I’ve known a half dozen people either born/bred Alaskan’s or who went as adults, looking for independence, self-reliance etc. While 6 people isn’t exactly a sample size that proves anything; what you’ve told me about Alaska is exactly what they have told me.
If you plan on living there, you better be independent, self-sufficient, honest, and lazy won’t cut it. In way to many areas of the country we’ve lost that attitude - and we’re paying for it now.
Alaska would be the perfect Israel in many respects. Considerably colder though, but we have that unique position of being literally “far and away” to discourage illegal immigrants, our neighbor is of course Canada but that part of Canada is even more sparsely populated.
Much to the dismay of my many family members still living in the lower 48 I adamantly refuse to leave here even for travel, my last vacation outside was in 2004, its just too complicated and unsure outside this state.
Sure we have our issues, but we handle them WITHOUT federal interaction. Not many live up here on welfare, some do of course but a very very small fraction, we are used to seasonal work, my job is usually only 8 months a year, matter of fact I have been off work just staying at home since dec. 12th, I go back to work monday driving a concrete mixer.
Financially its a squeeze but from mistakes learned I set aside money in the fall to get me every winter, just like this one, we all do. Alaska isn’t the best place to live for most but to some its the best place to be when the rest of the country is tearing itself apart.