As a mover in Alaska, we hear from lots of people who think that a move to Alaska to live a simpler life is a slam dunk. I recently was asked by a friend for the name of the PBS documentary about Dick Proenneke who lived off the land near Twin Lakes. Alone in the Wilderness is a wonderful story filled with adventure.
Our website is often filled with requests for an estimate for a move to Alaska. Many folks are in the dreaming stage, thinking that they can run away, eat sourdough pancakes with small berries collected from bushes dotting the hillsides. While it worked for Dick, less that 1% of the US population is wired for that type of living.
What they don't think about is the difficulty of living a remote lifestyle. Months of dark and cold. No access to convenience stores. Limited communication. Solitude bordering on complete isolation. Hard work. Filling the woodstove throughout the night.
My brother used to be a fishing guide in remote Alaska. Each year they would hire a few Cheechakos with dreams of living the Guide lifestyle. About 70% of them didn't survive the season. The isolation got to them. No showers. Lonely nights. I want mommy. Early plane trip home.
So before you sell your house and auction off your worldly belongings, you might want to do a few things first to see if you are wired to for remote living.
Our website is often filled with requests for an estimate for a move to Alaska. Many folks are in the dreaming stage, thinking that they can run away, eat sourdough pancakes with small berries collected from bushes dotting the hillsides. While it worked for Dick, less that 1% of the US population is wired for that type of living.
What they don't think about is the difficulty of living a remote lifestyle. Months of dark and cold. No access to convenience stores. Limited communication. Solitude bordering on complete isolation. Hard work. Filling the woodstove throughout the night.
My brother used to be a fishing guide in remote Alaska. Each year they would hire a few Cheechakos with dreams of living the Guide lifestyle. About 70% of them didn't survive the season. The isolation got to them. No showers. Lonely nights. I want mommy. Early plane trip home.
So before you sell your house and auction off your worldly belongings, you might want to do a few things first to see if you are wired to for remote living.
- Lock yourself in a closet for the weekend. Close the door. Entertain yourself.
- Don't shower for 2 weeks. The itching is only in your head (or maybe on your head).
- Set your alarm clock to go off every 2 hours for two weeks straight.
- Turn off your hot water tank. Shower. Again and again. Shivering is your friend.
- Read JohnKrakauer's book "Into the Wild". Read closely the description of his decomposed body from the Moose hunter who found Christopher Johnson.
- Load up your shopping cart with cabbage, turnips, and fava beans. Come up with fun ways to cook each.
So, if you pass the test, give us a call and we can move you to anywhere in Alaska you wish. But keep our business card. You might need us for a return trip.
1 comment:
We really enjoyed that PBS Documentary. I think many of us have considered a move to Alaska. And I am pretty sure I wouldn't make it through a weekend in a closet!
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