Ok, I sent off an e-mail to my friend who grew up there. I'll let you know when I hear something

I'm not really qualified to answer and most of my friends in the office right now are from the SE part. I'm sure they might have contacts, I'll try to find out what I can.

From what I've seen (and I know there are many people, CWR included, know FAR better!), you should be ok with making your own entertainment. I've seen smaller type places with nothing to do so there is a lot of drinking depression. Maybe it'd be a good idea to go on vacation there in the dead of winter

One thing that I heard, also, was that it was easier to drive up there. Someone I know from there (since retired) remarked that Seattle/WA winters were so dark and it was difficult to see. While it was dark in Fairbanks, the snow and lights lit everything up so it wasn't bad at all.

OOOH, I just thought of someone who lives there. I will e-mail her next!