The depressing news of the United States Post Office becoming obsolete (not to mention bankrupt) is everywhere today. I can certainly understand that some people have no need for it anymore--I too have suffered annoyance at opening my rural P.O. box, only to find boring bills and ridiculous political fliers inside. What's the use??
But alas, there are a few Alaskan post offices worth a visit if you don't believe they are still being utilized.
Example one: the Wasilla Post Office. Holy chickens! You can't even find a parking spot at this place, the line is slower than a snail, and everybody chats it up. Once you get through the grueling line of about 30 people, be prepared for the friendly but overly-thorough postal clerks.
Another Post Office: Palmer, AK. Palmer is the Mat-Su borough seat, so for some reason all the rural mail from Matanuska Glacier to Eklutna seems to go through here. (an area roughly the size of West Virginia)
Nevertheless, it is a common joke to meet up at the post office, especially at Christmas time --as everyone, and I mean EVERYONE will be in that line. It's the nuttiest thing ever, the line goes out the door, down the hall and the last unlucky person is smashed up against the emergency exit. I once cried at this post office, when a postal clerk told me to go to the back of the line, after I had filled out the wrong customs form.
Of course the reason for these crazy lines is due to packages. Everyone in Alaska is always sending some sort of box or receiving weird shaped items from mail order catalogs. At times, I do hear people mucking up the line by asking for money orders, or processing their passport papers to get into neighboring Canada.
If you really want to help out the Postal Service and their budget woes, buy something online that's made in Alaska, and have it shipped via USPS. Most Alaskans will begrudgingly endure hours of lines and post office chit chat, just to get you your package on time....
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