A New World; The Last Frontier

Four months ago I decided that it was time for a change.  It was time for me to shake up my life a little bit.  At first I thought this meant just finding a new job, but I soon realized that it meant EVERYTHING in my life.  As I evaluated what I felt I was missing in my life, it was positive challenge.  I had allowed myself to become stagnant, and I hated that.  So, after much thought I decided to start chasing a dream I had had for a long time.  I was going to move to Alaska.  Yes, Alaska.  When I first told my friends, family, and coworkers that I was looking for jobs in Anchorage, I was always asked "why Alaska", and honestly, my initial response was "why not".  There are many reasons why I wanted to be up here, and just as many reasons why I should reconsider that decision, but at the end of the day, everything about this felt right.  


Two job interviews is what it took.  The first one in May did not pan out.  I was initially disappointed, but it really did end up for the best.  The second interview took place in early July, and two weeks later I was offered the job.  Three weeks after the offer and acceptance, I was stepping foot into my new apartment.  I have never been this happy or excited before, albeit a little scared.  I have just moved 63 hours away from the majority of my family, and 75 hours away from a lot of friends, and the place I've called home for the past 3 years.  It was just me and the two cats in a new apartment, new job, new school, new city, new state, and what at times feels like a new world. There's no looking back.


When I moved from Iowa to South Dakota, that was nothing; it was still like being in Iowa.  Considering they're neighbors, that's to be expected.  Moving from South Dakota to Alabama took some minor adjusting (searing heat for months at a time, mild winters, and little to no snow).  Now, moving from any of those states to Alaska is different.  Having lived in Iowa and South Dakota, I feel mildly prepared for winter here.  I've been told that Anchorage has milder winters, but what does that mean?  A mild winter is so subjective.  Mild compared to what?  The arctic?  Only time will tell.  Of all the blogs and websites I had read about moving to Alaska, I never really felt prepared, and I could not understand why, until I got here.  Everything in Alaska is so different, and everything just depends on where you're at here.  For any of you who are familiar with Huntsville, that is what Anchorage reminds me of, but with an ocean, real mountains, and moose and bears that occasionally wander campus.


Everyone keeps asking me how long I'll be here, and I honestly do not know.  In South Dakota, I knew it would only be 2-3 years because of grad school.  Alabama I was only planning on 3-5 years.  Now here, I thinking maybe the long haul, but it just depends on what the next few years have in store for me.  I've started my Alaska bucket list of everything I will do before I even consider leaving the state.


Best.  Year.  EVER!