Currently: March

Currently living/working: I returned from the East Coast 3/1 to a very demanding work schedule! I know all you full-time jobbers laugh at my audacity, but I’m not used to a 40-hr workweek, especially in winter. And somehow, it feels less exhausting to me to work several jobs than one job 5 days straight for 40 hours. In any case, this month I’ve been working inside Denali National Park at their Winter Visitor Center—as what I call a pretend ranger—through my nonprofit Alaska Geographic job. Basically I was either on the front desk or answering phones in the back office because they are short-staffed, but really what I learned is to hug a ranger. They are working hard to make parks accessible! This job took precedence over subbing at the library, though there were still a few days of that squeezed in. Justin, on the other hand, spent from 3/5-3/20 volunteering on the Iditarod (more on that to come!), but is still trying working to keep Denali’s tourism department afloat as they search for a new director.

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Currently: February (delayed)

Better late than never! I still wanted to encapsulate February … so let’s pretend like it’s March 1, and February just ended.  Currently living/working: I arrived to my sister’s in Connecticut 2/6 and returned to Alaska 3/1, so my “jobs” this month were caregiver & funeral planner. Justin, on the other hand, worked 78 hours…

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Rest in Peace, Mom

My mom passed away on Feb. 20, 2026—6 years and 361 days after my dad passed away. Just like with my dad’s death, it was expected. My mom—my anomaly of a mom with her indestructible stamina—had been on hospice for more than 2 years. She spent 4 months in her home in NJ on hospice with me as her primary caregiver, then she moved in with my sister in CT in April 2024, where she spent the remainder of her life. And as our parents’ caregivers for basically the last 7 years, my sister & I are reconciling both grief and relief (side note: parental caregiving and custodial care of my parents’ estate for 7+ years has nearly destroyed my nervous system, but that’s a post for another day).

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Currently: January

Currently living/working: January has been a mix of work, winter dormancy & play. I actually clocked 35 hours at the library (let me be clear—for the whole month, which prob seems like a joke according to traditional workers lol). Justin has had lots of things come up for his tourism job in the last week keeping him very busy, such as a completely frozen building that could have been avoided and now he has to deal with those repercussions. The month has felt very full!

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Currently: December

Currently living/working: We returned from travels 12/3 right in time for what became the coldest December on record since 1989! Temps around our area are erratic, and we live on a hill, which puts us in a banana belt of Healy. So our lowest was -35.5, but that same day, we went over to a friend’s cabin 3 miles away and their analog thermometer was recording -60!

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Exploring Panama – Part 1

Whoa. Justin & I just wrapped up 11 days in Panama with 2 of our dearest friends, and none of us realized we would fall in love with the country. Panama often gets overlooked as a tourist destination by its flashier Latin American neighbors. But I’m here to confirm it might be the best-kept secret in Central America with its deeply rooted history, welcoming people, fresh seafood and year-round tropical weather.

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Currently: October

Currently living/working: We bust our butts all summer so don’t have to work “much” in the winter (a privilege, I know, but also a combo of major summer hustle, frugality & budgeting on our part). However, I’ve been working 10-15 hours/week at the library and Justin is working about the same at his Discover Denali tourism job. So it’s been more of a light winter grind versus the cozy cave of hibernation I was craving!

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Currently: September

Currently living/working: We wrapped up so many jobs this month! Justin’s grand total was 90 hikes & 25 presentations, while I did 47 hikes and 41 presentations! We’re mostly here this fall, so we’re keeping the yurt open for rentals as long as the weather doesn’t drop below 0. Going into the winter, Justin will keep up his part-time tourism job & I will keep subbing at the library.

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Exploring Alaska: Valdez

Given the fact that there are only about 5000 miles of “highways” across Alaska, you would think we have conquered them all by now. However, the 366-mile Richardson Highway is one I’ve barely explored. It runs from Fairbanks and dead-ends in Valdez on the eastern side of the state. And while Justin has been down to Valdez, I haven’t. So when a girlfriend (Alex) suggested we go, I found a pocket of time Labor Day weekend for the getaway.

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Currently: August

Currently living/working: Most of our jobs are slowing down their pace, which is fortunate since Justin leaves for his Kili climb in Africa 9/4! We’ll have airbnb rentals/cleanings through October, but my guided hikes & presentations will stop by mid-Sept. I am very much looking forward to Sept. 16 when my calendar shows nada for the first time!!!

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Currently: July

Currently living/working: How many times and ways can I explain that Alaskans operate on full throttle through the summer? Some kind of mosquito-powered adrenaline compels us to pursue a no-sleep summer, which mostly equals a no-work winter. While the summer days fly by at a breakneck pace, we are still doing well finding balance between…

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Currently: June

Currently living/working: The brief—yet psychotic—summer schedule continues. In June, Justin led 34 hikes & gave 4 presentations, while I led 13 hikes & gave 14 presentations. Of course there’s lots of airbnb cleaning/laundry in between, as well other random jobs mixed in. Full, very full!  Current mood: Riding high on the annual miracle of summer…

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Currently: May

Currently living/working: It’s that magical time of year when conversations with neighbors shorten as everyone is trying to navigate the summer tourism hustle. Justin & I are willingly juggling 9 jobs between us—some with a shared employer & some we tackle solo, some require 1 hour/week, some require 30 hours certain weeks. I know most people question our life choices to sign up for this level of madness, but in our corner of the world, it’s the normal rhythm of life!

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Currently: April

Currently living/working: I had two shifts for the library this month, so clearly my winter work is winding down. Plus I was only in AK for 14/30 days, so there’s that logistical detail. With that being said, both of us have had writing projects this month, Justin is still doing his Visitor Center work & we had our first yurt rental! With summer’s unrelenting productivity hot on our heels, we tried to enjoy the last bits of rest and freedom … 

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