How We Ended Up Headed to Alaska

Before we jump into road trip updates, tire blowouts, border crossings, and moose sightings, it feels appropriate to start at the beginning.

In November, Zed and I got the news that our next assignment would take us to Alaska.

Like most military families, we immediately started planning, researching, and trying to imagine what life would look like nearly 4,000 miles away in a place we’d only visited briefly. What started as a future move quickly became a countdown.

Then life happened.

Between November and April, Zed spent much of his time going back and forth to the Middle East and other parts of the world. The kids were busy being kids. Hockey season seemed endless. Lacrosse filled whatever free time remained. Mia wrapped up another year of band and piano. School projects, practices, games, concerts, and everyday life continued at full speed.

In early March, Zed made a quick trip to Alaska to house hunt. Armed with a list of requirements and a lot of optimism, he toured homes while I joined by FaceTime from thousands of miles away. Somehow, together, we found the one.

By mid-April, we officially became Alaska homeowners. Our new home checked all the important boxes: a great school district, close to the hockey rink, close to church, and only a few minutes from my cousin. In military family terms, that last one translates to “potential emergency child transportation support.”

Meanwhile, the move machine was quietly gaining momentum in the background.

The last week of April, the movers arrived. Boxes started appearing in every room. Closets were emptied. Things we hadn’t seen in years suddenly resurfaced. The house slowly transformed from a home into a staging area for our next adventure.

As spring turned into summer, the pace only accelerated.

By mid-May, we handed over the keys to the house that had been our home and checked into Hotel #1.

The kids still had school to finish. Hockey gear somehow remained accessible despite most of our belongings being packed away. We learned exactly how much stuff a family of six can fit into a hotel room. And somewhere between the suitcases, snack bags, and laundry piles, the reality started to sink in.

This wasn’t just another move.

This was Move #7.

And this one was taking us to Alaska.

So welcome to The Davies Herd’s Great Alaskan Adventure. We’re glad you’re here to follow along as we trade the Nation’s Capital for the Last Frontier.

The next chapter starts now.