Things You Learn

Alaska has been our home now for a year and 42 days. In some ways we feel entrenched and comfortable here; in other ways Alaska remains an unsolvable mystery.

We've learned some things in our 408 days as Alaska residents. (And by the way, one is not a resident until one has been a resident for a calendar year. We now qualify.) We've learned that Alaska is not entirely unlike other places we've lived, but Alaska is also its own thing; strangely unique.

We've learned that almost all conversations begin with the weather. "How are you doing?" is usually answered with a weather critique. We've also learned through personal experience that summer weather is not a foregone conclusion. Juneau by some accounts is the "cloudiest city in America." I looked this up, on the internet, where everything is true, and we seem to maintain our position in the top 5 irrespective of who's keeping score. Juneau can be counted on for 280 cloudy days per year. That's 76%.

I realized recently I have not washed my car in a year. I also realize, what's the point?

Some online retailers think Alaska and Afghanistan are the same place. They refuse to ship to either. Overnight delivery does not happen. "Over week delivery" maybe. Sometimes. Not that often. "Rush Delivery" is relative, if not an oxymoron.

Here in Alaska we may have cell phone coverage, 4G even. That is, until we take a step in any direction. Dropped calls are a way of life. No one is offended.

Pea gravel is the road traction product of choice. We live with pea gravel - wedged in the souls of our shoes, in our cars, our homes and in our bedrooms. Everyone's car windshields have cracks. It's like one of the Biblical plagues. On a related note, it is considered especially bad form to leave your shoes on when entering someone else's home.

Whatever I choose to wear each day is wrong. (See paragraph 2.)

We learned that 98% of our food comes from outside Alaska. We hope they don't mean Afghanistan.

Right now, this week at least, Juneau is gaining 5 minutes and some seconds of sunlight per day. However, surrounded by mountains as we are, I'm not too sure of this stat. On June 21 we will hit our zenith of 18 hours and 18 minutes of sunlight. Compare this with December 21 when we will have only 6 hours and 21 minutes of sunlight. But it will be cloudy, so how can anyone tell? I hope those 21 minutes mean something.

Now we adjust to the time change. (Alaska used to have four different time zones back in the day. I bet that wasn't complicated.) And we look forward to spring. Maybe the awakening bears will want to help me wash my car.