When we started talking about ALaska, in late 80's; a friend who had retired back east after 33 years in Ak, told me to live in matsu first year or so; to acclimate & learn; so right. We've been in Eagle (where the Yukon comes in from Canada) since 2002; I could make it anywheres in cold weather nowadays. You get to being super prepared and knowing what works, not what looks nice and is highly rated by cableas or REI.
Ya know, wife and I came to Eagle from another Indian Village (where we the only White People). We thought Eagle 100 Whites & 28 Indians would be better. Here In Eagle, I get along with the Indians better than the Whites,ha. Rural Ak is made up of the normal Indians (mostly have alcohol probs from time to time but good sharing decent people)and Whites who have come from somewheres else running away from their problems. Many of them have mental problems, can't fit into society and like Eagle because there's no law enforcement. If they lived where you do, they'd get arrested for this orr that every couple weeks; some real nut cases actually. They steal, take advantage or each other, constantly fighting & arguing over minor issues, ect; not high class whatsoever. Subsistence is seen as taking off each other. To top it off, they all believe they are way above people in suburbia. The truth is they are here because suburbia wouldn't permit them there, ha. Eagle is like living in an inner city ghetto or nx to a military base. You see increased child abuse levels, low literacy, many transient people, and problems I never noticed in the matsu. Quite a few people come here, leave after a few years, then end up in jail in fairbanks or Anch.
No joke, rural Ak is not some pretty dream; I just can't take seeing all the cars with people inside who don't know each other in urban Ak. Here in Eagle, I see a vehicle, I know the family, and all their business. I know if I should stop on road and chat, flip them off, or run them into the ditch.
Wife & I stay to ourselves, kids in college now; we are quite happy. I've never had the great neighbors in rural Ak that I had in rural Pennsylvania. We live here for the freedom and the country. I really do believe it's like this all over rural Alaska too. Tough, hungry country; lacking any economy and lots of people on govt dole. Alaska changed after oil for good and bad.
I'd never come here all over again. The MatSu is a much better environment. I see us eventually heading back that way too (keep putting it off for just another year), come to Eagle for the summers & hunting season. Alaska is a greaT place, they couldn't run me outta here, even with high taxes; but I think it's best living 75-100 miles outta Anch.