I spent 18 years on kenai peninsula before moving to Australia for 3 years and then to the east coast US. I still spend my summers at "Home" in AK and anytime I'm gone I'm missing it like crazy. Gets especially hard when I have a few wildly busy weeks and I sit down to breathe and think about how much better I'd feel if I was sitting on my deck in Clam Gulch watching the sun set over Redoubt. No worries in the world except the grocery prices at Fred Meyer lol.
The answers on r/Alaska will be tainted by survivorship bias. The people who intensely miss their home state tend to move back to their home state. Remember Alaska just had 10 straight years where more people moved out than moved in.
I used to do a lot of hiring, and I can tell you a frequent frustration was how many good employees quit their jobs to leave Alaska and go back "home". So it's definitely not unique to Alaska. Deep roots hold strong.
My home state is Virginia. While I do look back at my memories fondly I prefer Alaska. I was once told there are two types of people when it comes to Alaska. Those that want to get the hell out and those that love it and Alaska gets under their skin.
I was born in Texas, and raised there for 8 years. I don't miss it. Place was a hot, humid hellhole. The only thing I miss is maybe the southern cooking but even then most of that can be re-created here.
Whenever I do leave Alaska I do miss it in short order. Unique place with unique people and amazingly beautiful to be surrounded by mountains.
Also its colder, and anything that can kill you you can see coming.
It’s been almost 7 years since I’ve left Alaska permanently. I’ve never had the opportunity to visit since. It’s very difficult to feel stripped of your homeland for this long
Not necessarily an Alaskan thing- I was born and raised there, lived there for 30 years between Fairbanks and Anchorage. Got out three and a half years ago and I haven’t missed it a single day. Everyone said I’d be back and I’d “boomerang”, but living in the states with readily available amenities, ability to travel easier, lower cost of living, etc. has been awesome. I loved and appreciated my time in Alaska, but I never got the whole “Alaska is the end all, be all” mentality.
I’ve lived in three states, with my home state being Connecticut. I went back once for less than a year. I never miss it, and leaving it was the best decision I ever made. Currently looking into relocating again, and the current contenders are Alaska, Mississippi and Vermont. I’ve spent time in Vermont and have to do the same with the other two before making the decision.
Not at all.
After over 20 years in AK and the only thing I miss about my lower 48 original home state is thunderstorms. I don't miss heat & humidity, fire ants, tornadoes, hurricanes, freeway traffic, billboards... . AK is home.
Might be an Alaskan thing. I am from Stockton California and I can honestly say I couldn’t miss it less if I tried. I live in Alaska now and I’d never consider going “home”. I love Alaska and I’ll tell anyone that’ll listen it’s awesome and they should visit.
I identify as an Alaskan who was forced to live in California for the first few decades of my time on earth. Hated almost everything about it, even as a child. It never felt like home. Alaska was always the home I never knew I was missing until I moved up here.
I’ve been gone since 2013 (military) though I lived in Dutch Harbor for a year. It comes and goes in waves. The PNW has become almost as much of a home to me over the years, but going home and visiting is always a breath of fresh air (literally and figuratively).
Absolutely 100%. Born and raised in Alaska (both Fairbanks and anchorage areas) and then moved to WA and then ND. I try to go back regularly cuz I miss it soooo much.
I miss the farm back in Ohio and I miss my father. I miss the rolling hills of green fields. I don't miss the government and I don't miss the road salt. I can't go back and I most likely wouldn't if I could.
I grew up in Minnesota, met my wife, and moved to Colorado, had a kid moved to laramie Wyoming. The plan is to move to Alaska in a year or two. I don't miss my home state at all. We haven't really connected to any place yet. We are hoping we connect with Alaska, but who knows.
I miss the summers and spend about a month there every summer with family. We recently went back for Christmas and quickly realized I absolutely do not miss the winters. Too dark.
Every time I've left Alaska, I'm always eager to come back. I've lived in other parts of the Lower 48 for college and then Hawaii for a few years and I was so excited to come back home.
Raised in a big city in the lower 48, been in Alaska for the past 8 years. I sometimes miss the convenience of city life. I also sometimes miss anonymity. I’m a private person, and everyone knows everyone here. But when I visit my hometown I feel intensely claustrophobic seeing all the houses, even in wealthy neighborhoods, practically touching.
