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I live a lil south of anchor point and from my experience Homer is one of the most tolerant and embracing communities I’ve ever been to.
No one cares about anyone’s beliefs, if you don’t like someone/something there’s enough room to find your own space to jive.
Enjoy the change of scenery.
That sounds great!
homer is also so so so much more naturally beautiful and vibrant then lame ol anchor point. not nearly a far drive either. i’ve lived here 17+ years and i cannot recommend it enough.
Um...it'd be worth mentioning the major housing shortage in Homer and how locals can barely live there.
Awesome! Thank you!
Congrats, you’re moving to a place with political and religious extremism.
Yeah that area literally has a business on the side of the highway named “Abolish Abortion Construction”
Yeah it’s right on your drive to your new place!! Welcome home!!!!
That’s nuts! I guess it’s a choice. Maybe Cartman helped band the business. lol
Anchor Point is really a hub of right wing/religious nuts, fugitives/convicts, and meth. One of my parents grew up there. The local facebook pages are pretty entertaining/sad, and gives a good indication of the community. Homer down the road is much more progressive.
I’d say all the little towns like that, same with willow
Ooh. That’s a good insight. I’ll be a Facebook LookiLou
Very well said
I am a transplant from Missouri, I will say that largely everyone here is very friendly. That being said, the political landscape of the kenai peninsula seems to differ drastically (from an outside perspective). The Soldotna area down to anchor point is very conservative, however just a few miles down the road Homer has a very opposite vibe and has ample pride flags, artsy shops etc.
That sounds wonderful! I’ll have to visit there first.
I had zero intentions of staying in AK but will be relocating to Homer to settle down after working there part time. Feel free to reach out with any questions!
Just go a little further south to Homer, you'll avoid all the craziness being mentioned here.
Thank you! I definitely will do. I still have some time before we move, so this is going to help me a great deal. Thank you so much!
God, I miss Homer
Spend your time in Homer & you’ll be fine
From what I’m hearing, anchor point might be kind red/extremist, but lots of other places here are super moderate, at least in action. Here in Fairbanks it’s about a 1:2 ratio of coexist stickers to maga stickers
Fairbanks is a pretty interesting mixture. From left to right (west to east) you have UAF to the military bases. Kind of mirrors the liberal to conservative spectrum.
considering the surrounding area, Fairbanks is pretty moderate. Especially if you’re hanging around the university/west side. Regularly occurring drag shows and some pride flags in town are a sign of that.
Why don't you just move to the cultural oasis that is Bloomington Indiana?
From where in Indiana do you hail?
I came to Fairbanks from Bloomington in 1991, and I perceive increasing socio-political polarization and aggressive belligerent ignorance. There was once a unity in surviving/helping each other survive here, in a place where the environment mostly wanted to kill you , a conviviality between folks superseding social or political affiliations.
I feel the erosion of this commonality is fomented by commercially-driven internet algorithms and fake-ass paid trolls running numerous social media accounts made specifically to sow division and disinformation. The likes of which are Dunning-Krugering everyone's sensibilities and discernment to a pulp.
Good luck and remember you find what you look for.
Thank you
People are going to be nice but don't expect the social scene to be hospitable.
Fair enough
What specific problems have you experienced in Indiana?
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Wait so....this woman simply asked if you came here legally, and you consider that discrimination?
Yikes
She demanded. What entitles her to my background? She hold no authority over me. Plus, this was after she learned I was in the U.S. Marine Corps. And she asked me that question aggressively. Her family was embarrassed as hell.
Yeah, very odd of her to ask after you'd already said you served in the military. And now that you have provided more details and context, its clear that this lady was out of line. But in general it's not an unreasonable question.
Well, I guess we can agree to disagree here. I would definitely answer if she was a cop or even someone at the post office. lol But this was a nobody of authority. Just a busybody not minding her own business in my eyes.
Would you ask me this question yourself?
Yes of course. But I don't have to because you already kind of answered it..sounds like you're in the Marines? that's pretty cool :)
I think you asking me that would have come across a bit differently than that crazy lady. She really was a local piece of work. I think you would probably be just curious and it would have come across differently.
