Moving to Anchorage

Hi! We are relocating to Anchorage in Spring 2006. I will be looking for a DR. for follow-up services. Anyone have recomendations? Also, I know this is OT, but any information you can share with this Southern gal being transplanted to the cold? We are looking at areas to purchase a home,elementary schools--very important. Also, we did a stint in Wisconsin and were treated VERY poorly--think it was the stereortype some folks have about Southerners! I am worried that we will get the same treatment in Anchorage Any info would be wonderful!!!!! Tiffany R.

Tiffany, I can't tell you much about a doctor in Anchorage but I can tell you that you won't receive the same kind of treatment in Alaska as you did in Wisconsin. Alaskans are used to people moving here from "down south." In fact, it seems there are more people from somewhere else than there are from Alaska. I was born and raised in Ketchikan and have lived in Juneau since 1982. I lived in America (also known as the lower 48) for awhile but its nothing like Alaska so I came home.

Dr. Todd is the surgeon who did my surgery. He is located in Anchorage and his practice is called Alaska Bariatric CEnter, the number is (907) 929-4263. You can call for more info. It can be pretty darn cold here but Anchorage isnt as cold as some of the other parts of Alaska. Just bring lots of warms clothes. You wont get the shocking cold at first as we will be getting into summer but its nothing like a southern summer either. When its like 70 degrees most of us are dying. I am sure you will be fine. Dont know much about schools, etc cause my son is only 8 weeks old. Most of the neighborhoods in Anchorage arent too bad but there are a few to be careful of. Mt.View, Fairview, some of Muldoon, and some of Spenard. Those are the "bad seeds" in terms of neighborhoods. Good luck to you. Allison

Hello Tiffany, Greetings from Palmer, Alaska! Palmer is just 45 minutes North of Anchorage in the Matanuska Valley for your info. I had some neighbors that lived next to me from West Virgina for 5 years (he was in the Airforce) and then I ended up moving. But I have to say they were the best. Like the person from Juneau said, you willl not have a problem fitting in here in Alaska. Everyone is so friendly. I also had Dr. Todd from Alaska Bariatric Center do my WLS surgery. He is a very fine doctor. I am sure he would take you in. He also has support group meeting 3 times a week and his office is easy to get to, its right in the Alaska Regional Hospital. So, yes I would not worry about being treated badly here, I was born and rairsed here and everyone seems to be so friendly here. But for the weather it can get nasty and cold. But thats when you got to hunker down and get some kind of indoor activity going and enjoy it til the storm passes. There is a great transiist system here in the South central area. I can get on a bus here in Palmer and it will taike me to downtown Anchorage for $6.00 (I just heard the rates gone up at quarter!) but that pass is good for a round trip to the Valley and Anchorage all day! You can't beat that! There is alot of good outdoor sporting good stores that can help you get outfitted for the winters. We have the Wal- Marts and Safeway/Carrs grocery stores and Costco and Sams Clubs, Barnes and Noble and Borders Books, Gosh I could go on and on.... We don't live in Igloos like some lower 48ers think, Nope. Take care, Tom 536/404/200