Jerngen
Cheechako
Cheechako
Posts: 22
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Hiya!
May 6, 2005 1:22:04 GMT -5
Post by Jerngen on May 6, 2005 1:22:04 GMT -5
My name is Jeremy and my wifes name is Genevieve (she goes by Genny). We are actively chasing the dream of homesteading and have built up quite a library (both online and paper) with regards to anything that smacks of homesteading. We are parents to a beautiful 8 month old boy named Elijah! We currently live in central Michigan where my wife works for the local cable company (ironic since neither of us likes television) and I'm a stay-at-home dad by day and college student by night. Will have finished all my pre-reqs to get into the Nursing program next week. Am just waiting for a slot to open up (could be up to 2-3 years!). We are now faced with the dilemna of waiting to move until after I get my degree or moving now. If we wait we're looking at 2-3 years on the wait list plus the 2 year program. My ultimate dream is to move to the "bush" in Alaska. My wife has agreed to the Upper Penninsula of Michigan or Northwester Montana (where we spent last summer---beautiful!) where she has family. She loves everything she hears and sees about Alaska but ultimately is concerned about being so far away from family in regards to our son's (and future childrens) grandparents (both sets of whom live within 30 miles of us currently. She is also concerned about the horror stories she has heard about the cold of Alaskan winters. I tell her that we've experienced -20's to -30's in our current location. Once it's that cold it doesn't matter what the thermostat says, you act appropriatly! Okay, don't want to make this intro too long but look forward to any comments any of you might have and really enjoy this site. Thanks!
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Hiya!
May 6, 2005 10:29:59 GMT -5
Post by Washkeeton on May 6, 2005 10:29:59 GMT -5
Welcome Jerngen. Being a nurse my self, I will tell you any medical back ground will help. You need to have some medical knowledge if you plan to go to the back woods any way. If you need money and need to work there are jobs to be had. Getting your education so you have a saleable skill and an ability to make money if needed is never a bad idea. While you are in the bush you will have to have some money. Some how you will need to buy, if nothing else, the basics food stuffs, personal care items, and the ever present fishing and hunting license. You can come here unskilled and work for min wage were you work all season and have nothing but living expenses paid or have your nursing degree and be able to buy the basics. go to the alaska web page and click into jobs you can look at state jobs through workplace ak as well as through jobs will give you an idea what you can make to supplement your life. www.state.ak.us should get you to the ak home page. Another thing i suggest is to live close to town for a year and experience the winters up here, Rent a cabin outside of fairbanks with out the conviences but you wont be so far from civilization that you cant get to help if needed. Haul your water and use an outhouse. -70 is a lot colder than -30, fourty degrees colder and can freeze any and all exposed skin in a very short time. You will be out side in -70 or +90 and having to work it is not an easy task. Your wife is right to worry about distance from family. The distance feels even greater when you cant afford to fly down and see them once in a while, or if they cant fly up to see you and get to you cause you are so far out. Just some thoughts from the been there and done that crew.
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Hiya!
May 6, 2005 12:03:04 GMT -5
Post by Kristianna on May 6, 2005 12:03:04 GMT -5
Welcome Jeremy and Genny!
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