We had tickets to Sitka on the 1930 departure M/V Columbia.
Joe drove us over and dropped off us and the equipment. A handshake and a hug for farewell and we had mentally left Haines, focus forward.
We leave Haines with a very positive impression.
Our impression is that it is a place where people look out for and help each other. Like so many other small distal communities we have paddled by both in Scandinavia and Russia.
These are places where one person doing well -at least well enough to stay- is the foundation for other people’s opportunities. And the other way round, if people start leaving opportunities evaporate.
It seems that this fosters a culture of collaboration and maybe also select for people who relate to that, like Joe who moved there from Michigan with his wife 15 years ago.
Haines largest employers according to the brochure at “rusten compass” cafe is: Tourism, Local Government, Health Care and fisheries.
It may not be the most robust of foundations, but they make it work.
Long may it last, we leave with fond memories
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