I get the sense that you’re a bit more reasonable and like to find the common ground. Right?
I get the sense that you're trying very hard to have an argument...
Um…no
You literally chose the worst spot OP. Move to Seward, Anchorage, Girdwood, or any of the SE hubs. The whole Sterling to Anchor point stretch is probably the most extreme right wing stretch in the state. They even beat out Big Lake/Houston/Willow area imo
Move to girdwood? I wish! I could win the lottery and still not afford to live in girdwood.
I mean you can always just get a job at the resort and live in their little labor house dormitory things. LOL
But yeah really hope they get some of these new proposed developments going there... a whole lot of NIMBYs in girdwood, as you might imagine. Probably wouldn't help that much, at least right away, but it's getting a bit ridiculous at this point. I've heard of empty single lots going instantly for $300k+ cash, and that was a couple years ago so I'm sure not even the highest.
Yeah someone mentioned homer being just down the road and more tolerant. But damn you have to be loaded and liberal as hell to live there permanently.
Plenty of conservatives in Homer too. But yes, property prices have skyrocketed
When I came up to Alaska in the early nineties as a guy with dreadlocks I found people to be mostly not mean. They weren’t necessarily friendly, but compared to a lot of places, neutral felt pretty good. I stayed.
You're moving to like the most conservative insane part of Alaska. They literally threatened to kill a drag queen down there last summer. Good luck bro
I believe that was Soldotna.
That's all within a 70 mile radius. Same area of the world
Your right, it was soldotna and the owner of St. Elias that had a meltdown on FB and all of the local nut bags exposed themselves on FB and got roasted.
Kenai/Soldotna is a huge mixed bag of ‘personal beliefs’ around the LGBTQ stuff, essentially the same tired MAGA talking points. There didn’t seem to be much buzz about this year’s Pride even in the park.
I will say as a local Kenai/Soldotna still has a live and let live attitude and fairly passive, but we do have our fair share of conservative/religious nut bags, but they let you know how they are pretty obviously with their bumper stickers/shirts and hats. The further you get away from the main towns and the smaller or isolated the communities are down here is where the real nutters are.
For OP, if racial or cultural differences are a concern, stay the fuck away from the strip in between soldotna and Homer. Your experience will vary in that area.
Damn.
Ooof. Anchor Point . Not many rainbow flags and pro choice signs there. I wouldn't call it diverse either. Probably some good folk there tho. Def some bad folk.
I think you’ll really enjoy Alaska.
A lot of the state is socially liberal, but that is not one of those places.
Damn.
Look, Im a red/conservative guy up here for a LONG time but I treat everyone I meet with respect and I have been to dozens of villages/towns for work etc. I honestly think regardless of your political stance up here, you get treated great. Whatever you do, dont take a tiny handful of advice from reddit on what we think its like. Just get out there, I promise youll more than likely be welcomed here
Thank you
Reddit (and social media based in AK) is reflective of progressives in the cities for the most part. Alaska has by far the largest percentage of unaffiliated voters in the US. Given the moribund state of party politics, I'd say it's a marker of good judgement.
https://www.pewresearch.org/religious-landscape-study/database/
Thanks for the link!
It's a marker of open primaries.
Primary format has changed many times and it's a chicken/ egg situation. Also, AIP and 3rd parties have been influential relatively recently which is atypical
I was accepted in a very friendly manner, as long as I kept my political stance to myself. That meant letting people around me rant about insane conspiracy theories and biting my tongue so hard I almost bit it off.
I get it, I very rarely discuss anything political as well. I just typically stay out of those conversations or change the subject. Not worth it, feels so damn polarizing these days sadly
Username a little sus, buddy
Feel free to DM me with questions etc if you ever want help or advice about random stuff going on. Youre definitely in a heavy Russian population area down there around Anchor Point, TONS of seasonal fisherman...etc
no idea about anchor point, but the state in general is very libertarian (ex: marijuana, 2nd amendment, abortions, no taxes) and hates govt overreach. we are a red state bc of that libertarianism, so we don't have as many maga trump people as you would expect, especially with such an interesting mixing of political views we have here. maga people exist here just like everywhere else, but there are definitely blue spots in the state too, especially in the outer edges of cities. for example, fairbanks is pretty blue, but the mat su valley is as maga as you can get.
