Discuss what its like to live in Homer

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Discuss what its like to live in Homer

[ctyankee]

I've heard about several people who summer in Homer. What's it like for retirees in winter? In particular, what is there to do when it is dark so much of the time? THanks - it sounds like a magical place.

[lindaeagley]

I have lived in Homer since 1994, but have been away now for 3 years. We own an incredible view property overlooking 2 glaciers, the bay and a mountain range. The property is 13 miles out East End Road and most of our family will not visit us in the winter because of the drive up the mountain.

The winters are LONG! Unless you are an avid skiier or snow machiner, there are very few activities available other than travel to warmer climates which most Homerites AKA Homeroids do. There is a delapidated 8 lane bowling alley run by a very nice family and a odd little movie theater that is pretty good about getting first run movies. Most of the restaurants close for the winter.

It is horribly expensive to live in Homer in the winter. Most homes are heated with fuel oil, electricity or firewood; there is no natural gas. To get to most of the view property you have to go up some serious steep hills which in the summer aren't bad but can be treacherous in the winter.

Like most small towns most of the people are wonderful, but quite clannish.

During the time I lived there on three separate occasions there were avalanches that closed the main highway to Anchorage for several days. The one Safeway store in town had to fly in fresh milk and boy did the price go up. Also the one airline servicing Homer increased their fares from $93.00 rt to $185.00 rt to Anchorage.

Homer has two newpapers, each published once a week. You can look at either the Homer News or the Homer Tribune online and they both have links to realtors in the area. As you will see most of the view property is VERY expensive, but in my opinion the view is priceless. If you find anything seeming too reasonable, its probably a swamp and you probablly won't have much of a view.