Alaska

One week ago, I was offered a job in Anchorage, Alaska.

Since then, I have learned that people have very strong feelings about Alaska.  I was surprised to learn this, as I had never spent much time thinking about the state one way or the other. But when I bring it up, I consistently get one of two responses: “I have always wanted to go there!” or “Why would you ever move there?”

I was never aware that Alaska was a place that anyone (much less my closest friends) had a burning desire to explore.  It had certainly never occurred to me to try to make the trek.

But that was before.  Before the economy and job market gave all of us lawyers (at the time, law students) a rude awakening.  Before I knew how boring civil law is and before I had learned how fascinating criminal law is.  Before I had been passed over for a deputy public defender position in seemingly every PD office in the state of California, and before I – inexplicably – had started to feel an itch to leave the lovely city of San Diego.

With all of these recent progressions, my mind began to open.  When my good friend Diana suggested I apply to the Alaska Public Defender Agency, it didn’t seem like such a shocking idea.  I had somehow developed a sense of obligation to apply to every single public defender opening I became aware of.  So I applied. Two weeks ago, I was offered an interview.  One week ago, I was offered a position.  And one week from today, I’ll leave this beautiful town that has brought me so much warmth and happiness.