Thank you.
Why did you choose Anchor Point…?
Husband’s job
Ah, ok. I’m not sure how far North of Anchor Point you are planning on moving or if you have your housing figured out yet, but it may be better for you to live in Homer. It’s an artsy little town, kinda like hippie fishing touristy, about 20-30 min south of Anchor Point (aprox, it’s been a bit since I’ve driven it). It’s probably a little more what you’re looking for.
That fits in my radius. (o)/
Homer is a little (ok, a lot) clique-ish. It will take time for the community to accept you as one of them. Be patient. Get involved in the community.
Thank you.
Thank you!
You’re welcome, I hope you love it!
I lived in Soldotna for 12 years. The main reason we left was all of the MAGAts. I walked into Sweenys clothing Store in 2020 to be greeted by a life size cutout of the Orange Jesus himself. I turned right around, left and never returned again.
Ooof. I definitely feel you on that.
Don't get me wrong. I love Alaska. I lived there from 85 through 2001. Lived in Oregon for 10 years. Got a job offer back in AK in 2011. Lived there again until last year when I moved back to OR.
Alaska was always right of center on politics, but since 2016 things have gotten worse.
As I said, I love Alaska. I still own my house in Soldotna. We will probably return there in a few years. I hope to die there and have my ashes dumped in the Kenai River in Cooper Landing.
Hope you enjoy your new adventure in the great white north.
Beautiful wishes friend. Cooper landing is so quaint
Thank you.
There's a large Asian immigrant population in Homer that is, as far as I know, very well accepted by the community.
Awesome! Thank you.
Anchor Point is close enough to Homer that you could live there. But if you are looking for the best place for you to live in AK it’s going to be Juneau. It’s not as cold, but socially more up your alley. If you’re moving to the Kenai Peninsula I’d plan to be as self-sufficient as possible and be pleasantly surprised if you find a crew. Don’t bring up politics or religion, and don’t engage if someone else does and your chances of having a good time will increase exponentially. AK is a mix of brilliant, enlightened, tolerant people, and bigoted, xenophobic, asshats and they won’t divide themselves on party lines. You may find yourself welcomed and embraced by someone in a red hat, and told by a hemp-wearing hippy to go back where you came from. Really the only way to know where you fit in AK is to show up and give it a go. Visit some spots while you are here and go where you feel like you belong. There is a huge diversity here. There is a place for you. It may or may not be Anchor Point (unless your accent is Russian) but that’s as good a LZ as anywhere.
Thank you
You picked the wrong place then :)
Damn.
I have been here like 2 months and have already heard a guy ranting about how no one could not pay him enough to live in a migration cesspool that is California and was happy I escaped. I haven't been to Illinois so idk but Michigan seemed pretty migrant friendly
Alaska has a lot of everything. Irregardless when a disaster happens we help each other out regardless of politics or anything else. As proven by the earthquake in 2018. 0 deaths 0 looting. Mostly we keep to ourselves unless the community needs to come together.
That’s exactly what I am looking for. Thank you!
Yes there are a lot of trump and religious shit bags but that won't mind their own business, but most of them are in matsu borough and unfortunately eagle river.
There is a blend of all flavors of republicans up here. There are some really great people that happen to be conservative, but there is an element of the delusional MAGA folks, too. Who knows? I think it's time people start reaching across the aisle and engaging. This fear of the other is what is driving the right into trumps manipulative arms. Don't be like that. Talk to Republicans and help them separate their beliefs from trump. Trump stands for everything they claim to hate. He's a lying, grifting, sexual assaulting, veteran hating shit stain on America's honor.
Remember, if trump wins, it's the end of American democracy anyhow. I have no idea where the best place to be in that scenario is.
Definitely true. Thank you.
Just piling on, lived in Homer for 11 years. Based on your self-description and interests, aim for Homer.
