10 Things Only People Who Live In Alaska Would Understand

When most people think of Alaska, they think of very cold weather, igloos, and possibly if you are old enough to remember or if you have seen the movie, you know about Fred, Wilma, and Bam-Bam. They were the whales who captured the attention of the entire world in the 1980’s when they got stuck in the ice in Alaska. You may even watch the reality shows on television about the people who live in the most rural parts of Alaska. Unless you are actually from Alaska, however, there are plenty of things that you wouldn’t understand.

Moose’s Tooth Has the Best Pizza

If you want to find the best pizza in Alaska, and one of the best pizzas in the country, you would need to visit the Moose’s Tooth in Anchorage. They have several specialty pizzas, such as the Avalanche. It is topped with pepperoni, bacon, blackened chicken, parsley, red onions, provolone cheese, mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, and barbecue sauce. They also have a rotating craft beer selection which is the best in the state.

We Don’t Know Everyone in Alaska

Alaska is the largest state in the country. It is bigger than Montana, California, and Texas combined. Although it is the largest, it has the lowest population in the country. Many people know this, and they assume that we know everyone who lives in Alaska. Those of us who live in Alaska will meet someone new, and they will immediately ask if we know their friend from Alaska. The chances of us actually knowing your friend are slim to none.

We Have All Gone Fishing on a First Date at Least Once

Fishing is much more popular in Alaska than anywhere else. Anywhere else in the country, it might be strange if a couple were to go fishing on a first date. If you are from Alaska, you would know that it is pretty common to take a girl fishing on your first date. Most of them even enjoy it. Also, it is not uncommon for a bear to be fishing right downstream from where your date is taking place.

The Summer Solstice is the Greatest Day of the Year

One day of the year, the sun shines for a full 22 hours. This is when the fun happens, People have bonfires, big parties, and it is also one of the busiest days for the Alaskan police. You wouldn’t understand how great this day really is unless you are from Alaska. There are several celebrations planned for the summer solstice. If you are planning a trip to Alaska, particularly to Anchorage, you should plan it for the longest day of the year. There is always plenty to do in Alaska during the summer solstice.

We Get Paid to Live in Our Wonderful State

Alaska is the only state that actually pays its residents to live there. As long as you are a permanent resident, you will get some extra cash every year. The actual dollar amount that we get depends on how healthy the oil economy is in Alaska that year. Usually, it is a pretty good chunk of change. In 2014, we each received $1,884.

We Don’t All Live in Igloos

Some people hear about people living in Alaska and they automatically think that we all live in igloos. This is not true. For starters, Igloos wouldn’t be very effective since, in certain areas of Alaska, the summer temperatures average 70 degrees. There are days that it can get up to 90. An igloo would not be able to withstand these temperatures. If you do see an igloo, it is just a temporary shelter used by the Inuit people of Alaska. Igloos are actually more common in Greenland and Canada.

We See Moose Quite Often

If you live in California, Rhode Island, or just about any other state, a moose sighting in the middle of town almost never happens. It is the opposite in Alaska. It is not uncommon to walk out of your home and have a moose in your front yard. You can also walk up to the supermarket, only to have the entrance blocked by a moose. Those of us who live in Alaska are used to daily moose sightings. Most of us have had to call into work at least once because there is a moose standing in front of our door.

We Don’t Have Recycle Bins, We Have Bear Proof Containers

Most people put out two bins for the trash each week, one for regular trash and one for recyclables. Those of us in Alaska use a trash receptacle the most people don’t use, a bear-proof container. If you are from Alaska, you understand that if you leave a bag of garbage by your back door, you are just inviting bears to your home. The only safe way to get rid of your trash is to keep it in bear-proof containers.

We Can Handle the Cold Weather

In some parts of the country, people couldn’t imagine the temperature dropping down to 30 degrees. In states where it does get that cold, people bundle up with heavy coats, hats, and mittens. Unless you live in Alaska, you wouldn’t understand that 30 degrees can feel like a heat wave. On days that the temperature hits 30 degrees, we break out our shorts and t-shirts. Our jackets are more for the days when it is 30 degrees below 0.

We Try to Make It To the Fur Rondy Every Year

Unless you are from Alaska, you wouldn’t know what the Fur Rondy is. Those of us who live here know that during this time of year, we wear all of our fur garments. Usually, they were made by David Green Master Furriers or they were handmade by Alaska Natives. We wear them to events like the Miners & Trappers Ball at the Eagan, which is located in downtown Anchorage. There are snow sculptures everywhere, and there is even a fireworks display on top of Penny’s parking garage. We even have a parade in below 0 temperatures. We even have a Mr. Fur Face contest, which is awarded to the man with the best beard. We look forward to this event all winter, and it dates back to the 1930’s.

There are plenty of things that you cannot learn about Alaska on television. There are certain things that you would only understand if you live here.