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np, I would certainly agree that it is a positive.

Now that you mention it, I should offer to have the dog with me while the W and kids go out of province at the beginning of next week.

Did your W ever point at trust as being an issue between the two of you? ie. That she didn't trust you? Because giving you the dog for a month is certainly an act of trust.

That she's checking up? She's gathering proof that her trust is warranted.

You being the best gunny that you are when she IS in contact with you...?

priceless...

erm, not that it matters, but I meant the beginning of next month... lol

trust has never been an issue, she has left some of our divided assets in the same accounts as mine under my control, said that "I'm better at investing than she is"

hmmm... ok... well, that's interesting, then...

it's not to say that maybe it isn't some sort of trust thing...

though, if trust wasn't a complaint... then the dog is most certainly a reason for her to apparently be attempting to connect with you.

So maybe, just maybe... she's curious to see where you are at... *shrug*

But, who knows... we shouldn't mind read, right? Just keep doing what you're doing...

Gunny-
Back from Japan now, so here goes.

Anchorage is about the same size as Reno (though without the casino scene, obviously) and Boise. It's got a similar outdoors vibe to other places in the northwest, but a bit grittier than either Portland or Seattle and doesn't have the art scene of either one - of course it's much smaller than both of them too. My only times up there were in the summer, so I've got no idea about how the outdoors scene will be when you're there. The city of Anchorage as a GREAT trail system though. When I was there I biked the Tony Knowles coastal trail, from downtown along the water south of the airport, back up to downtown. Great views, fairly flat. Was about 25 mile the route I went. Bikes to rent at pretty decent rates downtown (maybe even cheaper when you're there). You may just need to dress warmer! If the snow is already on the ground, and cross country skiing is your thing, I think a lot of the trails get used for that. Bottom line, there's a great trails/park system in the city (and lots of state parks around the edges of the town) if the weather and your wardrobe/gear jive up.

Another thing I really enjoyed was the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum (it pops right up in google, since I can't remember if I'm allowed to post links ;)). It's on Lake Hood which is right next to the international airport and is itself one of, if not THE, largest seaplane airports in the world. A lot of the museum is inside so if the late in the year weather isn't friendly you can still check out a lot about bush pilots, how airlines in the region got going, a bit about the Aleutian Campaign in WWII - and there's some interesting stuff outside too. If you head out on the highway toward Eagle River, you'll go past the Alaska Native Heritage Center which I really wanted to check out but ran out of time (though I plan to one of the next trips I take up there).

I think my two favorite places to eat were the Glacier Bay Brewhouse, and the Snow Goose Restaurant. Both are really pleasant environments, have really nice craft beers if that's your thing (I really enjoy the variety of flavors in the genre), and have menus I really enjoyed. Glacier Bay (which, while it does have big vats and all that, really does look nicer inside than the word 'brewhouse' would make you believe) had a seafood chowder that I really enjoyed - and I'm not generally much of a seafood person (I took a bit of a 'flyer' and figured Anchorage would probably have seafood I would like; I was correct). I distinctly remember Snow Goose having a great caribou burger; it also had an upstairs dining room with plenty of windows and a view across the inlet.

Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse is also right downtown and is more what you think of when you think of 'alehouse.' When I try to compare it to the setting of the previous two, the first thing that comes to mind is 'a little grittier,' but they've got a pretty varied and creative menu with some regional fare, and (again if you're into checking out regional beers) probably the widest selection I stumbled across. Moose's Tooth Pub and Pizzeria is exactly what it sounds like, but a friend I happened to be working with when I was TAD up there last year made a point of taking me there for dinner as it was one of his favorites and he's been stationed there twice.

Had a great time up there when I was there - I should have 2-3 more TADs there in the next 12 months, and in the event there's no grand reconciliation for me, it's definitely on the list of places I'll be sniffing around for jobs when I retire.

I'm pretty sure it will be off-peak when you're there so places won't be near as crowded and maybe even be cheaper. There may be some differences to menus and hours and all that... But as I was typing, I checked out every place I mentioned on Google and their homepages popped up at or near the top so you can check on them before you go.

thank you kolja for your great detailed info. I really appreciate it. Am in the process of trying to recruit my cousin to meet me out there, but if he cant make it, I'm solo, and that will be allright too. Have been looking at some of the highways that run out of Anchorage to Seward and Homer, might make a road trip. I have alot of time to plan, so thanks again.

How is your sitch? Have been following it when I get a chance. Any good vibes?

Not much, some minor logisitcal stuff on my end (turns out I owe the government $780 now...). Guess i better go update my thread!

We did a family trip to Alaska when I was in the 8th grade or so. I remember Seward being pretty nice. There's a train that runs between Anchorage and there you could take, though I'm not sure if it's seasonal or not.

Hello kafe,
Meant to get back to you sooner. I appreciate your taking the time to comment on my sitch. Got another inquiry (email) from my stbxw yesterday about how the dog is doing. I replied back by email with a relatively long(for me) paragraph about our daily routine. Reading some of the threads posted elsewhere, I realize that in expounding on my replies to her, (which I have done the last couple of emails), I was in fact, unknowingly, doing a 180, in that, in the past, my replies would have been polite but probably one sentence, two sentences max in length. Not because I was being rude, but because that is how I operated in the past, terse, to the point conversation. She even told me last week she appreciated my detailed reply to one of her inquiries. Wow, didnt even pick up on this until I read around today!!

gunny,

It sounds like you manage your life very well. Some would likke the stability of a routine at first, but then later complain it was boring.

My question is how long ago did the wife "start to leave you". If it was around when you turned Fifty, maybe it has been in the back of her mind for a while. I was just curious.

Hello Daddy,
Thank you for posting. Yes, I have been told by many people that I am a planner which is right on, and which was instilled in me by both my military background(22 years in Marine Corps), and dysfunctional family background. I am much more aware of this over the last year, and have taken steps to modify the tendency to overplan, which can be detrimental to any relationship.

At first, I believe my tendency toward planning and stability was a real turn on for my s, since she came out of a dysfunctional family and had had many unstable relationships in her life. As the years went by though, I believe she lost herself, and we became more like affectionate roommates than lovers. I fully share in this responsibility, and like many on this board, wish I had been given the opportunity to be smacked on the head and learn from mistakes made, and to make a go at it with my sp in a new relationship.

I think she really started to entertain the thought of leaving right around the time that I turned 49, which would have been 2009. I still dont believe she was entirely ready to pull the plug until june of last year, it could have gone either way.

Thanks for asking