ALASKA – REDEFINING “REMOTE”

Alaska Remote Home/ Business site Living - Redefining Remote

“How far away do you want to be from the grocery store?” That, my friends, is the first question most Alaskan Realtors® will ask you when you contact us to say that you want a “remote property”. After all, if you want to shop for groceries on a weekly (or daily) basis, the Alaskan definition for remote does not apply to you. If grocery stores are not important to you, then you might want to keep reading.

“How close to electricity do you need to be?” is my next question. If you can use generators, wind mills, water wheels, or “whatever”, to power your remote home/ business then you are beginning to get closer to Alaska’s “remote” homesite definition. But, keep reading.

Now, “Will you want to access the property by road?” becomes a very important question. In Alaska, your major mode of transportation can be planes, boats, the Railroad or trails that will not even support 4-wheel drive vehicles. Truthfully, there are very few Alaskans who commute by dog team. This includes Iditarod mushers. So, access is my third qualifier for a truly remote property buyer.

Please, do not be disheartened by these questions. I am not laughing at you, nor do I (or any other Alaskan) think that you are “silly, stupid, nor just plain dumb”. What we understand is that even in the US’s Midwest, remote is defined differently than it is in Alaska. Truthfully, most folks respond with “10 miles” to the grocery store question. We rarely have to ask the next two, and there are about 5 others that can eventually place you so far away from other people and services that the rest of society can forget about you, and you can forget about us.

In Alaska, you can actually still find (and buy) properties that will never have a plane fly over (although satellites might). You may not ever again see evidence of human-kind again, unless you pursue that interaction. No postman will deliver mail, unless you request it. No property, or state, income tax will apply to you. In fact, your closest neighbor could easily and conceivably be more than (literally) hundreds of miles away.

Of course, if you are one of those who are interested in this type of property, I highly recommend that you be a less-than-picky carnivore. Your growing season (if you have arable land) will be extremely short. There are a few nourishing, edible, native plants available, but not many and definitely not everywhere.

BUCK UP! We can find you a property that is large enough, and far enough out, that you will FEEL isolated. You will still be able to buy groceries, go to the doctor, get your mail, and light and heat your home commercially without having to “deal” with many people.

Isn’t that really the point of living in Alaska? After all, Alaskans really do like to be able to do what we want to do, when we want to do it, with or without whomever being involved in our lives, as we choose. I find I live in a truly diverse and “remote” place and invite you call me if you want “remote”.