Julie Bove wrote:

>I believe it. Some years ago, many of the
> people I worked with worked on fishing
> boats in various capacities that went to
> AK. They worked at our store during the
> down time. They had heard about high
> paying jobs in AK. So the moved there
> and discovered that had they been
> getting that pay in WA they would have
> been living well! But it wasn't so great
> for AK because the prices were so much
> higher.

I would be very interested in knowing where some of the people were
traveling from out of Alaska to buy supplies in WA., as that makes no
sense to me? Maybe they live in remote islands and villages, but even
those people come to Juneau often (especially in the summer) and stock
up at our Costco store to take back home.

Not sure either where these fisherman were at, but the big highliners,
fishing the outside waters around Alaska and in the Bering Sea, make a
fortune during a fishing season. My foster brother has been a fisherman
for many years, as are his two sons, and they have a HUGE income, but
they work hard for it too.

My hubby retired from the City 23 years ago, and with his retirement,
which is very good, and our Social Security, we have no financial
problems whatsoever, and want for nothing. We buy what we want, and
never have to worry about where our next meal is going to come from, or
if we can buy heating fuel for the house in the winter, etc. With all
the benefits seniors get in Alaska, we feel this is the "land of
wealth", but I can't speak for residents living out in the "bush" in
Timbuktu.

Judy