Hi All,
Just surfing around GC and found this Alaska post from this summer. I've lived here almost my whole life, minus high school in the "lower 48." (currently I'm in Fairbanks) and love it. I hope to return after graduate school.
Anchorage is a lot of fun, in my opinion, and there are smaller towns close enough to Anch. that living in a city isn't always necessary. Fairbanks is nice, it's pretty spread out, and there's a fair amount of stuff to do. There are a lot of jobs all over Alaska in the summers (if you ever wanted to give it a try), espcially in Denali Park, or around Anchorage or on the Kenai Peninsula. As far as the politics, many politicians are conservative, but a fair size of the population is liberal, so it balances out.
The winter is the only thing I'd change: -50 is just too cold. The dark winters aren't bad, and I LOVE the summers! It's always sunny and warm, and if you want to sleep, then that's what blackout curtains are for.
Hmm... what else... The mosquito is the unofficial state bird, haha. Carharts and flannel are always in fashion.
Alaska is so beautiful and a lot of fun, there are things to do outdoors, places to go (if you're in Anchorage or Fairbanks), and the people are really nice!
I'd be happy to answer any more questions!
~ ShyViolet