Too hot, humid in Texas, and I used to live in Houston when I was younger, was not impressed, never went jobless but jobs never paid a lot in wages.
Been in Alaska for 22 years, wages much better but you have to face specific challenges such as weather cold extremes or seasonal work, but still aside from that in comparison I did more, made more, owned much much more than when I lived it Texas plus never a hurricane or a cockroach to be seen.
Or snakes.
Alaska IS better but who cares? Its too far away to be of any social value, let Texas be the trendy winner.
I luv Alaska for many things, hunting, miles and miles of wild open country, no taxes, the live and let live attitude of what a man does in his own home is his own business, but the big one is FREEDOM like I've never seen anywhere else. Of course we live rural along the Yukon in an unorganized borough that lacks all the local government everybody else thinks is just normal. No ordinances, Comp Planning, property taxes, any taxes for that matter and nearest Law enforcement is 200 miles away; now that's real freedom. 80% White, 20% Indian, everybody is armed, hasn't been a murder around here in over 30 years.
We've been here over 20 years too, only regret is I wish I had moved to Alaska when I was 18.
For every 3 people who move to Alaska, 2 of them can't wait until the road opens come Spring and head back South. They show up in the Spring with all these dreams & plans; totally demoralized a year later. Alaska ain't for everybody. You have to have the skills to survive, that many people lack. I constantly wonder how I put up with life back East the first half of my life? Alaska is a wonderland for my family.