I know that some of it is about the weather. I certainly prefer the cold and I don't do well in warmer temperatures. I love snow, and while we've had a few good storms this past year, generally we have not been getting the amount of snow that I would want. I even like the sunlight extremes. Despite being a people person, I also like the isolation. While I would not want to live in "bush" Alaska, I prefer the smaller populations of Alaskan towns and cities to even how busy Jackson has become.
I love the beauty of the parts of Alaska that I have visited. In particular, I love the mountains. While the variety of trees is less than I would prefer in the interior of Alaska, it makes up for it in the total number of trees and forests. And although I would prefer to not have a face-to-face meeting with a beer or moose again, there's something to be said for how close people are to nature.
There are disadvantages to going to Alaska, of course, but those always seem to pale in comparison to the call.