Awesome. Thank you 😊
Don't stop in Anchor Point, keep going to Homer. You will fall in love and be loved there!
Thank you
I would guess Alaska will try you and show you your true self. I have never been to Indiana. It can get below 20 degrees or colder during the winter and then you can't get your lock to stop freezing shut on the front door. It's probably much colder than Indiana. I would visit during the dead of winter. I didn't think people seemed too political toward either party.
Thank you
Please don't ask Reddit for political/life advice.
This is a good resource if you know how to read between the lines and verify everything you learn.
We’re are more independent than any other state. We have a good mix of conservative liberals and libertarians
That’s good. I like diversity.
You’d do much better in Minnesota (Duluth or the Twin Cities).
I read your description & what you’re looking for. You’re not going to find it in Alaska. Which is too bad.
I’d love it if Alaska was more like, say, British Columbia socially.
More socially, how ?
Each month BC breaks records for drug overdoses, have you been to the DTES Vancouver lately ? You don’t want that here.
The price of real estate in BC has made owning a home virtually impossible for most Canadians, Canada, and in particular BC, has long been a money laundering haven, thus foreign investors can have a field day while the average family who wants to build wealth is locked out.
BC Health is in such a crisis that they’re allowing in more temporary foreign workers in order to fill the shortage of heath care workers. Some communities are closing their walk-in clinics for good, shutting down their ER’s on weekends and telling people to not rely on ambulance service at certain times.
Plus, the Canadian dollar isn’t worth as much as the American dollar, so everything is more expensive. I haven’t even brought up taxes, God knows that the good people of B.C. pay out the YingYang for all of those services that aren’t getting delivered like they used to.
Be careful what you wish for !
BC is a lovely place to visit, but man, you don’t want to live there, and you most certainly don’t want this place to be more like BC, socially.
Replace “BC” or “Canada/Canadians” with “the USA” or “America/Americans” and these statements are also true
True, i can only speak to BC as I’ve actually lived and worked there as a temporary foreign worker.
Can’t speak for anchor point, but Alaska is mostly accepting of anyone and doesn’t care about politics because they are more connected to the earth and not so much in the busy day to day grind like major cities have. It can be trumpy and you will meet some wacky people. Like others said, visit the town first. Girdwood, talkneeta, seward, homer have truly amazing/welcoming residents!
That’s awesome to hear. Thank you!
Good luck and safe travels!
The only place Alaska is extreme is here in this Subreddit. As a whole, Alaskans are Libertarian by nature and have a live and let live attitude. Welcome to the Kenai Peninsula.
Thank you
As someone who had the border cross over us, you'll find religious extremism all over the State. I'm from the far north with traditional facial tattoos, and it's pretty hard for me to get to jobs without heaps of cover-up, and this is coming from the Valley area.
7/16ths Iñupiaq, 1/16ths English, and 8/16ths Irish, trans non-binary. Had to get a genetic test just to get married to my husband because he's nearly full Irish.
I've had strangers come up to my window and see my bumper stickers and hand me one of their little Jesus comics.
Best of luck to you, and everyone is right about Homer being more progressive. Anchor Point is where my ex and I experienced one of the heaviest earthquakes and scared the crap out of me, and there was nowhere to go but stay safe inside our cabin because the locals wouldn't help us. The caribou down there tastes like crap anyway.
Oysters in Homer are really good though, if you don't have a seafood allergy.
Thank you so much for your story and help. I have been reading on the native people of Alaska. The art is breathtaking! I was also reading up on the many missing native women, and it is absolutely terrifying how little resource and attention is given to finding out what happened to them.
Thank you for doing research. I myself am trans non-binary AFAB so it's extra hard for us. DM me anytime.
Will do. Thank you.
Not really. Lots of conservatives for sure. But lots of liberals. We’ve elected plenty of democrats over the past decade
people are trump supporters here, but it is that pro choice libertarian and progressive type of trump supporters. imo best kind of political people
There's a lot of diversity in Alaska. There are lots of conservatives and democrats. It's hard to tell them apart because they blend in with normal people. Don't get spun up by the media too much. I haven't lived in your boots but I'd be very surprised to see a "maga trumper" treat anyone poorly because of an accent or color of their skin and i know a lot of conservatives of every color and creed. I hope you haven't encountered that. I would definitely call out anyone doing so and would wager my friends will do the same.
