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The Move of a Lifetime

© James Soos

The imagination runs rampant when dreaming of a place you've always wanted to visit. This was the case when the thought of moving to Alaska first struck me. I embraced the usual beliefs and misconceptions most people have when thinking of a place they are not accustomed to. Oh, I did my homework before I took the final plunge; mostly over the Internet, a smattering of visitor's guides and phone conversations with my wife to be. But in reality, with all my preparation; with all my research, I found myself totally unprepared for The Last Frontier.

Despite what I had learned, I found Alaska not what I, or many people, believe it to be. I had visions of mountain men roaming the land. Forget cities like Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau; the thought of them existing never crossed my mind. These places did not fit into the picture I created in my head. I dreamed of small communities with little or no modern conveniences dotting the map. People lived in cabins; smoke wafting from stone chimneys, snow blanketing the ground, while sub-zero temperatures assault the outer walls demanding entry. The thought of out-houses being the norm- the dread of taking the trek out in the cold to take care of business. Of sled dogs being the chief means of transportation.Grizzlies and moose lurking behind every tree.These were the images ingrained on my frontal lobe.

What an idiot I was! Don't ask me why I willingly contemplated a move to such a place. It's a long story and a personal thing.

However, all of the above does exist in Alaska. That is what makes it so special. But The Great White North is so much more than I had anticipated. What a surprise to find indoor plumbing; to be able to take a shower instead of a bath in a large metal tub while the water heats over a wood fire... "Pour in another pot, please". To drive a car and not a dog sled...To purchase dinner at the grocery store instead of stalking and killing it in the mountains...To rent a movie at Blockbuster...To not fear attack from some wild, unshaven, unbathed, bear hide coated, coonskin capped, tobacco chewing mountain man.

In fact, Alaska is the perfect mixture of wilderness and modern day living- with heavy emphasis on the wilderness part. No matter where you find yourself in this great state, pristine beauty surrounds you. My wife and I call Anchorage home. This thriving city of over 250,000 people is Alaska's largest. As I write this, I stare out my front window and relish the view of the Chugach Mountains, only a few miles away. They appear to be a postcard...ethereal...too beautiful to be true. But try taking a trek in those mountains and you will soon discover they are, in fact, very real.

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