I. An interview with a resident of Homer, AK: Lila Johnson, innkeeper and teacher

Homer doesn’t have Amazon or Uber Eats and there are sayings that Alaska’s technology is 10 years behind that of the mainland, how would you rate the scale of the convenience of living in Homer?

Life in Homer is definitely different than life in big cities, even Alaskan cities like Anchorage and Fairbanks. Life in Homer can be fast-paced, but it is also more of a small-town feel. In Homer, there is less instant gratification. You can only order food for delivery, do a few same-day appointments (walk-ins), or get things that you might want that same day simply by going to the store or ordering on Instacart. You can get most food items and basic living supplies at the grocery and drug stores, but if you want craft supplies, decorations, specific clothing items, big tools, appliances, mattresses, furniture, etc., you have to plan ahead. You either have to order it and wait 7-14 days for arrival or you can drive to the closest town, Soldotna (about 90 min), or up to Anchorage (about 5 hours) to purchase what you need. 

Competing against sports teams requires quite a bit of travel and getting to the main airport to fly out on vacation or business is almost a 5 hour drive. Given all this, I would not say that it is very easy to live in Homer in terms of modern conveniences. However, there are lots of things that make Homer a wonderful place! We have world-class fishing, hiking, tidepooling, hunting, camping, and cross-country skiing. The views are incredible. We are rich in natural resources. You can feed your family off the land here more easily than you can in other places. 

Is it costly to live in Homer? Does it cost much to own a private ship?  

 The cost of living is very high in Alaska. The cost of living is 29% higher than in the rest of the United States. Housing is 18% higher, and even more than that in Homer. The cost of utilities is 36% higher than the national average in the US.  It is costly to run a private hotel. Our tourist season is about 3 months with a 2-month swing season. We have 7 months out of the year that is very slow. However, we still must heat our building, pay for utilities, plow the snow, and sand the driveway. Especially in an old building like the Pioneer Inn, this can be expensive. 

To help us pay the mortgage and the utility bills, we rent long-term to people who come to Homer to work, like traveling nurses and teachers. Because our apartments have kitchens, plowed driveways, WiFi/cable, and are in town, people are able to comfortably stay in them for several weeks. We enjoy meeting all the wonderful people who come and stay with us year-round. 

What do most people do for living in Homer?

The hospital and the school district are the biggest employers in Homer. Lots of people in Homer are also self-employed. People run small hotels, sports fishing companies, ceramic and art galleries, restaurants, coffee shops, and service companies like appliance repair, electricians, construction, etc. The fishing industry is also a huge employer. Homer has a salmon, halibut, and cod fishery. Many Homer residents, including my family, travel to Bristol Bay, Kodiak, Copper River, or the Sound to participate in salmon fisheries around the state. Many Alaskans depend on the salmon run as their main source of income. Lastly, many Homer residents work shift work on the North Slope. The most common schedule is 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off.

What do you like most about Homer? And are there any annoying moments about life in Homer? 

I love all the outdoor opportunities in Homer. I am an avid hiker, runner, open water swimmer, skier, and biker and I take advantage daily of all the beauty and great trails that Homer and Kachemak Bay State Park has to offer. I love to tidepool, fish, and hunt as well and I am so grateful for the abundance of natural resources that our state provides. Gardening and fiber arts are also a passion of mine and I love the community of Homer, which is full of amazing people who share these interests. 

I would say the most annoying thing about living in Homer is how long it takes to get items and also how far it is from the airport in Anchorage. Getting out on a vacation is a long haul! 

How do you feel about the potential isolation from friends outside Alaska? 

I have a lot of friends and family in Alaska but sometimes I do still feel lonely or miss my parents, who live in Oregon now. We make sure to see them at least twice a year, one trip to see them and they make one trip to see us. FaceTime, Facebook, and other technologies have made the distance seem easier.  

Alaska is known for being “cold” and “icy” and sometimes you can see aurora in the winter. How would you describe the experience of winter in Homer? (ie. snowy/icy/aurora? What would you do during the winter?) 

 Winter can be long, especially the month of January. During December and January, we see the sun around 9:30-10 am until about 3:30-4:00. It is important to get out during those light hours or it is easy to get seasonal depression. We have amazing cross-country ski trails here and even a fun Rope Tow for downhill skiing. Skiing and staying active as much as possible is a great way to get through the winter. We love to go to the skating rink, and pool, play community sports, and take part in community theater as well as do art projects, and cooking projects, and enjoy time with friends and family. We see the aurora several times during the winter and that is always an amazing experience – it never gets old! When possible, going on a vacation in January is a great way to break up the winter. 

II. Some notes from The Last Frontier

Moose

On our first day of arrival, I met two curious female moose grazing on the grassland, and as I watched them on the second-floor balcony from a distance, they kept their heads low on the ground eating the dry grasses and shrubs. By the time I went to bed on the first floor, these gigantic creatures had reached the window and were less than a meter away from me. I stood right in front of the window and heard the sound of grasses being pulled out from the soil. Suddenly a moose looked up and our eyes met for a second. Her black eyes were alert but with a tint of shyness, and she didn’t move until her companion ran away from the house. This was the first time I ever got so close to a large wild mammal and I could feel the untamed spirit in her black eyes. 

Sea Anemone

There are two common anemones found in the Homer harbor: Christian Anemone and Plumose Anemone. 

Christian Anemones are tough. They have long, sticky tentacles that enable them to trap prey, including plankton, shells, and jellyfish that are floating around the harbor. When you touch a Christian Anemone with a finger, it will stick to your finger tightly – be mindful, it’s going to eat you! 

Plumose anemones, on the other hand, are pretty mild and shy. They are swelled with water and are soft to the touch. If you touch them, they will recoil their tentacles immediately. 

Sea Stars

Sea stars are ABUNDANT on the shore of Kachemak Bay, the bay where Homer is located. You can see them almost everywhere on the seaside reef. Most of the stars in there are true stars, some of them are Ochre stars, and occasionally you will see blood stars and leather stars. Blood stars are tiny and red while leather stars are smooth and slippery to the touch. 

Harbor Seal

This harbor seal is an old friend of the Homer dock. This lovely creature can often be seen floating in the direction of the water. Sometimes it will climb onto the dock and stay there for a sunlight bath.