[montanajoe]

I have quite a few friends that live up there and come to Montana for the winters...its about the only other place most Montana natives would consider moving to. (personally I'm also partial to Texas but thats about it)

[Eska]

Several locals in our community leave every November, come back February. I really like the Winter as much as Summers. Wife and I have our teaching degrees, so have taught in a few villages over the years. Our daughter went off to school in Texas last fall, called today and said it was 80 degrees; just too dang hot I'd say; and I couldn't chase wolves & caribou on the snowmachine either.

Ya know, we do have a bunch of Russkies in Ak, many came for economic reasons and they are now citizens chasing the American dream just like everybody else. They go back to visit relatives in Siberia, but are never moving back to Russia; they say everything, everything is better here. These are educated Russians of German heritage, their German ancestors have been second class citizens for 300 years and they find America so much more to their liking. Have a few for friends and they are conservatives, believe it or not. Their kids all speak perfect English, play sports, enrich Alaska too; but all the Russkies still believe in Russian Hockey, ha ha. I even know one who was in Afghanistan as a Russian. I can't wait to get him up with my Nephew who has been there himself several times. Most of the Russkies I have met are ok, quite appreciative of the USA.