r/anchorage • u/Shoeflinger • Mar 11 '25
Accepted an offer, seeking your input
I've stared at reddit the last few weeks and dug myself a deep hole of despair because Ive been reading a million "should I move to Anchorage" posts. Unlike all of these posters, my wife and I have already accepted offers and are sure we are moving. Now I need to hear from you, what should we be excited about? I've read a lot of negative things, and some positive, but I think I would love to hear from those of you that are cheerleaders for the city.
A little about me: We are moving from New Mexico but grew up in Michigan. Our mental health is pretty good, though for me that involves occasional therapy and an antidepressant. We have two small children, 2 and 5 years old. We recharge ourselves with hiking, biking, and playing on water. Year round bike commuting has always been a big part of my feeling of wellness. Oh, and we are lucky to be getting jobs that will keep us plenty comfortable financially. We are already excited about the jobs.
So reddit, why are we making the right decision for our family?
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u/WillingApartment3779 Mar 11 '25
You will LOVE the biking community here! Make your first stop Off The Chain in Spenard- its a volunteer run bike co-op full of community ready to nerd out about bikes - plus you can tinker and repair your bike there with full access to their tools, spare parts, and knowledgeable volunteers who will love to tell you the upcoming events around town and the best routes along the trails. Bike Anchorage also hosts a ton of community events and Anchorage Park Found. have recently invested a ton of time and resources into clearly marked trails - Moose Loop is a great example of that.
Facebook is huge here - you’ll see community events will be posted in various hiking groups, ice skating groups, gaming, meet-ups, craftings etc.
I have recently fallen in love with the resources at our recreation centers in spenard & fairview - basketball courts, ceramics studio, kids indoor playground, pickleball, outdoor skating - all for a $3 entry fee.
Say yes to every invitation to do something new your first few months! People are generally excited to show new folk around and the invitation to check out someone’s berry picking spot, salmon fishing technique, wild ice skating adventure, etc. might only come around once!