CJ & Autumn Miller

I've learned things living in a rural Alaskan village, things I wouldn't have in Alabama, Texas or even Virginia. Below is a list reflecting my learning curve:

1. Canned evaporated milk can be easily substituted for half & half in your morning coffee.

2. Bears will walk into your house if your door doesn't shut properly & help themselves to your food.

3. Hands stay much warmer in mittens than gloves.

4. A layer of snow covering an already frozen bay is unsafe as it freezes over again & may not be smart to walk on.

5. Water in a Nalgene will freeze on a walk at 4 degrees.

6. The homemade ice cream process must be started two days in advance of a dinner party.

7. You should consider the weather conditions prior to an activity in which you are likely to injure yourself. There may be no mediflights to town available.

8. It is close to impossible to find fire insurance for a house in a town with no fire department.

9. Snow pants, waterproof pants & rain boots are necessities.

10. Of all the possessions we sold in our garage sale I only miss the food dehydrator & the antique Christmas mugs.

11. With no restaurants, you save a bundle of money, but your table manners go to pot.

12. Upgrading to a fat tire bike is like driving a Cadillac.