Hoooooowever...... there are communities in Alaska where it's "locals only". I've been warned to keep out of some Russian villages near Anchor point.
Russian villages? That sounds terrifying!
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....You felt you had to post this again? Why? Odd...
Alright. I’m deleting everything. People like you are a bit too much, too toxic, for me. I obviously do not know how Reddit works, and you’re kind of following me around and focusing on me. That’s odd. I’m out!
I’d stay away from the Kenai peninsula. Anchorage and Fairbanks are cool but stay away from North Pole if you go to Fairbanks. Santa clause lane has a lot of crazies
I live in AK and moved here from North Florida. Alaska is a “red state” meaning that there are more Republicans than Democrats and, like every state, it has pockets and places that are more conservative or liberal. That said, on the whole, Alaskans are very libertarian…live and let live and leave us alone. Compares to Florida (my only personal experience example): Alaskans are more tolerant in general and leas religious on the whole. You couldn’t swing a cat in FL without hitting a church. Here, you’ll have a hard time finding one and many are short-staffed. Anchor Point is nice. I think you might like Homer a bit more, but I think housing is more affordable and available in Anchor Point. Compared to Indiana, you will love it here. It’s so beautiful, the people are so nice and helpful and it’s not nearly as cold or dark as outsiders imagine.
Came to Alaska in 1974 and were not immediately welcomed. Some places wouldn't serve us because we came from the outside. Back then the saying went the only ones coming to Alaska were fugitives and outlaws who could disappear into the background. Alaskans never felt like part of the lower 48.
Saying all this to come to Alaska has always been a place to come to get away from the larger populated lower 48 where one could live their lives as they saw fit. There is plenty of space and culture to do that here. This is what makes Alaska feel more conservative, that we believe we are free to live without too much regulation or oversight of our personal lives. People might appear standoffish but are willing to jump in and provide a helping hand...if asked. Our first home in Alaska was built with the assistance of friends and neighbors on the weekends, like an old barn raising.
I'm sure you will find the beauty and friendliness of Alaskans all you could hope for despite other negative comments.
Thank you
You should check out new mexico, friend
Oof. I would melt! lol
Yes, yes it is. Alaska is very red.
I do not agree. I've been here for 15 years and I've never had a bad experience regarding politics. That said, I choose who I tell of my politics. Thank goodness the last place I worked, I shared the office with liberals. Check the meetups in your area - that will be the easiest place to find new friends.
Seek your tribe. For church, check the UU in your area. If it's a long way from home, you may be happier going on holidays and avoiding the slip sliding Elections: this is important- if voting is important to you (it is to me) when you declare your party affiliation, declare unaffiliated rather then independent, so you are not pigeonholed into a a group you have no interest in. The Alaska Independence Party is the secessionist party. As in you are interested in hanging with the Palin family and their ilk. The only time you will be asked to declare are the primaries, when you will be given the appropriate ballot.
Welcome! People move to Alaska for various reasons; they are mostly welcomed and helped dealing with the bureaucracy.
Thank you. That sounds great.
No. We are normal people who enjoy freedoms like guns, speech, and safety from being killed in the womb. Conservatives and liberals both live in this state and still share a LOT of common values. Alaska is more of a purple state nowadays.
We, huh? You need to speak for yourself, mister Hat dash numbers.
I wake up every morning hoping upon hope THIS will be the day, at long last, I am killed in the womb. We are not the same.
Also, Alaskan-livin'will permanently exclude you from the normal people category, you'll yourself be burning up your own membership card, it happens to everyone
As much as Alaska is a purple state, there's two places that are solid red - Kenai & Wasilla.
And it looks like you're moving to Kenai, the place that didn't quite get the memo about the 1st amendment (and tried to favor a religion - courts struck it down obviously).
