Alaska Part 3 - Where to now?

Maire DeCioccio

Nov 1, 2025

14 min read

Updated: Sep 30

September 2026:

This month I have seen moments of greatness and moments of difficulty.

Seeing my friends in GA really was great and getting to watch their baby girl grow has been such a treasure!

Towards the end of the month, my boyfriend had hip surgery and that has been a challenge. With a surgery this big, I didn't quite understand everything that would come to follow. The first week, trying to find a groove, was overwhelming. But, after I figured out how to manage my time more wisely and take care of myself while giving my care to someone else. On top of everything, learning to live with someone adds on to the stress. Going on week two and things are getting easier!

Can't forget to take care of yourself, even if that means 15 minutes of reading a new book daily. Taking the time to relax each day is such a good reset.

September I :

Met up with my besties in GA for some family time
Kayaked Lower Ohmer lake
Saw more moose
Hiked Blackstone Bay
Play caretaker while my bae recovers from hip surgery
Met up with an old friend I haven't talked to in years
Was given apple butter, made from fresh apples
Was give moose and more salmon

August 2026:

In August, I think my primary focus was really honing in on being present, to remove those "ANTS" (automatic negative thoughts). It can be extremely difficult to sit in reality when your mind is trying to tell you something different. How do I retrain my brain so that it knows that I am safe and I don't have to think of every little thing as a sign that something bad is going to happen, that I have to protect myself still? Lately, this has been increasingly worse and it might be because I am feeding into those ANTS rather than flicking them away. Your mind is very powerful. It can dictate your day. Communication is a huge part of the healing process, being able to talk about those deep inner conversations that most people don't even know exist.

But, I think the biggest part of the healing process that I've mentioned previously is: trust in myself to be okay when things don't go as planned. Life happens. It will continue to happen no matter what. But, that trust in oneself to be able to handle any given situation, that's HUGE.

July I :

Hiked Palmer Creek Lakes
Camped in Hope overlooking Turnagain Arm
Made more sourdough loaves
Hiked Harding Icefields
Hiked Grace Ridge
Stayed in a yurt for the first time
Saw more caribou
Hiked a trail which is now a secret raspberry picking spot
Went to Florida for 2 weeks to see friends and family with a pit stop to GA
Found shark teeth and sea glass
Surfed (FINALLY)
Celebrated an early birthday with family
Went kayaking for the bioluminescence

July 2026:

What can I say about July?

It was super busy! But I was able to see and do a lot!

I couldn't be happier that my mom was able to travel around Alaska with me. We did some pretty incredible hikes despite the weather. She's a trooper for sure! Story listed below!

I think this month has really guided me to understanding that there is no such thing as perfect and no one makes changes over night. Which leads me to that built up trust that I have in myself. In past relationships, it was hard for me to believe I was making the right choices - about anything. I didn't feel confident in myself. Within this last week, I came to realize that I can trust myself to make better judgement calls, to hold firm on my boundaries, and to trust that I will be okay no matter what happens. I am able to handle whatever life throws at me whatever that looks like. In the meantime, let's enjoy these moments. Trust that life will hand you the cards you need when you need them. Stress a little less, take in the world around you, hold those that we love closer, and be grateful.

July I :

Had my mom visit for 2.5 weeks
Hiked Hideout trail with mom
Saw a black bear
Saw a dead beached whale
Picked fresh strawberries
Made rhubarb jam
Made more sourdough loaves
Beach combed for agates
Kayaked Dolly Varden Lake with mom
Hiked Hidden creek trail with mom
Saw a momma moose with two babies
Saw 2 owls
Saw POSSIBLY a wolf outside of Denali
Saw another lynx
Saw a fox
Traveled Alaska with mom --> https://www.wanderingformore.com/post/alaska-tour-2026
Camped at Engineer cabin
Hiked Summit Creek trailhead to Colorado Creek and camped
Rafted down the Kasilof in search of fish (caught 0)
Kayaked Bottenintnin Lake
Kayaked the Kenai in search of fish (River 2 : Maire 0)

June 2026:

Where do I start. June, like last month really flew by. It feels like summer just started but we're already in July. The snow will be here before we know it!

