Lessons learned and highlights of 1 year in Alaska in a 5th wheel.

  Wow, it's hard to believe that a full year has elapsed since we arrived here.  Many didn't think we'd make it, but we are either hardy or foolhardy.  Take your pick.  What have we learned over the past year?

  July, 2014--

• No matter the reputation of the contractor you hire and the completion date agreed upon, things will not be finished when you arrive.  We learned that you can hook a generator to your breaker box in order to run the pump on the well.  Good thing, since it is the only source of water you'll have without carrying jerrycans for 6 miles round trip and paying premium prices.
•  Fireweed grows so fast, it can choke off any access to the lake you paid a premium price to have the waterfront of. Buy hubby a string trimmer so he can chop it down.

     

•  When instructions on a portable garage says it can be done by 2 people in a few hours.  Do Not Believe them. 2 days and innumerable cuts, curse words, and aching backs-finally finished.

 August 2014---

•  When friends and family come to visit- put them to work.

but let them have some fun also.

•  Putting skirting around an RV will take much much longer than you planned for.  Measure, remeasure, cut, fit, cuss, remeasure, re cut, repeat ad infinitum.

•  Even if you've never built one before, with enough perseverance, and patience, you can build a respectable arctic entry. 

September, 2014---

•   When it finally starts getting dark in the evenings again, and you think you can sleep in...forget it!  The Trumpeter swans will awaken you each morning as they call out to their neighbors.  Who knew they could be so loud?

October 2014---

•   Don't get too excited about the first snowfall of the winter...you still can't build a snowman.

•  Because of all the help you've received from neighbors who ask for nothing in return, start a Facebook Group- .Good Deeds in the Mat-Su Valley

November 2014---

•  Thanksgiving is not as noisy when it's just the two of you. Who cares about fancy china and silver?  We could have done this on paper plates (but I don't think the turkey would taste as good.) 

2) Decorate for Christmas like you have all the room in the world inside your 5th wheel.

December 2014---

•   You discover retirement and snow on the ground limits your activity.  Volunteer for the Community Christmas Dinner.

• Find out there are homeless people living in tents, in the winter, in Alaska.  Start the Wasilla Homeless-Committee to help those less fortunate.  

January 2015---

You realize 

•  You should have put more insulation under the RV

•  Heated water hoses work best when the thermostat is outside instead of under the RV

• When they rupture from freezing, you get a sheet of ice in your pathway that lasts the whole winter.

• The big Dodge Ram dually truck is worthless on winter roads without 4WD, or expensive snow tires.
• Find yourself elected as Director of Wasilla Homeless-Committee (recall  how you thought you needed to do something with your time?  You no longer have spare time)

•   The prices of propane and electricity increase in direct correlation to the temperature decrease.  Electric this month?  $568.00  Propane?  $948.00  Good thing we've found out where the food banks are.  We may need them. (Refer to the first bullet-ed entry)

February 2015---

• Wow, you've picked out your dream cabin & it's on sale.  Buy the cabin kit!  It's only $8600.00. Start looking for someone to put it together for you.

• Shake your head sadly at the $704 electric bill this month.  There are still 2-3 months of winter left.
• By now, your mate is wishing to go back to Texas. (He may be onto something there, but I never give up)

March 2015---

•  Not much of a winter thus far for snow, but the goblin works great as a plow. (now you need to get the shift linkage fixed so you have more choice than High and Reverse).
• Still looking for a contractor.  Most are working other jobs waiting on building season.

April 2015---

• You discover that the EZ Up canopy you've been using to keep most of the snow off the car doesn't hold up to freezing rain/snow mixed.
  

• Later in the month, it's hail. Nice black olive size that pounds on your car, truck, cargo trailer, and RV.  Climb up (after it's over) to check the roof.  Breathe a sigh of relief to find it all intact.
  

May 2015---

• You learn it will cost you over $54,000.00 to put together a $8,600.00 cabin kit.  Lesson  Get more $$$ into savings.

• The wildlife starts to move around foraging for food.  This young bull becomes a frequent visitor.  We name him Bullwinkle.
  

• You start clearing the debris left by the previous owner.  You find that he had a wealth of old tires hidden under the grass and underbrush.  Luckily, you find someone who wants to take them all off your hands to use for crafts.
  

• The rubble keeps adding up, costing your right arm and left leg to take to the dump.
  
  
  
  

• You are rewarded for all your hard work by finally being able to see the lake.

• You can finally get your garden going.  You learn just how much work it is to unload and spread 14 yards of top soil.  Hire some able bodied friends to help.
  
  June 2015--
  
  
  
• Bullwinkle comes back, tries to jump the garden fence and gets tangled in it.  Luckily he is unharmed.  The fence did not fare as well.

• The swans returned and the signets hatched.  Cute little gray balls of fluff.  It's fun to watch the parents stomp on the lake bed to stir up the goodies for the babies to eat.  They also get their first taste of the lilies.

July 2015---

• The first harvest of veggies from the garden is ready.  Radishes.  Yum. 

• The signets have grown rapidly, as have Bullwinkle's antlers.  He's becoming very majestic.
  

•  Lessons for next year.  

1.  Move the garden to a location that will get more sun.  
2. Start planting earlier in the year.
3.  Choose more crops that will mature before the cold weather hits.
4. Get the greenhouse working as it was intended and not as a storage repository for furniture that belongs in the office of WHC.

Final thoughts.  

•  It has definitely been an adventure.  We've seen and done more here in the 49th state than  we've done in over 28 years of marriage. 
•  The northern lights still tend to put John in awe.  
•  The wildlife never fails to capture our attention. 
•  I've found a way to serve my fellow man without being on my feet for over 12 hours a day.
•  The people of this valley are the most wonderful, caring, giving, and friendly people on this planet.

Would we do it again?  In a heartbeat!  Will be be staying?  As Dick Martin used to say on Laugh-In " You bet your sweet bippy!"

Thank you all for following us on our adventure. Maybe we'll have more to post in the next year, like--- Our first moose or caribou hunt?  Our first foray of dip netting?  Finally getting the cabin built?  Who knows?  We only know that the adventure has not ended though this blog has.