Currently: January

Currently living/working: We’re still in the winter season where we wake up & spend some time finding our day, which is absolutely a privilege of our lifestyle. I had my last day of my 1 day/week job stocking the Alaska Geographic store inside Denali National Park’s winter visitor center, but I’m hoping to find another part-time job getting me out of the house to finish out the winter. It’s in the works & TBD. Justin is still working part-time for Discover Denali, and usually goes into that office at least 1 day/week.

Arctic Adventures: Volume 39—Home Improvement Projects Take 4

In keeping with my annual recap of home improvement projects accomplished (really for my own record-keeping), let’s rewind to summer 2024. (Here’s summer 2020, 2022 & 2023).

I love that we live in an authentic log cabin, but after 5 years of ownership, I would consider wood structures to be very high maintenance. Wood is more prone to damage from water, insects, movement, but most structures up here are logged. The upkeep every summer involves an exfoliation (sanding) and a spray tan (staining). This year, we tackled a second wall of the cabin. It was a bit more difficult because there was the door frame and windows, so we had to pull off several pieces to treat (and repainted them green to pop … because why not). This side gets most of the weather (sun, wind, etc), so it was particularly in need of attention (and we already have noticed a difference this winter). As a reminder, the process is for us to sand all the old stain off, then fill in any cracks with backer rod/caulk, then slap on 2 coats of stain. 

Currently: December

Currently living/working: Uniquely this winter, we both actually have 1 job outside of the house; both allow us to make our own schedule. Justin is still working part-time for Discover Denali, our borough’s visitor center that promotes tourism beyond Denali National Park into the surrounding gateway communities. My job is with Alaska Geographic. Some might recall I worked for this company during the summer as an educator. This winter, I am stocking the tiny store inside Denali National Park’s winter visitor center while my friend (who is the manager) is traveling. Regardless, I am loving it as it brings me back to my Hallmark days (where I worked for nearly SIX years from ages 16-21).

A Colorado Thanksgiving!

When we visit Justin’s family in Colorado, it’s almost like we signed up for a triathlon at high altitude. The events include: eating the plethora of scones and soups Justin’s mom preps for our visit, snuggling the 4 cats across 3 households, and keeping up with our pre-teen nephews.

Currently: November

Currently living/working: Most of this month was spent living on a cruise ship, while the second half of the month was spent in Denver visiting Justin’s family.  Current mood: The weight of my mom’s estate has lightened on my shoulders since I sold her house, but somehow I don’t feel 100% free? Could it be…

A Gen Xer’s Ode to Cruising

Allegiances run strong when talking about cruises. Team anti-cruise might be against it because of the potential for sea sickness, the misconception that it’s only for old fogies, the anxiety-inducing thought of being stuck on a ship in the middle of the 13,000-foot ocean, the temptation of food/drink 24 hours/day to make you gain a few lbs, and the whole environmental impact of behemoth floating cities. I get it. However, since Justin & I thoroughly enjoyed our 14-day transatlantic cruise on Holland America this month, I’m going to use this blog to dispel a few myths and defend why we love boat life!

Currently: October

Currently living/working: We finished cleaning out my mom’s house in NJ & returned to Alaska’s heatless sun. Not for long since we are now in sunny Spain! Anyway, most of October, Justin has been busy with some writing deadlines & his Discover Denali job (it’s still part-time, but year-round), while I continued on the crash course of managing my mom’s affairs. 

Currently: September

Currently living/working: We wrapped up our summer work in Alaska earlier this month with the last guided hike on 9/14 and the last yurt guests checking out on 9/17. Then we promptly headed to New Jersey to complete the cleanout and hopefully a sale of my mom’s house! Current mood: September has been a whole…

Alaska Geographic Explained

I mentioned in my currently posts that I took a last-minute “support staff” role at Alaska Geographic for the summer. It turned out to be the job I didn’t even know I needed and wanted!! I freaking loved it. And I thought it deserved a dedicated post because there were so many blog-worthy things about the role related to it this summer. Alaska Geographic is the nonprofit partner of Alaska’s 8 national parks. What does that mean?

Currently: August

Currently living/working: Justin & I have made a habit of doing daily check-ins with each other because of all the directions we’ve been going in this summer. Who’s cleaning the yurt? Who’s cleaning the red house? Who’s leading the New Wave hike? Are you working at AK Geo today? Are you doing Discover Denali work…

Summer 2024 Family Visitors

Justin’s sister, Jamie, is trying to go for the record of being our most frequent visitor, as she came in 2021, 2022 and now 2024 (and actually this is her 5th time in the state)! I’m convinced she loves Alaska as much as her brother does … The stars aligned when Jamie and Rachel had…

Currently: July

Currently living/working: July sped by in what felt like a loop-de-loop of time. Somehow we both guided a lot of hiking trips, cleaned a lot rentals, did our respective admin jobs and enjoyed bits of free time here and there. It’s hard to describe the rush of an Alaskan summer, but another Alaskan came up with a great analogy. Just imagine you are at a music festival & all your favorite bands are playing simultaneously. No matter which stage you pick to watch, you always miss something else.

Arctic Adventures: Volume 38—Dipnetting Take 2

In the summer of 2021, Justin & I went dipnetting for salmon with my Uncle Fred here in Alaska. It was to be my uncle’s last trip, as it is no easy feat if you are in your 40s, let alone in your 70s as he is! While I promptly decided after dipnetting in 2021 that I was one and done, Justin was keen on filling our freezer with salmon whenever he could squeeze in a trip. The summers of 2022 and 2023 were just so incredibly busy, but this summer, a friend of Justin’s said there was an open spot on his privately chartered boat at the beginning of July, Justin said aye aye captain & anchors away!

Summer 2024 Friend Visitors

During the last week of June, one of my best friends that I’ve known for nearly 35 years, Sara, came to visit! She (and her family) visited me (us) in several of the places we’ve lived, but Alaska is a different beast. In general, we have low expectations for friend visitors since we live well…

Currently: June (late!)

Currently worried about: As many of you might have already heard, a fire broke out near the entrance of Denali National Park on 6/30. Fortunately, crews are working hard to contain it (25% contained so far) and it hasn’t spread very far (388 acres so far). However, it certainly disrupted some tourist activities (closed the park, halted the train, etc), wiped out power in the canyon business district of the park, which displaced workers from their seasonal housing and put jobs on hold. This is heartbreaking for our area where businesses depend entirely on tourism squeezed into 4 short months.

I am grateful at this point because our wood-sided homes surrounded by an enormous forest of natural fuel are not yet affected. It’s easy to downplay volatile weather and our crumbling Earth when viewed in isolated snapshots of events on the news. But when it’s unfolding before your eyes … that’s an entirely different perspective. In general, I’ve always told people it’s not a question of IF there will be a wildfire in our area, but WHEN. This summer has been unbelievably hot and dry thus far after a very low snow winter (as evidenced when our seasonal pond dried up by June 10 versus July 10). So we wait and see and hope for the best and roll with the adaptations in tourist operations.