From what I've heard is that " If " a person wants to " Live " in Alaska they need to have 2 Things ! 1) They need to " be Rich " as in to be able to " Afford " the " Living Costs " ! 2) You have Got to be in " Good Shape " as in, that " The Weak Can Not Stay here " !
Although swimming in the Cook Inlet is illegal because of the glacial silt, people to surf on the Turnagain Arm (the body of water directly south of Anchorage).
Yes rental cars are very expensive during peak season could be as much as $200 a day. Motorhome is the way to go if you can bring a friend or two you can split the cost. Dry camping is not that expensive. Your Coastal towns like Seward Homer you will not have a problem with mosquitoes the wind keeps the away. Their is a guy in Anchorage that has a used car rental business about $60 a day can't remember the name you can look online and find him.
I used to live in Fairbanks. There were a surprising number of places with warm water where you could swim in the summer. There was a large swimming hole in the hills just west of town with a beach that would have dozens of people there at any one time. Maybe it's still there. Harding Lake is another place you can swim. Anchorage has several lakes where you can swim. You just want to avoid glacier-fed lakes and rivers. Also, I never carried bear spray in the four years I lived there, If I went out on a wilderness trail, I just made sure I made noise as I walked.
