Sun, mosquitos and bears = Alaska summer

The leaves are changing already... Before we get too far into fall, I must say: this summer in Alaska was glorious. Lots of sun, minimal assault by mosquitos (a miracle alone!), and a handful of bear encounters from safe distances. This is all in contrast to the dismal rainy and cold summer of last year in which we got cheated. And now, bring on the northern lights!!

Many worlds I've come since I first left home

Alas, the time has come. I will be leaving Alaska in a few short weeks. My boyfriend and I are moving to Seattle (aka "South Alaska" or "Alaska Light"), back to the Lower 48, back to America... Seattle is not Portland but it's close enough and has lots to offer, new adventures and lots of ocean time. It's a huge change, very exciting and long-awaited, yet also extremely sad as my time here comes to an end.

As the departure date approaches, everything is happening increasingly fast and I'm starting to feel the cold feet coming on. Mostly because of the immense amount of tasks we have to get done in order to propel ourselves and our house full of stuff southward. It's so incredibly hard to make a big move in general but leaving Alaska has added logistical challenges: escaping before the snow falls (late Sept if we're lucky), carting our stuff and our dog 2,500 miles down the Alaska "highway" (really a backroad by any other state's standard), customs in & out of Canada (need papers for the dog and so much for that wine collection), sigh...

But the hardest part is, I got a little attached to Alaska despite my best efforts...so I am going to miss this crazy place and all the wild people and wild animals I met here.

And, once again I find myself in transition. I guess, of all things, I can't expect that to ever change, eh?