You know you’re heading to Alaska in the morning when your checkout includes 6 pounds of butter, 4 pounds of carrots, 10 large onions, 5 lemons, 3 cabbages, five loaves of whole-grain bread, 15 packets of ranch dressing mix, one large ham, and 12 pounds of ground beef. Among other notable perishables unavailable in our little corner of the tundra.

Now the trick is getting it all in my suitcase. Wish me luck.