Alaskology : Why Alaska?

Alaskology

About the blog: Alaska is a wonderful and fascinating place. Whether its backcountry hiking, coastline kayaking or dining on a downtown deck, there truly is something for everyone. This blog picks up where the annual Daily News Visitors' Guide leaves off. The guide is published in late April, but that's just when summer fun starts heating up. Throughout the year, we hope to give readers a look at Alaska through local eyes. The blog also serves as a calendar of what's going on, a place to look for some outstanding vacation deals and other cool stuff. We invite your comments and your questions. E-mail me at alaskology@adn.com.
About me: I live in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, and I served as the special sections editor at the Anchorage Daily News for nine years. My wife and I have been Alaska residents since 2000 and never plan to leave.

Why Alaska?

Posted by Alaskology

Posted: March 17, 2009 - 4:25 pm

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A bull moose does a little pruning on the bush right outside the front door of our house.

Today, a co-worker and I were discussing why people live in Alaska. We came up with three reasons:

1. Family.

2. Good-paying jobs (although we are suffering some of the same problems as other states).

3. The outdoors.

For me, it's No. 3 -- again and again and again.

One example showed up outside my front door this weekend. A bull moose wandered through the yard, sniffing the garbage can (looking for a bite to eat anywhere possible, I suppose), nibbling on a bush by the house and silently moving off into another yard.

There's just something cool about a huge animal just showing up. That's one of the things that drew me to Alaska, and it's one of the things that keeps me here.

-- Steve

The moose spent 5 minutes munching on the bush. Before he got to the bush he spent some time sniffing around the garbage can, so apparently it's not just bears you need to watch with garbage.