New to me

[kate]

I can't remember how I stumbled across the sitka website but for several months now I have visited and decided to post this note. From everything I have seen and read, I am facinated by this town. Tell me what made you move there and what is your favorite time of year? Is it really touristy?
Thanks
Kate

[bird66]

It is beyond beautiful but very rainy and depressive at times. The summer has to be the best time but the cruise boats come in so it's a bit touristy. You should visit. It is the most lovely place in Alaska and that is saying alot.

[thaniusmaximus]

I'd say visit in the spring time, the tourists hit at the end of April or beging of May, I'm not sure wich.

[subversionx]

I moved to sitka because I was a 6 month old Korean whose path was directed by a bunch of cranky AK bums who brought me in.

No opprotunity for kids here, like I've said a million times
I'm not gonna go into detail because I'll say some regretable things

My fav. time is the end of school, nearing summer. Not TOO many tourists, and it's gettin' warmer

IT'S WET AND ANNOYING

[Terry K. Baines]

Well, besides being the prettiest place on earth, the folks are far from boring - see posts on this forum as examples. If you don't love natural beauty, and can't stand isolation, this place is not for you. But good luck anyhow. Enjoy.

[Mork]

I moved here seven months ago and please allow me to offer some insights as a newcomer. I lived up north for 30 years. People tell me I am a people person. I will be frank with you: Sitka is not an overly welcoming or friendly town. Unlike towns in Alaska "proper" where newcomers or people you pass in the grocery isle are immediately warmly included, you could go on forever here and no one would invite you to supper. I bring this up to people, and many people have agreed wit me that their first years here were horribly lonely. I have one friend here who found a nice group at the Methodist church. She is virtually the only person who is new here who is happy. THe people of Sitka like to congradulate themselves on having "spirit" but the reality is they have no spirit that I can detect and are actually pretty provincial and maybe even down in the mouth. What a disappointment it is to invest in moving here and expecting the population to be like the people in Kenai, Homer, Palmer, Fairbanks and other northern Alaska places, where newcomers are greeted with openness, and the community is not sliced into camps around religious groups, politicized business owners, and entitled snobbery. No Sitka has no spirit beyond the new people here. I feel pretty luckey to have fallen into a small group of bush people who have relocated here and we share suppers and conversations about how distant everyone is compared to the real Alaskans up north. Why don't I move? I am.

[BiLLb8y]

heh

[BiLLb8y]

moose swamps are full of nice people...oh wait those are giant mosquitos

[Muzette1963]

I hear a lot of kids complaining that there is nothing to do here in Sitka. I guess that depends on what you mean by "do". Are you expecting someone else to entertain you? Or are you being specific about certain things that are not available like a real skate park? I grew up here and I never had trouble finding plenty to do. But I guess I had an imagination and liked to build things and explore and discover and learn and create and participate... there are a lot of special interest groups in this town from quilting and knitting and doll making, musicians jamming and artists arting and fishers fishing. Build your own canoe. Learn to make spruce root baskets. We have a private college and a branch of the unversity - take a class. Start a website. Get into politics. Learn to SCUBA dive. Hike the numerous fine trails we have. Find out what is living under those rocks on the beach. Build a tree house. Design your own t-shirts to sell to the tourists in the summer. There is no excuse to be "bored". But you might have to give up on certain activities and seek alternatives. You might have to actually LIVE!

[BiLLb8y]

Growing up in Sitka...when I wasn't knitting socks, sewing quilts, and absorbing the wisdom of saintly politicians I was occupied with putting rubber bands on cats paws and lighting things on fire...good times.

[irishlassy1973]

I would just like to say that we have lived here approximately 7 months and we know a select hand few of people. Most people are very stand offish..and do NOT come accross as overly friendly at all. There are alot of sobbish type people here, or at least that is the way thet come accross to others. I am not religious so I don't know about that whole thing. Most people are not real open or talkative at all. They keep to them selves or have a small group of friends they do things with. Most of that group they "hang" out with they have known for quite some time(yrs). So it is very hard to get to know people or find social outlets. I am not A REAL social person so I am fine with that. I understand that others are not so fine with it. The landscape here and the sheer beauty of this place is worth it. Most folks here want this to stay SMALL and under populated, I think that may be a large part of the "snobbery" to new comers. I dont think they want alot of new comers here. They like Sitka small and mayberry style.