I am doing a little more self discovery and recognizing that not everything needs an answer immediately. Feel it out, let time be your guide. That mechanism that used to keep me safe in those times when I was in those toxic relationships, it doesn't need to be here any more. That unsafe feeling doesn't always mean that I'm not safe. I am not in danger.

I am safe. I feel that I have been trying to tell myself that for four years now. After thriving in chaos for so long, it is a hard adjustment for me to just accept that this is my new reality. Things can be easy, things can feel nice, things don't have to make me feel bad in order for things to be okay.

Being mindful, this can deem difficult for a lot of people, including myself. It has been a goal for so long. Inching closer and closer towards that goal, I still have a ways to go until I reach that finish line. But, with more instances that teach me, show me, what it's really like to be in the moment, the more I recognize how powerful that is. That's all we're really guaranteed, right? That very moment. Living out here in Alaska, the wildlife and mother nature can be pretty but they can also be dangerous. Plan ahead gear-wise, yes, but you need to be present to notice what's around you.

BTW: I did an early post because my mom will be here for 3 weeks in July. We're taking a long trip around Alaska sightseeing, kayaking, riding ATV's, white water rafting, and of course hiking and camping! Very excited to be able to share this beautiful place with her!

June I :

Did a lot of kayaking including Watson and Alfonosi lakes
Did a lot of hiking including Bear mountain
Witnessed the spring (SUPER LATE) bloom
Baked an apple pie sourdough loaf
Hiked to and tent camped at Grewingk Glacier
Saw my first blue starfish
Went to my first candlelight performance
Did a lot of camping
Got to see a momma moose and her babe eat all my dandelions
Watched momma duck and her babes eat corn I threw in the yard
Made jam out of rhubarb that grew in my garden

May 2026:

May was a busy month since all the snow has melted (except for in the mountains). Which did put a damper on some of our plans, but that's alright!

In May, I decided I was going to make changes to something that keeps showing up in my life in the ugliest forms. Some coping mechanisms aren't really what they seem. This seems to be a pretty big battle, but one of the last that has accompanied my ways of surviving the trauma I went through. I am no longer in those situations, I am safe. This really has been my biggest demon and I am not too sure what the answer will be at the end of June. But, I do know that I have some really big supporters and I think that I can really overcome this.

Here's to sunny days ahead!

May I :

Saw a LOT of moose (in my yard)
Used the iKamper for the first time!
Saw several sun halos
Stayed at Juneau Lake Cabin
Became an Alaska resident
Experienced snow in May
Hiked Skyline
Found bear prints
Practiced my shot
Camped out at Homer
Went to Seldovia
Hiked Rocky Ridge and Otterbahn trails
Kayaked Sports Lake
Camped in Cooper Landing
Backpacked to Swan lake and Trout cabins
Saw my first brown bear in Alaska
Saw Dall Sheep
Saw 3 beavers
Saw a porcupine

April 2026:

This month, just like all of the others lately, flew by! I am finally fully moved into a bigger spot and ready for the Alaska summer! It doesn't quite feel like summer yet but there are signs of change! Snow is almost all melted and the grass is showing! All we're missing is that sunshine!

April taught me to be a little more aware of the things that may bring up past feelings / memories associated with bad moments. During these times, reality is created by false ideas. I know time is the grand healer, but it sometimes feels like the end goal is further than I'd like it to be. I think surrounding yourself with the right people really makes a difference with goals like these and I am lucky to have a good team for that support.

April I :

Moved into a year lease
Camped at Engineer Lake cabin
Watched the beach ice melt away
Camped at Trout lake cabin
Saw the Northern lights (very dim)
Watched the sunset (before summer hits)
Hiked Skilak lookout
Baked another sourdough loaf
Baked sourdough brownies

I also:

Am feeling a little more secure in this new relationship. Understanding that I'm worthy of being loved and cared for, just as much as I want to give it, is hard for me to grasp. BUT, not as hard as it was months ago. He continues to show up in ways that tells me he's one of the good ones.

