Are You Prepared For Winter?

Now that I am back in King Salmon, everyone is asking if I am ready for winter.  I was asked if I have enough salmon in my freeezer.  I wonder how much salmon is enough?  I was asked how my moose meat levels were.  Didn't know you measured levels of moose meat. I am not sure if I have enough meat for the winter but I will stalk up on it in Anchorage in a few weeks.

I was told that I would need ice grippers for my shoes.  Got them.  I was told that I would need a head lamp to see as it stays dark so long.  It arrived yesterday.  I was told that I should be planning what to do when the power goes out.  That I am not sure about as everything needs electricity to work.  But I am trying to prepare.  I have candles, a coleman stove to cook on but I need fuel, and mountain house meals left over from the summer if need be.  As for staying warm I have lots of clothes and blankets. 

The big question is what do you do in the winter.  My neighbor says she thinks about food and eats food.  She thinks about beer and drinks beer and when it is cold and stormy she is knocking on my door to play scrabble.  A lady visiting the area who works in Denali but lives in a village of 12 people told me to go out and buy a wig.  She says every fall the people of her village buy new wigs.  Then in the winter they show up at people's doors in their new wigs.  She says it really works on fighting of the winter blues.  And everyone around here reads.  I am covered on that as I am a serious bookaholic so I have a large supply ready for winter.  They also travel.  Most employeess take vacations during the winter.  One is going to Costa Rica, one to Hawaii, one to Maine, and one to Belize.  Most are going for two weeks or more.  Me, quick trip home in January but I want to experience an Alaska winter.  Some call me nuts.  I guess we will wait and see.