“I put up with that occupation because it allowed me to live anywhere on Planet Earth that I chose to live. I get free transportation for the rest of my life. Florida. Arizona. California. Hawaii. Anywhere I wanted to live. This is where I want to be,” said Picard, 63.

In 1997, Bob and his wife, June, were still residents of Washington and on their way to Homer to visit friends.

“I saw a sign that said ‘airport property for sale.’ Man, I always wanted to live with my airplanes. So, before I even got to Homer, we bought the property,” Picard said.

The couple began construction of a hangar big enough for Picard’s 1943 Taylorcraft and 1948 Stinson, with a living area on the second floor. Planning for the future, Picard included what might be Anchor Point’s only elevator.

“That’s so when the day comes I can’t climb stairs, I won’t have to move,” he said.

Since settling in the area, Picard has served as the board president for Anchor Point Senior Citizens Inc., was president of Anchor Point Airpark Homeowners’ Association, was on the Anchor Point Emergency Service Area board and has become certified as a Firefighter I.

Asked what would make Anchor Point more senior-friendly, Picard listed senior housing, a health clinic and Anchor Point’s incorporation as his top three priorities.

“It has to incorporate so we can be able to gather funds and grants to improve the community,” he said. “We can’t do that as an unincorporated area. If we get incorporated, the money we send to the borough, we’ll have some say so in how it’s spent.”

But even without those, Picard said, “I’ve never had truer friends anywhere I’ve lived. Real Alaska is like that. I’m talking places like Ninilchik, Clam Gulch, Kasilof, Cooper Landing, Bear Creek, Moose Pass, Anchor Point. Those kinds of places. That’s the real Alaska.”