hard to find that someone here on MetaFilter.
Life is a big ol' funny thing, no telling what could happen, might be they'd move up there and totally fall head over with, oh, I dunno, Kodiak grizzly bears, or moose, or Sarah Palin, or some other exotic bit of Alaskan wildlife or lore or whatever. Could be that they'd find it's just perfect for their writing, could be that it's the complete turnabout needed to spin their head and heart so as to be able to get freed up, and the words start flowing, like priming a pump or something. Conversely, maybe their words will dry up, maybe their words and their work is flowing perfectly fine where you are at and they do not at all want to jam that up.
I think you'd help us give you a better answer if you were to tell us more about who this person is w/r/t you and what are the dynamics involved and do they like winter or whatever. We don't know if you're trying to get your brother to go with you or your great-aunt or your new lover or what.
Anyways, it's interesting to puzzle over, piqued my interest enough to come on in to the thread, I hope you get good advice, and I bet you will.
posted by dancestoblue at 12:25 AM on October 31, 2010
My husband and I moved to Fairbanks a year and a half ago---he grew up in anchorage and I ... didn't. And it was pretty strange to contemplate moving here: my family was pretty concerned about the move, and I can't see them as much as I'd like, because it costs a thousand dollars to leave the state.
But I love it here. MeMail me if I can answer any questions.
posted by leahwrenn at 12:39 AM on October 31, 2010 [2 favorites]
But I love it here. MeMail me if I can answer any questions.
posted by leahwrenn at 12:39 AM on October 31, 2010 [2 favorites]
Well, "didn't want to" might be a little strong, but I left my amazing job and life in DC to move to Anchorage this past spring. There was (and still is) a boy involved.
I'd say it's worked out, because I love living with him and Alaska is awesome. But the job market up here is very different than in DC. My previous industry simply doesn't exist. I'm back in school (something I wanted to do anyway) but I'm having lots of trouble finding even menial part-time work. I also remain car-"free," which adds to the trouble / is getting harder as the weather gets colder.
Are you doing the convincing or is someone trying to convince you?
posted by charmcityblues at 1:01 AM on October 31, 2010
I'd say it's worked out, because I love living with him and Alaska is awesome. But the job market up here is very different than in DC. My previous industry simply doesn't exist. I'm back in school (something I wanted to do anyway) but I'm having lots of trouble finding even menial part-time work. I also remain car-"free," which adds to the trouble / is getting harder as the weather gets colder.
Are you doing the convincing or is someone trying to convince you?
posted by charmcityblues at 1:01 AM on October 31, 2010
I once helped someone move to Alaska, but they weren't very resistant. The availability of jobs, shopping, restaurants, etc. were important to that person.
If the location you list on your website is current, I think most people wouldn't want to move there. Many people I know down south think even Juneau, Fairbanks, and Anchorage are exotically remote. Good luck.
(And to non-Alaskans on MetaFilter, Sarah Palin is not an iconic figure to those of us who actually grew up here, please refrain from bringing her into every thread that mentions Alaska.)
posted by D.C. at 1:16 AM on October 31, 2010
If the location you list on your website is current, I think most people wouldn't want to move there. Many people I know down south think even Juneau, Fairbanks, and Anchorage are exotically remote. Good luck.
(And to non-Alaskans on MetaFilter, Sarah Palin is not an iconic figure to those of us who actually grew up here, please refrain from bringing her into every thread that mentions Alaska.)
posted by D.C. at 1:16 AM on October 31, 2010
Move to Alaska, or Anchorage?
And move from where?
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 2:36 AM on October 31, 2010
And move from where?
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 2:36 AM on October 31, 2010
I more or less did that, three years ago. So far, so good. Is there any other information you would like?
posted by charmedimsure at 2:53 AM on October 31, 2010
posted by charmedimsure at 2:53 AM on October 31, 2010
I know many people who moved to Alaska for love or work not expecting to like it who discovered that it is one of the most amazing places on earth. I spend about 2 months out of the year in total there every year, spread out over the calendar.
I have a particular approach to this, which is to live in the heart of Manhattan and work on the North Slope. Everything in between might as well be bullshit as far as I'm concerned.
Also, Alaska Air flies direct to Hawai'i from Anchorage, and once you live in Alaska frequent flier miles are like spare change.
posted by fourcheesemac at 6:07 AM on October 31, 2010
I have a particular approach to this, which is to live in the heart of Manhattan and work on the North Slope. Everything in between might as well be bullshit as far as I'm concerned.
Also, Alaska Air flies direct to Hawai'i from Anchorage, and once you live in Alaska frequent flier miles are like spare change.
posted by fourcheesemac at 6:07 AM on October 31, 2010
That's a good point, SDR. Moving to Anchorage is not so different from moving to any western city, other than the cold weather and the moose population.
Moving to the Alaskan bush is like traveling to Mars if you're used to almost anything else in the lower 48.
posted by fourcheesemac at 6:09 AM on October 31, 2010
Moving to the Alaskan bush is like traveling to Mars if you're used to almost anything else in the lower 48.
posted by fourcheesemac at 6:09 AM on October 31, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by bluedaisy at 12:02 AM on October 31, 2010 [1 favorite]