March 2026:

During the month of March, a lot happened. But I really feel lucky that my mom and sister came out to visit me here. My mom had her first experience with snow and a full winter! It was perfect while they were here. She got to cross country ski, sled, and walk on Kenai lake while my sister and I ice skated. I was able to bake a few loaves of sourdough for them while they were here and even sent my mom home with a sourdough starter!

This month has really opened my eyes to the possibilities that this part of my life has to offer. I made a choice to stay another year here in Alaska to see where this leads. I think that I made the right choice and I am very excited to see where this takes me.

I am ready for these real, genuine connections and fully experiencing being in the moment.

I also:

Fell a little harder for someone who makes me feel truly cared for. I was scared to fall completely, but he keeps knocking pieces of my wall down and showing up in ways that tells me there's love there. Just when I gave up and decided I wasn't going to share my heart, the universe sent me him.

March I :

Went to Frozen River Fest
Saw a lunar eclipse
Baked multiple sourdough loaves
Had my mom and sister visit
Went XC skiing on Headquarters Lake
Had a few bonfires
Skated Kenai Lake
Got to share the beauty of the Northern lights
Saw a lot of moose
Saw different types of rainbows
Skated on the beach
Went snow shoeing

February 2026:

Another month down, only a couple to go until summertime! This month was really big for me in terms of following through with allowing myself to voice how I'm feeling and sharing the things that kept me from fully being present and enjoying what the universe was serving me. I found out that I was scared for no reason and that if someone is showing you who they are, believe them. This holds true for both the good and the bad. What is life if you don't live in the moment and enjoy what's in front of you? Throw out those what if's and thinking too far into the future. Life is happening right now. Allow yourself to really soak it all in.

I also: decided to stay in Alaska for another year. I will be signing a new lease this first week of March and I am very much looking forward to this new chapter!

And, these last few months I've been lucky to experience what it's like to be treated well by someone who cares about me. I think I finally found a good one.

February I :

Got a new tattoo
Made sourdough pizza dough
Went backcountry cross country skiing in the wildlife refuge
Saw a herd of caribou (the most I've seen together)
Saw more Northern lights
Ate goose eggs
Made another sourdough loaf
Made banana bread
Went to Frozen Riverfest in below freezing temps

January 2026:

January went by quickly. Full of more adventure and learning. This month I was really focused on voicing my emotional needs. Reverting to old habits makes it difficult for me to fully vocalize my emotional needs. But, without vocalizing them comes worry and intrusive thoughts that ultimately go against the way I want to live my life. Making those strides, it's much easier than it used to be, but I have a ways to go.

I also: almost got attacked by a moose! Charlotte and I were on a walk just before the sun came out fully. We must've walked by it the first time and I didn't see it. On our walk back, it jumped out of the woods and tried to stomp on her! Luckily Charlotte walked away without injury and waited at the cabin for me. However, in the middle of trying to find safety, I fell backwards in the knee deep snow and "strained" my thumb. 3 weeks and it's still not healed. I'll say I am much more aware of my surroundings now.

January I:

Stayed in another dry cabin in Hope
My sweet girl turned 11
Got more snow
Got more practice with xcountry skiing
Knitted my first hat
Played indoor soccer for the first time
Saw the best northern lights yet (yes, they were red and white to the naked eye)
Made sourdough bread rolls
Knitted a mitten
Watched an ice race
Made sourdough blueberry muffins
Successfully kayaked the Kenai

December 2025:

December went by really fast! Christmas and then the New Years! Chased a few fireworks on New Years just to make it feel more like home. In December I have learned to slow down, not by choice. But it has made me realize that I don't always have to be doing something. The weather was mainly in the negatives forced Charlotte and I to have very limited time outside. December also has taught me to go slow in figuring out what I want, not just out of life. It's not a race and nothing is set in stone. The more you plan, the more likely things are going to go wrong. Go with the flow of life and really experience what is in front of you. Alaska has taught me to appreciate what surrounds me and really take notice.

