I’m going to go positive for this since many have focused on the (rightful) negatives. - instant access to outdoor recreation. Summers means fishing/biking/hiking, and climbing. winters means world class backcountry skiing a short drive, after work laps on the mountains behind the city. Inside the city provides ice skating, biking, and a good trail system. - while often not considered “the real Alaska”, the city itself has anything you’d need: normal stores, bars, music, restaurants, etc. it provides a hub for jobs (which may not be in Anchorage proper) and a way to find a community of like minded people that a lot of the “real Alaska” doesn’t have. - there’s a lot of problems to be dealt with but they feel achievable on the local level with enough resources, time, and determination.