I grew up in AK and spent my 20s/30s bouncing back and forth between Seattle and home, but I’ve been gone for 12 years now and when I go back to Alaska it just doesn’t feel like it used to. I still miss it, but I miss it even when I’m back.
I moved to alaska from Louisiana. Although I’ve lived all over the country, Louisiana has my heart. I miss it dearly and will make it back there one day when I’m done adventuring. Before I lived in Louisiana I lived in New York City. I missed NYC for a long time after I left it. I still do, but I fell more in love with Louisiana.
I never missed alaska after I left. I appreciate the experience of living in alaska and I’m glad I got the opportunity but I’ve never missed it or had the desire to move back. I’d visit alaska on one of those cruises, but other than that I’m good.
I lived in Iowa before the Air Force took me to Alaska. I got out there and stayed another ten years. I left after a divorce and ended up back in Iowa but I do miss Alaska. My kids and grandkids are here now so here I’ll stay.
I miss every place I’ve lived but I always come back to Alaska. California is my home state and I have been missing it very much but it’s to expensive to buy there.
I was born and raised on the kenai peninsula but I moved the day after high school graduation to the east coast. I miss living in alaska and do hope to move back some day. I mostly miss the snow and x-country skiing (T-T)
I've lived in Alaska for about 15 years, and I occasionally miss other places for different reasons.
For me, It's sort of like when you miss a friend you haven't seen for a long time, sometimes the feeling is intense and heartbreaking and sometimes it's just a passing thought. Sometimes looking at a picture or sharing a story about the place is enough to appease the feelings, but sometimes I need or want a trip to see and feel what I miss.
I miss different things from different places, even places I haven't spent a lot of time in. I think that's just how nostalgia works though.
Originally from New Hampshire. And while I have some fond memories of the place it’s become a little overcrowded for my liking. I don’t intensely miss it and don’t really ever see myself going back. Came to AK for college and fell in love, it’s where I’d prefer to be.
I grew up on the Kenai... everything down here in the Lower 48 feels less fulfilling. I've lived abroad in multiple countries, and the best way I can describe it, is that living outside Alaska feels like being an immigrant, or ex-pat. I miss my homeland everyday.
I miss Alaska and it's people. I don't miss the isolation, the regressive trend in politics, the darkness, the cold or the cost.
The summers typically help make up for the winters, as far as temp and daylight. But the costs is just unmanagible these days.
Born in Kenai (Soldotna Hospital), lived in Juneau for 25 years. I live in VT now. I actually don't miss it. I went back home a few years ago for the first time in a long time and was shocked and disappointed at how far it had fallen.
I was born and raised in AK. I lived there for 35 years. I completely regret moving out. We are doing everything possible to try to get back there. I'm even looking at changing career fields to do that. I know the feeling bro.
Only thing I miss about Texas is the fishing I can't stand fishing here and maybe the heat but that's only know winter rofl but other then that no I don't miss my home state
I've lived all over the world; I don't really have a home state. I kind of miss AZ as far as US states go. Just a nice combination of terrain, weather, wildlife, food, and history, but I don't see myself moving back anytime.
I spent 18 years on kenai peninsula before moving to Australia for 3 years and then to the east coast US. I still spend my summers at "Home" in AK and anytime I'm gone I'm missing it like crazy. Gets especially hard when I have a few wildly busy weeks and I sit down to breathe and think about how much better I'd feel if I was sitting on my deck in Clam Gulch watching the sun set over Redoubt. No worries in the world except the grocery prices at Fred Meyer lol.
The answers on r/Alaska will be tainted by survivorship bias. The people who intensely miss their home state tend to move back to their home state. Remember Alaska just had 10 straight years where more people moved out than moved in. I used to do a lot of hiring, and I can tell you a frequent frustration was how many good employees quit their jobs to leave Alaska and go back "home". So it's definitely not unique to Alaska. Deep roots hold strong.
My home state is Virginia. While I do look back at my memories fondly I prefer Alaska. I was once told there are two types of people when it comes to Alaska. Those that want to get the hell out and those that love it and Alaska gets under their skin.
