Cheechako or Sourdough

Recently while traveling to Anchorage and back on an absolutely idyllic weekend, Nelson and I were comparing cheechakos with sourdoughs.  These terms are somewhat unique to Alaska.  A cheechako is someone new to Alaska, a greenhorn, a tenderfoot.  A sourdough is someone who's been here for a long time.  We have friends in both categories, but we, of course, are cheechakos.  It's usually easy to tell the difference.  Following is a list of tell-tale signs that someone is a true Alaskan, a sourdough.

True Alaskans--Sourdoughs:

* have at least two big dogs and take them everywhere
* eat fish and game almost exclusively
* have at least two pair of Xtra-Tuff boots and hip waders
* wear the Xtra-Tuff boots to church, concerts, weddings, etc.
* wear shorts, tank tops, flip flops, shirt sleeves when temperatures are in the 40's
* buy their under ware at a hardware store
* have beards (men, that is)
* have everyday flannels and dress flannels
* bait their own fish hooks (we're talking women too, here)
* clean their own fish and game (even women)
* shoot their own game (women too)
* smoke-----fish and game, that is
* can fillet a 25lb halibut in 60 seconds
* can repair anything mechanical or electrical without a manual (men and women)
* go outdoors in rain, sleet, snow, ice, wind, blizzard, etc
* do not drink decaf coffee
* do not become vegetarians
* have 12 foot fences around their gardens to keep moose out
* know when fall is going to arrive by looking at the fireweed plants
* know the 764 fishing rules and exceptions
* live in a small space that they built themselves which may or may not have an indoor bathroom
* not afraid of hard work
* drive 4-wheel vehicles
* own or have access to a WWII 6x6 to drive through muskeg (far north peat bog)
* pick up hitch hikers
* have amazing stories to tell about homesteading
* are fiercely patriotic
* were baptized in a creek with 40 degree water
* have a generous, accepting, friendly spirit
* love the Lord and the land

So while I'm still gaping at moose in wonder, my sourdough friends are tracking them down to shoot and fill their larder for the winter.  I don't own Xtra-tuffs yet, but I do have hip waders!  I don't wear shorts in 40 degree weather, and I don't drink caffeinated coffee after noon.  My progress from cheechako to sourdough is slow.  I'm thinking it could take years and years!  Hmmm, should I make this a goal?
Believe me, it's tempting!




Pictures of "sourdough" housing: