The Bright Alaska Summer Means Downturn For My Sales
I always prepare myself for the inevitable fact that I will likely not be able to produce as much on my site in the summer. I just simply won't have the time. No, I am not just being negative. Summer in Alaska is the most gloriously beautiful and crazy, busy time imaginable. It is (many of us feel) the most beautiful place on Earth in the summer. Green everywhere, flowers everywhere, birds, mountains, waterfalls, beaches, whatever you want. Crisp white capped mountains and glaciers in the distance over warm forests scented with wild roses and the sweet song of so many birds. It is like heaven on earth here in the summer.
The picture of wild roses above was taken next to our building at almost 10 PM last night. Don't you love the gorgeous light so late? They are taller than I am.
It is also the reward we get for managing to stay here the rest of the year when it is cold, dark and sometimes hard. Go to work in the dark, come home in the dark and sometimes not be in the sun for weeks at a time (if you have a desk job). Icy, windy, dark and cold is the opposite of the glorious summer.
Summer is also the season when everyone here does everything. People travel around the state to go fishing, camping and show their out-of-state guests all the sites (no one comes to visit in winter).
This is the season when building and construction happen too. Hence, why my husband was committed to spend the entire Memorial Day weekend helping a friend put on a new roof. It is the season when you have to do your gardening, your hiking, your cleanup, construction, fix up etc.
It is also the wedding season. If someone gets married here, chances are it will be in the summer. There are a few nice winter venues but they cost a fortune so most people do an outdoor wedding in the summer or at least an indoor/outdoor reception. So if anyone is visiting, getting married, has a construction project etc. etc. it will likely be in the summer.
Summer is also the season my in-laws are here. They are snow birds now and leave every winter. In summer, they are here and want to see us.
Summer is the season I grasp at every minute I can get outside because I literally may go 6 months without a single walk/hike/activity outside now due to my health problems. I can no longer go skiing or other wintertime adventure. And of course I still have a job...and a second job. So, therefore, the amount of time I have left over in the summer is virtually none.
This is not a good business strategy. I know. Consistency is key. Adding content on a regular basis is THE way to be successful online. I will not be very successful if I don't spend time on my website for much of the summer.
However, my health is more important than my website. If my site has to go semi-dormant in the summers, that is just the way it is. Someday I will not have the regular job and then I will have more time to dedicate to my sites. Right now, I am lucky to have my regular job however and my second job of property management is in its busiest year as well.
I am SO glad WA lets us drift in and out and we are not committed to any certain timetable here. I am SO glad that building an online business like this allows us to dedicate different amounts of time to our business as well. We don't have to spend the same number of hours every week or month online. If you have a varied schedule throughout the year this flexibility is priceless.
My sales are way down this month but that is OK. I will remember that inactivity on our sites does that to our sales and in the fall I will pick back up. WA and working on my websites help get me through the winter too!
I hope you all have a great summer,
Jessica
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I went to Alaska last August September, we were told it was the best summer ever, we saw and have pictures of the “The Whole” of Mount Denali, we saw bears, the Salmon run, and even a lone Wolf, I can honestly say it is the most beautiful place on Planet Earth. I also love the way the Alaskans have the most “can do” recycle anything attitude, if only the rest of America could wake up to the Alaskan way of living. You are remarkable people and I envy your summers.
As the last post (Mike said) here in the UK we have cold wet dark winters, and sometimes cold wet summers...
You go girl enjoy that weather it’s too short not too.. 😁
I am glad you had a great trip here last year. September can be very cool and brown if the plants freeze. I love the bright green this time of year with the new, young leaves. Fall is really pretty when the leaves change colors though too. You probably saw the short shrubs with red leaves in Denali that time of year. They paint the hillsides red. Most of those are bearberry and blueberry plants.
I have not been to the UK but I was in Ireland years ago and caught very good weather I guess. It was sunny the entire two weeks.
Thanks!
Jessica
We were so lucky with the weather. Apparently everyone said it was the best September ever..it was a magical place
Yes, our views here are amazing! My husband grew up at a remote lodge that is close to Denali with views like that.
I am so glad you had such a great trip!
Alaska sounds amazing. Here in the UK we have long dark winters but nothing like your beautiful part of the world. I can understand why you make the most of your time in the summer. I have watched a TV show here called life below zero and I am always amazed by the incredible landscapes. Enjoy your time and carry on putting your health first. Regards mike
The winters are really dark here if it rains instead of snows. I know what you mean!
Life Below Zero is based much further north from here but I grew up where it looked like that up in the mountains of the interior.
Thanks!
Jessica
Your summer is certainly too good to miss due to being at a computer. I find that the seasons pass so quickly and making the best of every day, especially in summer, is valuable to overall general health.
