The End.

Hi guys,

I leave Alaska tomorrow morning at 8a and head home, going through Chicago and landing at BWI at 10p.

I haven't been up to much lately which is why I didn't update last week. I've been working and hanging out with friends but not going to any new places or anything. I did see G.I. Joe, though, and it was ridiculous, especially the lines the boys had. Ugg.

I've been saying goodbye to people but I'm not really good with goodbyes. Not that I cry or anything, I just don't DO goodbyes. It doesn't ever feel like the last time I'll see someone, even if it is the last. So it's hard for me to make them feel sincere and meaningful. They usually just turn out awkwardly. Oh well.

Today/tonight I'm not sleeping. I'm going to stay up until I'm on the plane. I'm hanging out with Tuck and all my friends up here and wasting away the night. We're going to my favorite place (Knik, where we camped) and we'll hang out and skip stones (something I'm still perfecting...) and talk, etc. We're also going out to dinner and I'm baking everyone cookies so that will be an adventure as well.

Alaska has been amazing. I'm not looking forward to leaving, though I am looking forward to seeing everyone back home. I love it here, at least in the summer. I've learned here that I can make things happen--I can make whatever I want happen, the hardest part is just figuring out what I want. It's a valuable lesson to learn and I doubt I could have learned it in a better way.

Everyone asks me if I'll be back and I don't really know. The winters definitely intimidate me and I think I need to give Colorado a try first before I commit to Alaska. I did make a pro and con list, though, as I plan on doing for all places I consider living long-term. It is as follows:

Pro:
-Its wild, unrefined beauty
-Perfect weather
-The feeling of possibility that permeates
-Fun wild animals
-Higher working wages
-20 hours of daylight in the summer
-Crisp, perfect winds
-Soft, cool, black sand
-Volcanoes
-Small earthquakes
-Mountains
-Even the weeds are beautiful
-Endless hiking and camping opportunities
-Being able to drive 30 minutes away and be in the middle of the wilderness
-Makes me not want to settle
-Everyone is unbelievably nice, but not annoyingly so
-Small town feel
-Big businesses feel accessible
-Berry picking
-There is a state fossil (wooly mammoth)
-Snow
-Everyone has trucks and big dogs

Con:
-Scarcity of horses
-Cold
-Scary animals
-High cost of living (rent, food, gas, etc.)
-Far away from family and friends
-No Chik-fil-a
-9 hours of daylight in the winter
-The need for snow tires, heated garages and automatic starters
-Rate of homelessness
-Makes me not want to settle down
-Skies are usually overcast and cloudy
-Have to fly to get anywhere –> expensive
-Ridiculous fishing restrictions

Thank you everyone for supporting me (even though none of you actually thought I would follow through on this) in my endeavour. Thank you Aunt Katy for coming up North with me to make sure I got settled here. Thank you Mom for coming to visit me and take me up to Denali National Forest. Thank you Dad and Heather for your contributions and encouragement to go visit new places. Thank you Granan and Grandad for helping me pay for the credit for my internship. And thank you to everyone else that contributed to my trip or even just read along about my adventures. I love you all and I wouldn't be who I am or do what I do without you.

I'll see you guys soon!