homeagain wrote: What are the things you miss Jekyl? What part of the great North would you move to?
I miss the salmon fishing, halibut fishing, true meaning of camping, razor clam digging, caribou, etc etc. What's not to miss? The winter? (Prepare wisely and your fine and I'm a night owl ta boot, and the snow machinin' is AWESOME).
Summer time it doesn't get dark? (It gets dark, just not for very long and it's a nice switch from winter :happier: )
Mosquitos? (It's called Bug Dope for a reason. Exercise the right man, exercise the right. Besides, I can think of a few nasty bugs in the lower 48 that AK doesn't have, let alone rattle snakes.)
Grizzly bears? (They're majestic, awesome creatures that demand respect and I like to get a long distance pic or two when they're fishing. I give them space and they give me mine, or I have a nice .454 Casul or .45 with cross cuts that do just fine. Then of course there's bear spray).
The list goes on, but I shall refrain. As far as what part I'd move back to, not quite sure on that. Maybe stay within driving distance of Anchorage, that way I'm close to my sister, her ole man and my nieces. I don't mind driving to get to the cool spots, I like the drive. Either that or head up toward Fairbanks. Either way, my usual fishing spots (Willow Creek and Sheep Creek) will always hold a special place in my heart and you'd find me there a lot if the salmon runs are good! Prolly in a beat up camper with the awning and fake lawn n' shyte, hahahaha.
I miss the expansiveness and the LACK of people...I miss the moose in my yard, the loons on the lake,the Northern Lights,I miss
watching the eagles soaring on the thermals and watching the tomatoes grow BIG,almost overnite.....and BLUEBERRY pickin' time....
just THE BEST blueberry jellies/jams ever are in Alaska..I miss the way people are "tuned into" nature.....waiting for winter solstice,
because days start growing longer,VERY quickly and savoring summer solstice because it is so short and everyone just jams a whole
year into the few short months of glorious FOREVER sun......and REALLY love that hyway projects are started and COMPLETED in
days and weeks, NOT months and years.....the crews know how to get the job done EFFICIENTLY and on time.
UNFORTUNATELY, there is ALWAYS a flip side......there is a sayin' in the Far North, "You're either trying to get away from something,
or you're tryin' to find something." (the reason people move to Alaska)....most times THAT reason will always include copious amounts
of alcohol or drugs. The ratio of men to women (in Alaska) is extremely lop-sided and at first glance it looks to be a good gig for girls.
BUT, the "freak factor" is ALWAYS present......some pretty "eclectic" (eccentric) guys can be found in Alaska....
homeagain wrote: I miss the expansiveness and the LACK of people...I miss the moose in my yard, the loons on the lake,the Northern Lights,I miss watching the eagles soaring on the thermals and watching the tomatoes grow BIG,almost overnite.....and BLUEBERRY pickin' time.... just THE BEST blueberry jellies/jams ever are in Alaska..I miss the way people are "tuned into" nature.....waiting for winter solstice, because days start growing longer,VERY quickly and savoring summer solstice because it is so short and everyone just jams a whole year into the few short months of glorious FOREVER sun......and REALLY love that hyway projects are started and COMPLETED in days and weeks, NOT months and years.....the crews know how to get the job done EFFICIENTLY and on time.
bailey bud wrote: My family's traditional home (mom's side) is Alaska - I've been there to the family village, as has two of my sons.
When I think about the lakes, mountains, caribou, and salmon - I miss the place.
When I think about the alcohol, the abuse, and the drugs that come with cabin fever, I don't miss it at all.
Sounds like you knew a lot more messed up people than I did, and my apologies if you were one of the people that took cabin fever badly. Anyway, diggin' the rest of that post BB!
homeagain wrote: UNFORTUNATELY, there is ALWAYS a flip side......there is a sayin' in the Far North, "You're either trying to get away from something, or you're tryin' to find something." (the reason people move to Alaska)....most times THAT reason will always include copious amounts of alcohol or drugs. The ratio of men to women (in Alaska) is extremely lop-sided and at first glance it looks to be a good gig for girls.
BUT, the "freak factor" is ALWAYS present......some pretty "eclectic" (eccentric) guys can be found in Alaska....
When my Mom and Dad moved to AK they weren't big drinkers to begin with, or drug users. They raised me and my two sisters better than I've seen a lot of people down here in the lower 48, but I can see there could be a large ratio of delinquents that shouldn't go up there in the first place.
Over the years I've seen the men/women ratio start to even out a little bit more, and there's more and more good looking women finally! Still more men though, and there's plenty d-bags that should be locked up in a mental hospital, or at the very least mauled by a bear before hurting themselves or others. JMHO. However, I've met some "off kilter" individuals up there that ended up being some of the most reliable hard working individuals a guy can find. You just don't wanna hang out with them all the time or invite them over to dinner with the family on a regular. Again, JMHO.
I've never had a problem with cabin fever - just had some problems with people that had it.
I had 13 cousins - and only 5 of them are reasonably healthy, independent, and happy.
The rural Alaskan fishing village is a very different place from the towns that tourists visit.
My family's village can be reached by barge (twice a year) or by plane - that's it.
There's only a few dozen people there in the winter ( which includes the post-master, the town medic, the town teacher, and the town marshal --- all paid to be there).
Family members used to bide their time hunting and fishing - but the state's rules have limited that.
No need to fret, though - the federal government flies in food weekly.
These days, the guys just sit around and drink, smoke pot, screw their girlfriends when they're happy - and beat them when they're not.
The Savage nodded and said, "I ate civilization."
Getting back to the halibut --- thinking a fresh fish dinner would be great --- halibut fillet stuffed with crab meat.