Daylight at 10 pm would be fantastic. I believe the South Island of New Zealand has daylight to 10 pm. Where I live, daylight fades at 9 pm.
I'm sure the roses would be beautiful :)
Enjoy your summer, Jessica.
Valerie
Yes. The sun doesn't set until 11 now. I just took a picture at 10:30 that I will put in my next post. The hillside behind us glowing in the evening sun with the yellow light on the bright green leaves.
It is awfully hard to go to bed though! It is too pretty!
I am sure New Zealand is very pretty too. I have always wanted to go there. My husband does too.
I hope both you Jessica and your husband to get to visit New Zealand. I'm sure you would enjoy it. The South Island is particularly beautiful. I've visited it a few times and just loved the beautiful countryside, different in various areas.
Rember Jessica to have fun as you go about your days as laughter is the best medicine. You laugh and others will laugh as it is contagious. In the end, none of you will know why you are laughing but will be better for it.
Tom.
Yes, I have to laugh. I was just at the rental building and saw that there was a fire in the dumpster and the lids are melted and paint burnt off. Would you believe it? We just had a fire in our dumpster here at our building a few weeks ago when someone dumped the coals from their barbeque! I never saw a dumpster fire until then, now we have to deal with another. I suspect someone wanted to make room in the dumpster since one of the tenants is moving out and it was overflowing!
I hope you have a great one too, Jessica. Yep, the "make hay while the sun shines" is sure a summer saying for us here. There is so much to get done before the dark and cold come back.
Right now it is great. We've had such a nice summer here so far. I do not blame you for enjoying yours.
Just did a little post on Maine Coons -- was wishing I had a picture of your beautiful baby to put in there.
Aww, that is nice Fran. He is a Norwegian Forest Cat...they are large but different. Norwegians are more fine boned. They have a triangular shaped head that is not as broad as a Maine Coon and they are a little more tall and thin.
It is thought the Norwegian could be one of the ancestors of the Maine Coon since they were on the Viking Ships and may have come here early on...I don't think anybody knows though. The Maine Coon also looks like a Siberian Cat. I was planning to do a post comparing them but have not gotten around to it! Too busy with summer!
Just for fun, if you Google "Norwegian Forest Cat Rescue" for images, my boy is the one looking very smug, second from the right on the top row of images. I just searched again and it was the last image on the top row...I guess it changes. He is also the last pic on the second row of images. If you Google "French Chartreux Rescued" (with the "d" at the end) she is the first one and the picture of us up the mountain is the third!
Cool! I thought he was Maine Coon. Yes, it is said that they could be related. Both are beautiful animals.
I have to tell you, my new kitty friend is very sweet and makes my place much more home-like. He is sitting on his chair next to me. Had to give him his own chair in here. He's looking at me and purring. If I ignore him too long, he reaches up a paw and pulls on my typing arm so I will stop and give him a little scratch. He is so sweet!
That is wonderful Fran! I can't imagine a home without a pet or two. It would feel so empty to me.
As I sit here, my French Chatreux girl is on the back of my chair (the same kitty on the same chair as in the #1 image on Google). This is a bit unusual now as my Norwegian boy is usually the one there now. They all take turns though and all 4 of them sit there at different times. That is why I don't have an extra chair next to me like you do, they have the soft back of the chair anyway. It is so sweet when Pooch (Norwegian's nickname) reaches out his looong legs and wraps them around my neck. Very warm and soft and delicate.
I am so glad you have a kitty again!
Same as it was in Minnesota during my childhood. Summers are short in the northern Midwest same as North Dakota. Summers here in Oregon bit longer. Many people here in Oregon go up to Alaska for fishing work. Brings back hefty loads of money and fishes to feed their family. I never been there. Enjoy it while it lasts. We are going to be in our heat wave in the next few days wild fire season is here.
I understand. We have tons of wild fires here in the summer! We smelled the first smoke last night and had to close the windows. We have many lightening caused fires.
I just now heard thunder in fact.
Yes, I imagine anyone in the cold, northern states understands what I am talking about.
My best friend is a commercial fisherwoman. She does salmon fishing here in the summer and fishes for squid off California in the winter. She owns a large fishing boat here and recently bought a huge barge in Mississippi which they sailed through the Panama Canal and are turning into a tender. She will be in charge of both boats.
Amen! I was thinking the same thing just before I checked my email and saw your post. Go out in the Sunshine or sit indoors and write after being indoors at my desk job all day. Hmmmm
Yes!!! People who are not from the north may not understand but we sure do!! Nothing is as important as enjoying the summer.
Except now we have nasty black clouds hanging over us and its thundering. I came back in after watering my plants. Now it may rain. ha ha
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Hi Jessica, I think variety sometimes helps and the summer sounds great there, i hope you enjoy it, Alan
Yes. Thanks Alan.