Sounds like a good, well thought out plan....one last suggestion though......aside from the features you want/don't want in your Alaskan, buy the BEST one you can find. That may not mean the newest one for your budget . You can read up on the years when Alaskans were made with what I can only describe as particle board interior woodwork. Moisture was deadly on them so solid wood cabinetry is the way to go. Not sure which years that covers, but in many cases an older Alaskan stored indoors and well taken care of would be an excellent find!
I check Craigslist all the time for parts and things, basically from Seattle to LA (I'm in the SF Bay Area) and find the majority of them can be found on the West Coast. However, places in Arizona and New Mexico have little rainfall so that is a bonus as well, except the sun has deteriorated the Pirelli seals and the sealing compound used on the windows and eyebrows. So, you need to do preventative maintenence when you find your little treasure anywhere she comes from!
Good Luck in the search!