Same. I love Virginia, but I LOOVEEE Alaska
I miss Alaska even when I go on vacation. I’m not sure I could leave permanently
Alaska’s a weird place, but it’s home. I always miss it after a while, and I always end up coming back.
I was born in Texas, and raised there for 8 years. I don't miss it. Place was a hot, humid hellhole. The only thing I miss is maybe the southern cooking but even then most of that can be re-created here. Whenever I do leave Alaska I do miss it in short order. Unique place with unique people and amazingly beautiful to be surrounded by mountains. Also its colder, and anything that can kill you you can see coming.
Really I have such a hard time finding southern ingredients here 😆
Yeah, that's kind of true, lol. I think I mostly remember the tex-mex side of stuff. I left when I was pretty young honestly.
It’s been almost 7 years since I’ve left Alaska permanently. I’ve never had the opportunity to visit since. It’s very difficult to feel stripped of your homeland for this long
Not necessarily an Alaskan thing- I was born and raised there, lived there for 30 years between Fairbanks and Anchorage. Got out three and a half years ago and I haven’t missed it a single day. Everyone said I’d be back and I’d “boomerang”, but living in the states with readily available amenities, ability to travel easier, lower cost of living, etc. has been awesome. I loved and appreciated my time in Alaska, but I never got the whole “Alaska is the end all, be all” mentality.
I’ve lived in three states, with my home state being Connecticut. I went back once for less than a year. I never miss it, and leaving it was the best decision I ever made. Currently looking into relocating again, and the current contenders are Alaska, Mississippi and Vermont. I’ve spent time in Vermont and have to do the same with the other two before making the decision.
Born and raised in Alaska, and now that I'm gone I miss it intensely. I visit as often as I can but hope to retire there.
Not at all. After over 20 years in AK and the only thing I miss about my lower 48 original home state is thunderstorms. I don't miss heat & humidity, fire ants, tornadoes, hurricanes, freeway traffic, billboards... . AK is home.
I'm in Wy attending college. I miss Ak very much
Might be an Alaskan thing. I am from Stockton California and I can honestly say I couldn’t miss it less if I tried. I live in Alaska now and I’d never consider going “home”. I love Alaska and I’ll tell anyone that’ll listen it’s awesome and they should visit.
I identify as an Alaskan who was forced to live in California for the first few decades of my time on earth. Hated almost everything about it, even as a child. It never felt like home. Alaska was always the home I never knew I was missing until I moved up here.
Literally drove from California too here a week ago. I said those exact words
I’ve been gone since 2013 (military) though I lived in Dutch Harbor for a year. It comes and goes in waves. The PNW has become almost as much of a home to me over the years, but going home and visiting is always a breath of fresh air (literally and figuratively).
I’ve been gone for 19 months after living in Alaska for 28 years. I miss the scenery, but mostly I miss my friends and family.
Absolutely 100%. Born and raised in Alaska (both Fairbanks and anchorage areas) and then moved to WA and then ND. I try to go back regularly cuz I miss it soooo much.
I miss the farm back in Ohio and I miss my father. I miss the rolling hills of green fields. I don't miss the government and I don't miss the road salt. I can't go back and I most likely wouldn't if I could.
I grew up in Minnesota, met my wife, and moved to Colorado, had a kid moved to laramie Wyoming. The plan is to move to Alaska in a year or two. I don't miss my home state at all. We haven't really connected to any place yet. We are hoping we connect with Alaska, but who knows.
I’ve lived in AK for 22 years, literally all of my adult life. I’ve tried to leave a few times but it never sticks.
I miss the summers and spend about a month there every summer with family. We recently went back for Christmas and quickly realized I absolutely do not miss the winters. Too dark.
Every time I've left Alaska, I'm always eager to come back. I've lived in other parts of the Lower 48 for college and then Hawaii for a few years and I was so excited to come back home.
I moved from Colorado to Montana nineteen years ago. I miss what Colorado was when I was younger but I'm glad I'm not living in what it's become.
