Obama08 Posted February 29, 2008 Posted February 29, 2008 (edited) (in reference to this thread) It’s not why you think. “Alaska’s majestic beauty” is all hundreds of miles to the south. On a clear day we can see Denali (McKinley) but Fairbanks is fairly flat. Our needle thin trees receive an imbalanced amount of sunlight and precipitation and are all sickly looking. A forest of Charlie brown Christmas trees. Tourists are often disappointed when they visit Fairbanks, and we like it that way. It’s not for the Aurora, which is pretty frikin cool, but generally only visible when it’s far too cold outside to sit and watch. It’s not the midnight sun either. Equally cool, but to live here you have to endure the dark winters, so it balances out. It’s the people. If you come to Fairbanks, not the rest of Alaska mind you, but Fairbanks specifically, and stay more that a year, you’ve been indoctrinated by temperature. You’ve proven yourself to the rest of us, and you’ve earned our unconditional respect. Fairbanks has a population of 60,000, comprised of a wide spread of different kinds of people, and we do have our warring factions, primarily the snow machiners vs. the dog sledders. We’re a college town, so the overall tone of the city is fairly liberal. We’re also an army town, but the military is mostly ignored as a social influence, as they aren’t here voluntarily (and tend to be very vocal about how unfair it is they have to be here.) We have no sense of ego, not as you would define it anyway. Our ego is communal. It’s fair to say we’re proud of our tenacity and pioneer spirit, but we couldn’t care less what you wear or drive or where you live. It doesn’t factor in to our assessment of your worth as an individual. Our hippies drive pickups and own guns (an average of four per person) Our rednecks smoke pot and use solar power. Fashion is basically non existent. At -60 you wear what’s warm, not what looks good, and that mentality carries over to the summer months. Thrift stores thrive in Fairbanks. Our most visually prominent political party is neither Democrat nor Republican, but Libertarian. When we go overseas we usually refer to ourselves as Alaskan rather than American. This has the advantage of disassociation with the the negative aspects of the US (Dubya), but the disadvantage of having to explain that no, you don’t live in an igloo or ride a dig sled to work, something we have to cover when we visit the lower 48 too, where many people don’t know that we’re even part of the country, or think we’re an island next to Hawaii. Alaska is more than twice the size of Texas, and has the lowest population per square mile of any state, totaling less that one million, most of which live in “Las Anchorage”, which we jokingly refer to as a suburb of Seattle. The drive to Anchorage takes six hours in the summer and as much as twelve hours in the winter. A few tiny towns dot the road in between, and south of Anchorage you’ll find “Majestic Alaska” in the form of Seward, Girdwood and Homer. If you’re planning a visit, that’s where you want to go. Nice towns. Just like any you’d find in the lower 48. Not like Fairbanks. A month from now spring breakup will begin, and with it we’ll have another batch of real Fairbanksans. The first winter is always the hardest. Many of them won’t have made it, having picked up stakes and moved south. Some of them will stay in Alaska. Many won’t. Those that remained in Fairbanks are in for a treat. Your first breakup is always the best, and now you have a new family to share it with. All 60,000 of us. Pioneers united, welcoming you home for the first time. My daughter was born in Fairbanks. She’s 8 years old now, growing up in a place where the kids don’t tease or judge. Someday she’ll be a “Sourdough” a title I will never be able to claim, having been born on the outside. Sourdoughs optimize Fairbanks society. They have never been judged by their appearance or wealth. They are as far from your average American as if they had been born in a foreign country. They are the natives and we are the immigrants. Alaska’s future is uncertain. ANWR, the gas pipeline, and global warming may bring many new people to Fairbanks, and may change the social dynamic. What I do know, is that Fairbanks is my home. It took me a long time to find it, but I’m finally here, and I plan to stay. Where do you live? Tell us about it Edited February 29, 2008 by Obama08
Kasan Posted February 29, 2008 Posted February 29, 2008 I love Alaska! I'll never forget walking to school and looking across the street to see a moose. I loved camping in Seward and thought the Fur Rendezvous was very cool. I only lived in Anchorage for three years many, many years ago, but seeing Mt. McKinley's snow line is forever etched in my mind. Does the train still run to Fairbanks?
Author Obama08 Posted March 1, 2008 Author Posted March 1, 2008 (edited) I loved camping in Seward - Does the train still run to Fairbanks? My Mom lives in Seward. Intensely beautiful town. Train still runs. Never been on it though. I suppose I ought to one of these days. My fiancee really likes traveling by train. Another cool town is Whittier. Their is a forest there that dropped below sea level during a big quake. All the trees started drinking salt water and became mummified, bleached white. Hundreds of acres. It's really cool. Have to get there by boat though. Where do you live now? Edited March 1, 2008 by Obama08
burning 4 revenge Posted March 1, 2008 Posted March 1, 2008 I would probably commit suicide if I lived in Alaska
Pyro Posted March 1, 2008 Posted March 1, 2008 I would probably commit suicide if I lived in Alaska actually you may like it up there. Its gray and gloomy at times and I hear that the college up there is one big party, so your chances of getting some will improve greatly up there.
burning 4 revenge Posted March 1, 2008 Posted March 1, 2008 Yeah, but it seems so culturally isolated. But considering the culture down hee in SoFla that may be a good thing On the bright side I discovered a great little pub named New Munich which serves Spaten and Frankinsizer on tap. Good luck finding that in Alaska
Pyro Posted March 1, 2008 Posted March 1, 2008 Yeah, but it seems so culturally isolated. But considering the culture down hee in SoFla that may be a good thing On the bright side I discovered a great little pub named New Munich which serves Spaten and Frankinsizer on tap. Good luck finding that in Alaska You could find gold and be an instant billionaire. I am not familiar with either one of those.
burning 4 revenge Posted March 1, 2008 Posted March 1, 2008 You could find gold and be an instant billionaire. I am not familiar with either one of those.If you do become familiar it will change your mind about both Canada and Alaska
Pyro Posted March 1, 2008 Posted March 1, 2008 If you do become familiar it will change your mind about both Canada and Alaska You think so? There is a pub around here that has some pretty bizarre beers in it. I bet that they have those. I will have to check it out. I live 20 minutes from the Canadian border so even if I ever do move to Canada.........
SilverSprite Posted March 2, 2008 Posted March 2, 2008 Hey everyone, cool idea for a thread Obama (I just finished reading your other thread-wow interesting reading, but then again, Im new here...) I love the idea of Alaska, as I live in what is probably the exact opposite, here is a link to a site showing a bit about my town http://http://www.busseltonjetty.com.au/ have a look SS
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