The ***OFFICIAL*** Weekend Singles' Thread -- "Alaska Singles Thread (January 05 - 07, 2007,)

various | 5th January 2007 | Proud_yank

[snugs]

The 49th State - The Last Frontier
by proud_yank

Having recently moved here, I thought an Alaskan Singles Thread would be pretty fun.

Alaska is the largest state in America, roughly twice the size of Texas (sorry Texas!).

Putting Alaska into perspective. The Aleutian Islands over California, and South-eastern Alaska over Georgia.

An interesting fact I learned the other day is that in addition to being the Western and Northern-most state, Alaska is also the Eastern-most state too. The Western tip of the Aleutian Islands is just West of the International Dateline.

Alaska can be separated into five regions. The Far North (Also known as the 'North Slope') extends from the Brooks Range (the Northern-most extension of the Rocky Mountains) to the Arctic Ocean. Here are some photos of the Brooks Range, and the North Slope region. Barrow is the most Northern city in America. For fun, here is Barrow's weather.

Most people in Alaska live in Southcentral Alaska (Anchorage), and then the Interior (Fairbanks). Temperatures in the interior are sometimes colder than in the Arctic. Western Alaska is famous for the finish of the Iditarod dog-sled race in Nome. Southeastern, and the Interior, are famous for the Klondike gold rush.

Juneau, the state capitol is located in Southeastern Alaska. As a staunch conservative, it makes me smile that the govt. is located somewhere that can only be reached by boat or plane :-).

The Regions of Alaska

There are lots of moose here, and you really have to be careful driving. In the winter moose will come down from the mountains, and casually stroll through downtown Anchorage. We had one right outside the front door of our main office today! Other animals here include caribou, grizzly, polar, and black bears, muskoxen, beaver, otters, wolves, wolverines, tons of birds, and lots of delicious fish!

Some other interesting info about Alaska....

At 20,320 ft., Alaska has North America's highest peak, Denali.
State bird - Willow Ptarmigan.
State fish - King Salmon.
State tree - Sitka Spruce.
State spore - Dog mushing.
State animal - Moose.
State flower - Wild Native Forget-me-Not.
State song - 'Alaska's Flag'.

Eight stars of gold on a field of blue -
Alaska's flag. May it mean to you
The blue of the sea, the evening sky,
The mountain lakes, and the flow'rs nearby;
The gold of the early sourdough's dreams,
The precious gold of the hills and streams;
The brilliant stars in the northern sky,
The "Bear" - the "Dipper" - and, shining high,
The great North Star with its steady light,
Over land and sea a beacon bright.
Alaska's flag - to Alaskans dear,
The simple flag of a last frontier.

Here are some of my photos that I've put online so far

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

Thanks!

Genetics. Or something. Sure is not my diet. When I was 25 I was mistaken for looking 15.

[pcottraux]

That's funny, because most people tell me I'm in my 30s.

[darkangel82]

I'm 24 and look my age, but I looked about 14 or 15 until I was almost 20.

[ilovew]

Hey, me too! I'm 23 but apparently I look around 16. *sighs*

[ilovew]

That too. We can't really impose an age limit on threads so it'd probably end up being the same people on both threads. It would be rather strange.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

It's a good thing...trust me. Just wait.

I got carded for alcohol over New Years. I was thrilled to show my license.

[WFTR]

Just wondering why...

As I said in my original post, I've never really had a girlfriend. This limitation makes a younger woman more desirable for several reasons. The first is that there are many experiences that others take for granted that I've never had. Before I'm ready to be in a family with children, I'm going to need quite a bit of "just us" time both to enjoy the relationship but also to get used to being in a relationship. A younger woman is in a better position to give me this time before she has children. The second is that a younger woman is more likely to be closer to my experience level. She's less likely to have a "been there, done that" attitude about the whole thing. A third reason is that I've never had a relationship with a woman in that age range, and I think it would be nice to experience.

To a large extent, the whole question is irrelevant. I no longer believe that I will find someone who will be right for me. I try to position myself to have some chance, but I believe that chance is so small as to be almost non-existent. I don't close the door to women who are outside my preference range. In fact, almost all of the women who've been close to me as friends over the years have fit the profile of what other people think is right for me and not what I want for myself. Some of them have been very good friends. I've enjoyed having them as friends, but I'll never have the slightest romantic feeling for any of them. I don't close the door on what other people think I should have, but if I'm going to choose, I'm going to go where I have a chance of finding what I want and not what they want.

Bill

[WFTR]

That's funny, because most people tell me I'm in my 30s.

Maybe you are 38 and Max is 22.

[WFTR]

I guess other folks are complaining to Dolly.

[ilovew]

*grumbles* That's what everyone keeps telling me.

[pcottraux]

Hmmm...never thought of it that way.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

Based on Dolly, last line... it sounds like this is a done deal.

Maybe we should go start our own thread?

Right now.

Jump ship?

[pcottraux]

Well, let's wait and see what she says first. I'm hoping she reconsiders if and when she sees that we're protesting.

[ilovew]

Ditto for me. If the thread is split, though, I'm definitely in.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

Okay. I have a thought. If we do break off...I'm going with the younger group. Only...if and when we start our new thread, we should open it up to all ages. Be open to everyone. Just like before. So, here on this thread you have the "old crowd", but ours can be the "everyone" crowd.

What do you guys think?

[WFTR]

Maybe we should go start our own thread?

I can't commit to anything at this point. Until I know where things are going with my job, I'm not in a position to be part of the organizing force of anything. Furthermore, without the folks pinged on this post, I don't think a "younger singles thread" would have the energy to survive. Within a month, the "younger" thread would be dead. Without some of the younger people to serve as hosts, I'm not sure whether Dolly will find folks to host the "older" thread each week. Without some control on younger folks visiting the "older" thread, we'd all be back on Dolly's thread (assuming that she found hosts), and the people who weren't comfortable with the young folks would be uncomfortable again. I'd vote to wait a little longer to see what's going to happen. Besides, I'm not sure what management would think of another "specialty" thread.

Bill

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

...Within a month, the "younger" thread would be dead...

...I'm not sure whether Dolly will find folks to host the "older" thread each week...

...I'm not sure what management would think of another "specialty" thread...

You make some very valid points. If we split into two threads...it may mean death for both (my initial promonition).

I also know how you feel with the job, and trying to find time to post. I was in that same boat too, up until 24 hours ago. I quit my insane job and took another one that has less pay, but will give me my life back. I was hoping to do more posting on the thread now that I will be more free, but it looks like everything is falling apart, IMO.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

This thread WILL continue. It will be considered the “older” group. If the younger group wants a thread, they are free, lovingly encouraged & supported in doing so.

I will not be posting the thread next weekend with Phil as originally planned. Unless this is completely reversed, you can count me out. If we do get split up, then I will go with the younger thread, granted that it actually gets started and manages to survive.

[Rca2000]

I am with you on this one. DO NOT CHANGE IT!!!!! Change is BAD!! (usually, anyway).

In this case, it would be.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

Well...I guess it's up to Dolly. For some reason, no one (that I know of) on the thread was actually consulted about the change. I guess we'll have to wait and see if she changes her mind.