Life in Maine

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Camden is lovely. Also, a notable fraction of its residents are ex-CIA.

That said, consider that Maine is the oldest and whitest state in the union.

WV is the whitest state

Nope, it’s Maine. Then Vermont, New Hampshire, THEN West Virginia.

Google that poop, I poop you not.

[Anonymous]

I have spent a bit of time in Portland and a bit of time in a pretty rural area. In my opinion, Portland is lovely. I'm sure the rest of the coast is similar. But it's a radically different vibe once you go inland. Very rural. Lots of guns, lots of people living on the precipice of poverty. I don't know about the "crime rate" in these rural communities (I'm not talking cities like Lewiston, but the areas outside of those small cities) but there's a lot of drug use and drinking. I don't think that results in a higher crime rate necessarily, but it's not a place where I would easily be able to find a community.

I think you can probably drive an hour from many settled parts of Maine and hit a big box store or major grocer to do extensive food shopping.

There's just not a strong economy outside of the coast. It's pretty, but so rural, and so remote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lived there for a total of 12 years, before during and after college/graduate school (U of Maine, Orono) and law school (GULC).

I lived in Bangor/Orono, Ellsworth area, and Portland for a time. I traveled extensively all over the state for work and recreation.

If your thing is high end shopping, haute cuisine or endless cultural opportunities, you won't like anywhere but Portland.

If you can truly embrace a rural lifestyle and more limited social opportunities, you'll love rural Maine which starts within a few miles of Portland and extends to everywhere else. Bangor, Augusta and Lewiston are really just larger small towns.

Plenty of Mainers are friendly and welcoming, and some are not - like anywhere else.

Maine is more conservative, especially in the rural areas. You can find a group of progressive friends if that's your thing, but the more rural you are the more intentional work it will take to find such folks.

OMG. This post is nutso as Augusta & Lewiston are crime-ridden dumps.

https://wcyy.com/most-dangerous-places-live-maine-2024-crime/

You must be a very negative human being.

Maine has THE LOWEST CRIME RATE IN THE NATION. Of course there is some crime, and most of it is happening in cities - just like everywhere else in the country. You forgot to mention the crime that happens in Portland/So. Portland.

That has nothing to do with the fact that Bangor, Lewiston and Augusta are like large small towns in terms of culture and amenities etc.

Some of the former mill towns in Maine are fairly blighted in terms of little business opportunity and the lack of good jobs and other opportunities has exacerbated drug issues in those communities.

But no place in Maine is a dump, except the dumps where refuse is transferred.

Please stop with your BS. We get it. You like Maine regardless of the facts.

Nonetheless, there are very nice towns in Maine--but NOT Augusta/Lewiston or Bangor !

OP: I have been to Maine many times over many decades. Family had a 3 house compound on the coast for several decades.

If you want a nice small town, look at Camden, Maine.

Your family had a "3 house compound" on the coast and you've visited many times over the years....yeah, I wouldn't take advice from away especially someone whose family had a compound on the coast. Was it Kennebunkport or midcoast?

[Anonymous]

I have spent a lot of time in Maine. Way too much!

The coast of Maine is completely different than the interior. I describe the interior as pretty much WV. I've spent a lot of time there too and it is hard to tell the difference. If you like winter and rural, then that is the place for you.

Coastal Maine is a different beast. I cannot believe the crowds/development/cost since Covid. It has just grown exponentially. If was to move there, I would stay mid-coast or below. I'd go to Boston for healthcare. My parents want to retire to Maine from Mass and the cost is prohibitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of New England dislikes outsiders.

New Englanders will tell you they are a loyal bunch, and it takes 10 years to warm up to you, but then you are in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have spent a lot of time in Maine. Way too much!

The coast of Maine is completely different than the interior. I describe the interior as pretty much WV. I've spent a lot of time there too and it is hard to tell the difference. If you like winter and rural, then that is the place for you.

Coastal Maine is a different beast. I cannot believe the crowds/development/cost since Covid. It has just grown exponentially. If was to move there, I would stay mid-coast or below. I'd go to Boston for healthcare. My parents want to retire to Maine from Mass and the cost is prohibitive.