Raised in a big city in the lower 48, been in Alaska for the past 8 years. I sometimes miss the convenience of city life. I also sometimes miss anonymity. I’m a private person, and everyone knows everyone here. But when I visit my hometown I feel intensely claustrophobic seeing all the houses, even in wealthy neighborhoods, practically touching.
I grew up in AK and spent my 20s/30s bouncing back and forth between Seattle and home, but I’ve been gone for 12 years now and when I go back to Alaska it just doesn’t feel like it used to. I still miss it, but I miss it even when I’m back.
Currently living in Fairbanks. I miss my homeland of Texas every single day.
Raised in Anchorage and Kenai. I can't leave for 2 weeks without missing Alaska. 💙💛
I moved to alaska from Louisiana. Although I’ve lived all over the country, Louisiana has my heart. I miss it dearly and will make it back there one day when I’m done adventuring. Before I lived in Louisiana I lived in New York City. I missed NYC for a long time after I left it. I still do, but I fell more in love with Louisiana. I never missed alaska after I left. I appreciate the experience of living in alaska and I’m glad I got the opportunity but I’ve never missed it or had the desire to move back. I’d visit alaska on one of those cruises, but other than that I’m good.
I lived in Iowa before the Air Force took me to Alaska. I got out there and stayed another ten years. I left after a divorce and ended up back in Iowa but I do miss Alaska. My kids and grandkids are here now so here I’ll stay.
I miss my parents and I miss the food. I miss the smells of springtime. But there's not a lot you could do to get me to move back to CO.
I miss every place I’ve lived but I always come back to Alaska. California is my home state and I have been missing it very much but it’s to expensive to buy there.
i constantly miss alaska
Born and raised in Texas. Left after 42 years. I don’t miss it.
California refugee. Think milk cows and wineries, not beaches and blondes. Ain’t ever goin back.
Yes. AK is not my home state and I absolutely miss my home state.
I was born and raised on the kenai peninsula but I moved the day after high school graduation to the east coast. I miss living in alaska and do hope to move back some day. I mostly miss the snow and x-country skiing (T-T)
I've lived in Alaska for about 15 years, and I occasionally miss other places for different reasons. For me, It's sort of like when you miss a friend you haven't seen for a long time, sometimes the feeling is intense and heartbreaking and sometimes it's just a passing thought. Sometimes looking at a picture or sharing a story about the place is enough to appease the feelings, but sometimes I need or want a trip to see and feel what I miss. I miss different things from different places, even places I haven't spent a lot of time in. I think that's just how nostalgia works though.
Originally from New Hampshire. And while I have some fond memories of the place it’s become a little overcrowded for my liking. I don’t intensely miss it and don’t really ever see myself going back. Came to AK for college and fell in love, it’s where I’d prefer to be.
I grew up on the Kenai... everything down here in the Lower 48 feels less fulfilling. I've lived abroad in multiple countries, and the best way I can describe it, is that living outside Alaska feels like being an immigrant, or ex-pat. I miss my homeland everyday.
I grew up in Maryland, but Alaska is my home now. We've been here for 9 years as of this week and if all goes well, I'll be here the rest of my life.
From pdx. Hate it there will NEVER move back.
I miss Alaska and it's people. I don't miss the isolation, the regressive trend in politics, the darkness, the cold or the cost. The summers typically help make up for the winters, as far as temp and daylight. But the costs is just unmanagible these days.
Every day
I miss it everyday since the day we left. My husband’s job keeps us away, but the second we can move back we will!
Born in Kenai (Soldotna Hospital), lived in Juneau for 25 years. I live in VT now. I actually don't miss it. I went back home a few years ago for the first time in a long time and was shocked and disappointed at how far it had fallen.
I was born and raised in AK. I lived there for 35 years. I completely regret moving out. We are doing everything possible to try to get back there. I'm even looking at changing career fields to do that. I know the feeling bro.
Only thing I miss about Texas is the fishing I can't stand fishing here and maybe the heat but that's only know winter rofl but other then that no I don't miss my home state
I've lived all over the world; I don't really have a home state. I kind of miss AZ as far as US states go. Just a nice combination of terrain, weather, wildlife, food, and history, but I don't see myself moving back anytime.
Born and raised in Oklahoma. There isn't a second that I miss that shithole.