That’s good. I’ll look into that too. Thank you. Lots of people on here not liking what you wrote just now, and that’s also very interesting to me.
Lol anyone who unironically uses the word "maga" to describe a percieved identity group is part of the problem.
So what are the people called who wear the hats and have the MAGA bumper stickers?
They’ll be referred to sir or ma’am as they’re processing you into the camp.
My biggest problem is somebody’s last name on our country’s flag. I am very concerned by that. You should be too.
Call them whatever you want but that's not what I'm talking about and my point still stands: people like OP who obsess over group identity instead of treating people as individuals will reap what they sow. Unfortunately that probably means 4 more years of Donald Trump.
If you’d define defending our constitution and loving our country as “extremism”… then you might wanna try California or Oregon… might be a better fit for you. It may not seem like it based on this subreddit but aside from the keyboard warrior activists, Alaskans like to keep the state red and maintain our personal freedoms.
Remember that time Kenai Peninsula Borough violated the 1st amendment?
Yeah, I don't trust southerners to maintain the personal freedoms Alaskans fought for.
Then move.
No, southerners can move back to Missouri or Texas or wherever first, and stop trying to change the constitution.
lol what are you on. Happy 4th of July, try not to burn any American flags this weekend if you can help it.
Just tell them trump slogans and you’ll be fine. Trump doesn’t hate immigrants. He hates poors.
lol
I’d buy a trump hat and put a trump bumper sticker on your 25 year old Chevy and call it a day. I’m white, but people always assume I’m conservative. It’s unfathomable to people that I could dislike trump. So just tell them you do too.
Here’s a thought: you could move back to wherever you came from instead of looking to change our country.
And this response answers your question OP. Ignorance is everywhere
Damn.
How is it ignorance to not want foreigners living in my country?
You are answering your own question- repeatedly. Everything you are saying screams of ignorance- unless you are indigenous, you or one of your ancestors was at one time a foreigner in this country
“Immigration was bad American Indians because it took their land and country, but good for White Americans because muh diversity”
You can’t actually believe something this fucking dumb.
Are you Native American then?
Native Americans never had a country.
Just curious, what rock did you crawl out from under ?
ah yes, alaska, an area famously populated by white people for generations, not at all having an indigenous population that was kicked out and forced into camps, nooooooooo…
Groups of warring tribes don’t constitute a country.
butttttt they were NOT here first before a bunch of people from other parts of the world moving there (the definition of immigrants) took over… right?
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dang i had no idea your takes could get actually worse. you’re like… racist racist. you don’t even try and hide it. did you not grow up with consequences or something?
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Replace that “o” in your username with an “i” and you will be more accurate
nothing i say is going to change your mind. you can just enjoy your life as a sad, ignorant person.
Absolutely no racism whatsoever.
Did you serve our country? Because I am a USMC combat veteran myself. If you haven’t, then I gave back more to my country than you can ever claim.
Ayou seriously going to judge people before you meet them? isn't that what you're afraid of people doing to YOU? lol
It is red.
As someone who lives right in the area you're talking about: you'll find some racists anywhere, but by and large, we are not, at all. We tend to keep to ourselves and not bother anybody. (Except meth heads, who bother people, but they're equal-opportunity.)
You will sometimes hear comments because many of us feel discriminated against; we feel like progressives, who claim to be tolerant, are extremely intolerant of us and our way of life, and like many of them, especially those down in the states (many of us are much friendlier to the gun toting progressives in Homer who don't seem to mind our ways as much), relish the thought of using the power of government to force us to live their way.
It has absolutely nothing to do with race or accent. If you come in with an open mind rather than open disrespect (and I sense a bit of the latter in the title of your post), you're going to meet some perfectly nice people.
Minneapolis would be a better place for you
No, it's not. Lack of cell service. Many upset with the number of large immigrant families living off pfds and welfare. Just move to California, Portland, and / or Seattle.
Only about one-in-three humans is an asshole, butt ass you clearly understand, some places have a bigger thurd than others. I think most folks on Reddit will agree, Alaska's is plump... and plenty steamy.
lol I haven’t a clue what that means.
Visit first.