[live2fish]

We have been coming to Sitka several times a year for 3 years now. We have a fishing boat and a commercial hand-troll salmon permit. At one time we were really gung-ho about moving to Sitka, but were floored by how expensive and scarce housing is. If we were to sell our 5 bdrm, 2 bath, 3300 square foot home down south, we could take the money we would make and we would be able to afford to buy... a 2 bedroom, single wide trailer in Sitka!
Also, I think the people of Sitka are open to professionals moving in- doctors, teachers, nurses- but are not too welcoming of the everyday person. We have a successful construction company down south, and had thought about continuing in that line of work- in addition to fishing- in Sitka. I emailed Sitka Economic Development , the Small Business center, even the Chamber of Commerce, and got absolutely NO RESPONSE. It appears to be a very closed community.
I do think that Sitka is the prettiest place on the planet, and my dream is that someday we will be able to live here year-round. I hope that isn't an unattainable dream!

[akgirl]

Having been born and raised in Alaska, and having extended family in Sitka got me right in. But most are right. Sitkans dont want scabs (lower 48ers) coming in here unless you are a professional. Also Alaskans dont want scabs coming to Alaska because most do just for the dividend each year. Sitka is expensive, housing is tough to afford or find, and if your lucky you might even find a job, but dont count on high pay. I have to say I dont have any scab friends. Most dont make it long enough to get to know anyways.

[boatswife]

Can't you just feel the love!

Sitka is not the place to live if you do not have some type of professional job or have money in the bank. Not to say that it can't be done, but it's very expensive to live here.

With that said, this is my first experience of life in Alaska and I'm loving it! It is absolutely beautiful here. I wake up every morning and marvel at the beauty of it all. I'm very grateful that my family has been given the opportunity to live here.

Oh, BTW way......I'm not a scab wanting your AK money either.

[Soleigha]

I have to say the people of sitka have been more than friendly, hospitable, and just small town nice! I read these posts before moving here and was worried they were true. Everyone smiles and says 'hi' when walking down the street or grocery isle. Locals have been super helpful with me trying to find a place to live (which isn't easy). All in all, this town is great and I'm looking forward to staying here for a couple years!

[bird66]

I did travel nursing and there was nothing available in Anchorage so I went to Sitka instead. I was only there for 3 months but I fell in love w/ it and would move if my husband was willing. There were no tourists in the winter when I was there. I think the summer is the nicest season unless you really like rain and dark. Absolutely visit if you can afford it. The cruise ships don't stay overnight that I am aware of.

[alaskan_kat]

What the heck does Scab stand for???? Ive grown up here all my life and never heard people from the lower 48 being called a scab!!!

Sitka is snobby to Sitkians!!! Look outside and get over it!

[adawn206]

wow. this is shocking to me. ive grown up here in sitka, and have never hear of "scabs"... and never really thought of new people as "not wanted". we have a lot of coast gaurd families that move in and out of sitka, we have a boarding school where smaller villages send their high school students for a better education, we have a big hospital that houses people from all over alaska that need medical services, and yes, tourism is a huge part of the economy during the summer months along with fishing where, by the way, many many "regular" people come charter fishing and have found sitka welcoming year after year. i think that people who have not felt welcomed here might have come with the expectation that everyone would realize they are new and invite them to supper. sitka is a lot bigger than you might think. i see plenty of people daily that i have no idea who they are... sure, i recognize a lot of them, but i see new faces everytime i leave my house. does this mean i should invite them to dinner? if you want to make friends here, you need to get involved with the community! there are PLENTY of opportunities to do this. join a softball team, go to the gym, show up for a yoga or judo class, bring some food to the beach and share someones bbq pit, read the paper and go to a gathering of people with shared interests, go to the pbar and have a beer with anybody sitting there... DO something! you don't have to wait for sitkans to approach you! i can't even picture someone who took some kind of initiative to make friends with someone here that they would get shot down. i do agree that people tend to stick with their friends, but who doesn't!? if you put in an effort to say hello and tell someone your new in town, chances are they will hang out, give you some advice about where to go or what to do and show you alaskan hospitality

[ddhallenbeck]

Hats off to adawn206!!! But it doesn't just apply to Sitka, it's good advice for anwhere, anytime, or anybody!

[Terry K. Baines]

Just like every other little town in the world, there is simply a certain percentage of the population who would prefer to keep to themselves. And yes, there Are clicks and the stand-offish types. I know there are announcements all the time to join clubs or events posted all over town and in the local papers. Those who are shy or timid might have a harder time, because you do have to be persistant sometimes; but simply hanging out in town with a good book might attract people with similar literary tastes.