a trial run?

I have family in Alaska and have dreamed of returning there to retire. Before I do so I'll go up there and rent a place for 6 months or so through a winter to see if I can deal with it.

I had to leave Alaska once and it broke my heart. There are reasons that few people are chatty on the flights to the Outside.

If you can't afford to do a trial run, likely you can't afford to live there at all.