As it happens, I recently talked to (listened to) a guy who had spent a lot of time in Kodiak. He told me a couple of things:
1. Get a VA Medical card: his friend had a catastrophic car wreck, and when they saw his card, immediately chartered a jet to take him to Seattle where the VA took care of him. ($300,000 worth)
2. He was expecting (hoping for) a payment of $1,000,000 as his personal share of the payment to locals (fishermen, etc) for the Exxon Valdez fiasco. They have been waiting for several years while the lawyers delay and appeal.
If #2 is accurate, someday Kodiak will experience serious inflation. I have no way to tell whether either of these points are true, but the local Coasties should know.
Other things from my own memory:
1. Alaska pays each resident a portion of the pipeline revenues each year. I think it is about a thousand, and you have to have been a resident for a year, first.
2. Alaskans claim that the Brown bears/Grizzlies are dangerous, because they tend to be easily annoyed, but people often survive their attacks. They also claim that the Black bears (smaller, and not so cranky) will stalk you with the intent of eating you. The survival rate is therefore low.
3. In support of the above: when I was in Juneau, two teen boys were mostly eaten within 100 yards of the residential area of the city.
4. At that time, one could fish for Halibut commercially with a minimal license, and halibut fishing was good around Kodiak Island.
5. Mosquitoes can be horrendous on the mainland. They probably are on Kodiak.
6. In the summer, Alaskans typically work or play outdoors as long as it is light – probably up to twenty hours at Kodiak. This can be wearying to those from the lower 48.
7. In winter, many tend to hole up and catch up on the rest they missed in summer. (You may note that they often keep their homes warmer that one might usually find down below.)
8. Many Alaskans (probably MOST) are hospitable folks who have learned to help out a neighbor in need. SOME Alaskans have moved their in an attempt to escape the restraints of society in the lower 48. (Even to evade prosecution!) These types get along OK, as long as they don’t get around people. Then, look out.
DG
Natives are like Indians everywhere with their own positive and negative cultural differences. Indians don't require all the toys we white people do. They are happy to hunt and fish. Alot of probs in rural alaska because of lack of economy and jobs. Half the white people are on govt programs. If you are not a teacher, nurse, or hAVe an independent income, its pretty tough to live off the land; hungry country.
We have been out here for 3 years now and considered moving back to urban alaska (matsu where we have another place), but something about living 200 miles down a goat path that gives me comfort and peace of mind. Everytime I make that 600 mile trip to anchorage for supplies I can't wait to get back here where there are no paved roads for 200 miles.
So anyone ever reading this that has had Alaskan dreams since childhood remember its not a shang gri la; always live in urban alaska for a few years acclimating before moving into rural area. Different world than lower 48