It takes a village....

This year, we crossed 2 things off my personal Alaska bucket list - dip netting and moose hunting. I also learned the community spirit still thrives in Alaska. Each of these trips would have been impossible without the hospitality and knowledge of our friends.

For those of you at home, this post may seem a little odd - I mean, who puts up pictures of dead animals?! I too often wondered why hunters were so proud of their kill they'd pose with it and talk incessantly about the ordeal of securing it. I now understand exactly WHY they are that way. The sense of accomplishment in catching, dispatching, and processing your own food is amazing. The long hours that go in to that final moment are finally rewarded. And the beauty of sharing the experience with friends is unmatched.

In July, we were invited to spend a weekend camping and fishing with friends of ours at their small campground. People come and go through the month, but resources are always pooled - food, cleaning supplies, water, cooking skills, manual labor...each person helps where they can. The day we went fishing, there were 6 of us dancing around a tiny boat pulling in fish after fish. Each person has their own job, but without them, the process fails. Everyone switches up so no one person is stuck doing the same things for 8 hours. And you know what? It was one of the best times I've ever had. The sense of pride I had in catching my very first fish was incredible. Knowing that I was contributing to the group as a whole made it that much better.

The first week of September, Mike took off to the north of nowhere for moose hunting. He went with 5 other guys, set up camp for a week, and enjoyed life without cell phones, TVs, or me. These 5 guys spent countless hours trudging through forest, walking river beds, and watching - always watching. They hunted rabbit and bird for nightly dinners, and sat around a campfire trading stories and laughing. The final day, a moose was sighted by Mike and another. One quick shot, and a winters worth of meat had been secured for 5 families. The joy at finally achieving a goal after so much hard work, of being the one to make sure families are fed for the winter, is unmatched.

In both of our adventures, the sense of community prevailed. Everyone shares, everyone helps pack and process the meat, and there is no arguing over who gets what. The long hours spent preparing and packing are filled with jokes, laughter, stories of the hunt, and promises to meet up the next year.

I know I for one already have the dates marked on my 2020 calendar.

***A big thank you to Marlene, Mike C, and John for everything you've done for us since we've moved here. We are truly blessed to have been taken in by you, and look forward to many more adventures.***