Living up north

[shane]

I guess this is more for trdvibe since she's up in Alaska but anyone else can chime in as well.
My fiancee and I are both from out east and while there enjoyed spending time hiking and kayaking. We have lived in Calgary for 2 years now and just bought a new home and got a dog (Siberian Husky) but we long for a simpler life again. We've been thinking about packing up and moving because there really is more to life than commuting, a huge mortgage and a tiny backyard. One possible option, would be for us to move up to Yellowknife or Whitehorse. I know that the cost of living up north is more expensive but on the other hand the wages are generally high and from what I've seen for a job similar to what I have here I could make at least $20,000/year more up there. So what are your impressions of living up north? Do you recommend it?

[007_NK]

Directly from friends of mine, "If you can enjoy the solitude, the North is the best place to be" I don't subscribe to that myself, but I can see the attraction.

[AKLGT]

not my thing. i like civilization, however if you don't whitehorse wouldn't be TOO bad

[shane]

Thanks! It looks like up north will not happen. We are looking at possibly moving to Saskatoon. Nice sized city, more laid back, our mortgage would be about 1/2 of what we're paying here in Calgary, lots are a bit bigger and if we went outside the city we could likely get an acreage. I am thinking about taking a road trip in November to check it out.

[AKLGT]

keep in mind that usually if the property and cost of living is less, so is the pay. plus, make sure you check out taxes for the area.

[shane]

Well, nothings has happened yet. Ruled out Saskatchewan. Focusing on Yellowknife again. If I get any sort of income tax refund I might go check it out.

[AKLGT]

ya, you are nuts! :lol: way too out there for me.

[shane]

We have to do something. The big city life is killing us. It'll be Yellowknife or Whitehorse. Whoever wants us first that's where we'll go.

[AKLGT]

aw. whitehorse is better, if you go before memorial weekend, we'll stop by and say hi. we are driving down to Seattle and Portland for a week. I need to get my car tuned.

[shane]

Whitehorse would be our first choice. Available housing is much nicer and it just seems nicer. But doesn't have nearly as many jobs. So you've been to Whitehorse before? What's it like? When's Memorial Day?

[AKLGT]

it's a quaint little town. not very big. it's seasonal due to tourism, like most of these places.

Memorial Day is last Monday in May.

[DJDoubleLP]

Yellowknife has more jobs (diamond mines that pay VERY well). I have never been to either place...but the scenery up north is beautiful (as noted from Hope's pics from Alaska).

[AKLGT]

oh ya, forgot about the mines. i suppose that is true. however, still it's tough to live out in the mid of nowhere imo. cost of living is extremely high!

we'll be drving thru dawson city once more this summer.

[shane]

There are definitely more jobs in Yellowknife but we are going to try for Whitehorse first for several reasons:
1) seems a lot cleaner
2) housing is MUCH nicer and much cheaper that Y-knife
3) seems to have more character to it
4) not as isolated (could pop over to Alaska some weekends for a change of scenery)
5) close to the mountains
6) climate doesn't seem to be as harsh as Y-knife (it's still -30's in Y-knife but for the last 2 weeks or so Whitehorse has been around -10's.)
7) etc.

[AKLGT]

Whitehorse is nice. we stayed there on the way up. it saved us! LOL.