December I:

Watched moose eat pumpkins
Skated Ohmer Lake (even had a nighttime skate!)
Slowly watched the beach turn into giant blocks of ice
Experienced weeks of temperatures in the negatives (-20 being the lowest)
Skated Browns Lake
Skated Cooper Lake on Christmas
Was given more salmon
Started knitting a hat
Made another sourdough loaf
Made my way down to Homer, to a cabin on the bluff
Experienced beautiful sunsets on the beach

November 2025, part II:

The rest of November flew by! Moving down to Soldotna has been the best choice. It has really opened many doors to activities and some really great people. I have been shown such a wonderful kindness and have felt a sense of belonging in a place so far from home. Prior to this move, I felt lonely. Living in a home where I had to fight hard for attention and to be heard. Now, people have welcomed me to join their friend circles, spend time doing the things that they love with them, and allowing me to really experience Alaska. All of that WITHOUT asking for it. I am really fortunate for this experience and I can't wait to see what else is in store here! The festivities are only beginning!

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/6f0475_732b8eb1509949fa8278e47433a1d809/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

First time sledding

November I:

Faced more snow and icy roads
Saw a sun halo
Went sledding!
Was given the opportunity to witness soft sunrises and sunsets
Baked another loaf of sourdough bread
Baked more biscuits
Played more pickleball
Was gifted fresh salmon
Crossed two frozen lakes to stay at dry cabins
Felt a 6.0 magnitude earthquake from 79 miles away

November 2025:

November has been very busy so far and we're only halfway through!

I am just amazed by everything here in Alaska. I could honestly go without the snow and ice on the roads, but otherwise, I can't complain!

I was able to wild ice skate for the first time. Let me tell you, as beautiful as it is out there and having some of the proper safety gear, it is still a sport where you have to have heightened awareness. There is always the possibility of falling in!

Lady Aurora. I was worried that being so far south in the state that I wouldn't be able to see her. I had multiple nights in a row where I was lucky enough to see the magic. The green wasn't as green as the pictures make it out to be, but the red was red to the naked eye. Locals here say that it's extremely rare to see her red. It was just after sundown when she appeared. I could've stayed up all night watching, but with the cold temperatures nature wasn't going to allow that.

I have been shown such kindness since I moved down here. It is pretty amazing how people have such a love for this life and they just want to share it. They find such joy in spreading the happiness and ask for nothing in return. The universe has placed me in an awesome spot, despite these last few months of difficulty.

Let's see what else this month has in store!

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/6f0475_592c9b5c0ce141fea17449012356b381/720p/mp4/file.mp4

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/6f0475_5099d1589b95436a91c41981655d7ec0/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/6f0475_77a6fe96b83e485c928411d17f931711/720p/mp4/file.mp4

November I:

Saw Lady Aurora at least six different times (every time she was different and YES, visibly red!)
Baked two sourdough loaves
Watched a hockey game
Went for a run along the coast with views of belugas in the distance
Drove in snow for the first time!
Saw caribou 3 different times
Got to see my first sunrise here in Alaska
Went wild ice skating!
Met some awesome people (two of which gifted me fresh salmon)
Played pickleball for the first time
Watched a momma moose and her baby eat the pumpkins we carved for Halloween

October 2025:

October, so many good things happened.

I wanted to start with the biggest change: ending a relationship that wasn't physically abusive because MY needs weren't being met. I didn't leave because he hurt me, I left because I noticed my cups for my wants and needs weren't being filled even when I gave a detailed roadmap on how to get them met. I went from feeling very confused and sad to feeling free, a bit more confident, and definitely UNCOMFORTABLE. Change can be very scary. It took me months to come to the decision to leave and I fought myself hard on it, gave him extra time to adjust and make changes but ultimately I had to come to terms with what was really happening.

I moved 8.5 hours south to a town called Soldotna. It's closer to the beach and I have already made some friends being here for about 3 weeks now. I have downsized in living space, but that's alright! I hope that winters down here will be less harsh than in Delta Junction, but time will tell. No snow so far and that could be good OR bad.

The other highlight was my sister and I taking mom to her very first concert, and it was Paul McCartney. Incredible show! He performed really well and you can just feel his love for the other members of the band.

This month brought a lot of learning, a lot of firsts, and room for more soul searching. This soul searching is different than before though, I finally recognize what my wants and needs are in a relationship AND I know that bare minimum from my partner is not an acceptable place to stop. The next guy will have to really put in effort, no more fooling me!

Cheers to recognizing what I deserve