quote:

Originally posted by 2000Z-71:
Soldotna... ... Fred Meyer

I slept in that parking lot.

quote:

Originally posted by KP93:
I couldn’t locate your public facing email in your profile.

Fixed it, visible now.

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
I have no desire to be a trooper and write traffic tickets all day

That's the thing about the Alaska State Troopers... It's less about traffic enforcement and more about rural law enforcement. (Sometimes extremely rural... As in take a helicopter/bush plane in to an outlying village to which no roads go, and spend the night.)

So it seems more like being a patrol deputy for a Sheriff's Office in a rural county in the Lower 48 than the traditional highway patrol traffic cop that you think of when you typically envision "State Police".

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
I have no desire to be a trooper and write traffic tickets all day

That's the thing about the Alaska State Troopers... It's less about traffic enforcement and more about rural law enforcement. (Sometimes extremely rural... As in take a helicopter/bush plane in to an outlying village to which no roads go, and spend the night.)

So it seems more like being a patrol deputy for a Sheriff's Office in a rural county in the Lower 48 than the traditional highway patrol traffic cop that you think of when you typically envision "State Police".

Yes and no. They definitely do that stuff, but I also saw plenty of them along the highway when I was up there. I'm not sure how that works...I imagine assignments are somewhat seniority based. Here they start the baby troopers out on the toll road writing tickets and working accidents. Most of them hate it, and they're stuck there until they can transfer to a different post, which sometimes takes years. I'm not at a point in my career where I'd want to put up with that, or all the spit and polish chickenshit that usually comes with being a state cop. Plus they probably don't want an "old" guy from the other side of the country with no local knowledge.

Even if they did, I think it would be tough to start over. I have been doing this long enough locally that I know most of my regulars, and I have a pretty good "working relationship" with most of them. I actually just saved one from going to jail last night when another agency was dealing with him and he refused to identify. He was a passenger so he didn't legally have to, and they mistook him for another guy who had a warrant based off an ID they found in the car (honest mistake that I absolutely would have made as well had I not known the guy from dealing with him for the last 6 or 7 years, and it also could have been easily avoided if he wasn't such an argumentative ass and had just told them who he was). It started getting heated and I managed to straighten it out before they took the wrong guy to jail or he started to fight. That's the kind of stuff that takes years to develop, and it would be hard to walk away from and start over from scratch.

Been living in (mostly) and working in Alaska for 23 years. Rural Palmer, several places along the Kenai River, and South Peninsula.

Between me and the wife, we've seen 80% of Alaska doing our jobs.

If you have questions, feel welcome to hit me up. We're in our busy season, so it may take me a bit to notice and respond. I try to get into the forum here a couple times a week when I have time.

Moving is expensive. Moving to Alaska is crazy expensive. We tell people if whatever you're moving isn't worth $2/lb and can be replaced here, don't bring it. Still, things are more difficult to source here and more expensive than they should be.

Alaska has had a net negative migration for several years and suffering once again in another recession. We're fighting for our lives up here as the democrats have cheated their way into total power. Income tax is coming, more communities are choosing sales taxes. Property taxes are on the rise everywhere they exist. The PFD is getting stolen every year now in an illegal tax and jobs that support the high cost of living are difficult to find. Be realistic about your budget here. Insurance goes up, food is a bit more but what takes adjustment is paying more for crappier stuff. The food is often pre-rotted for you, the lumber is junk everywhere else, and the prices remain the same. Libtards have taken over most larger city councils, and the entrenched deep state unelected employees are nearly all liberals. They've played a long game here in Alaska, and we're probably past the point of no return. Just know what you're moving into.

You sort of mention living remote or rural, Alaska can oblige. I'm not sure what climate you're looking for, or what your level of investment ability is, or what you're comfortable roughing through... so it is difficult to make a recommendation.

Things don't work here like they do elsewhere. Especially real estate. We're still the wild west where people do what they want, and mostly get away with it. Screwing over the new guy is a state sport here. Assume people are lying to you if they can make a profit from it. Especially anyone working in government.

Quick look at available properties on the Kenai Peninsula....

Search criteria: 1 bathroom. 2.5+ acres

76 Active listings ranging from $125,000 to $4,500,000.

It looks like about 8 are miscategorized, which is not unusual.

I only spent about 3-4 weeks there, so I don't have great insight. Everything has been covered, but the point about lack of sunlight may or may not be a big deal. Some people tolerate lack of sunlight better than others.

Your shared sense of adventure and being self-sufficient has you well-covered over most people. Just keep a monitor on your bride, and yourself, for creeping signs of depression.


.

The happiest neighbor I had at the over 55 community in Mesa ,AZ,
Wintered in AZ and summered in AK.


I say , if you can swing it.
Gopher it!

I knew a guy, Summer and the peripherals in SD, winter in South Texas. His residency was SD. One needs to do such commensurate with income, no need to own in both locations. I know another that does WI, then FL after Christmas, rents in FL.

Doing so also allow one to sample various areas, not tied to any location. Maybe one wants the main residency in a favorable State.

Anchorage is down 62 officers from their goal. FYI.

quote:

Originally posted by onegeek:
Anchorage is down 62 officers from their goal. FYI.

Kenai is hiring.