I lived in Alaska for 23 years, the last 8 in Anchorage.  I loved it for the first few, took my dog to Elderberry Pk for long walks and enjoyed walking the city.  Sometime around 2012, that all changed...weirdos in the public parking lots, beggars on many street corners, sleepers in the doorways of 5th Ave Mall, gang bangers cruising Dimond  Mall and parking lot violence & robberies.  I limited where I went for the last few years and moved in Sept. 2016.  I have zero regrets beyond leaving my two best friends.  Have to say I miss the bird migrations at Potter's Marsh, too.