Tell them to look at downeast coastal Maine, if they like a rural lifestyle. Hancock and Washington counties have lovely coastlines and property is still much more affordable than the midcoast and south. Milbridge, Cherryfield, Machias, even up to Eastport and Lubec. But again, it's rural - and also gorgeous.

They can invest the savings into travel for healthcare to Portland and Boston.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have spent a lot of time in Maine. Way too much!

The coast of Maine is completely different than the interior. I describe the interior as pretty much WV. I've spent a lot of time there too and it is hard to tell the difference. If you like winter and rural, then that is the place for you.

Coastal Maine is a different beast. I cannot believe the crowds/development/cost since Covid. It has just grown exponentially. If was to move there, I would stay mid-coast or below. I'd go to Boston for healthcare. My parents want to retire to Maine from Mass and the cost is prohibitive.

Generally unnecessary unless you are talking about something super duper specialized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of New England dislikes outsiders.

New Englanders will tell you they are a loyal bunch, and it takes 10 years to warm up to you, but then you are in.

I think it also depends on if you embrace or complain the way of life there. If you move to NH, don't complain about fireworks or hearing people shoot guns, or any of the other various things that are common in NH. If you move to Maine, don't complain about the winters. We are from Mass and when we left DC moved to NH. Our town has a ton of outsiders so it has never been an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have spent a lot of time in Maine. Way too much!

The coast of Maine is completely different than the interior. I describe the interior as pretty much WV. I've spent a lot of time there too and it is hard to tell the difference. If you like winter and rural, then that is the place for you.

Coastal Maine is a different beast. I cannot believe the crowds/development/cost since Covid. It has just grown exponentially. If was to move there, I would stay mid-coast or below. I'd go to Boston for healthcare. My parents want to retire to Maine from Mass and the cost is prohibitive.

Generally unnecessary unless you are talking about something super duper specialized.

Np here. I have family in Maine. One tried to schedule a physical and the soonest available is 2025. A lot of older folks there are struggling because of the shortage of doctors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have spent a lot of time in Maine. Way too much!

The coast of Maine is completely different than the interior. I describe the interior as pretty much WV. I've spent a lot of time there too and it is hard to tell the difference. If you like winter and rural, then that is the place for you.

Coastal Maine is a different beast. I cannot believe the crowds/development/cost since Covid. It has just grown exponentially. If was to move there, I would stay mid-coast or below. I'd go to Boston for healthcare. My parents want to retire to Maine from Mass and the cost is prohibitive.

Generally unnecessary unless you are talking about something super duper specialized.

Np here. I have family in Maine. One tried to schedule a physical and the soonest available is 2025. A lot of older folks there are struggling because of the shortage of doctors.

I live in Maine and yes, it's a challenge, but I have doctors and established care.

It was/is a challenge in Virginia, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lived there for a total of 12 years, before during and after college/graduate school (U of Maine, Orono) and law school (GULC).

I lived in Bangor/Orono, Ellsworth area, and Portland for a time. I traveled extensively all over the state for work and recreation.

If your thing is high end shopping, haute cuisine or endless cultural opportunities, you won't like anywhere but Portland.

If you can truly embrace a rural lifestyle and more limited social opportunities, you'll love rural Maine which starts within a few miles of Portland and extends to everywhere else. Bangor, Augusta and Lewiston are really just larger small towns.

Plenty of Mainers are friendly and welcoming, and some are not - like anywhere else.

Maine is more conservative, especially in the rural areas. You can find a group of progressive friends if that's your thing, but the more rural you are the more intentional work it will take to find such folks.

OMG. This post is nutso as Augusta & Lewiston are crime-ridden dumps.

https://wcyy.com/most-dangerous-places-live-maine-2024-crime/

You must be a very negative human being.

Maine has THE LOWEST CRIME RATE IN THE NATION. Of course there is some crime, and most of it is happening in cities - just like everywhere else in the country. You forgot to mention the crime that happens in Portland/So. Portland.

That has nothing to do with the fact that Bangor, Lewiston and Augusta are like large small towns in terms of culture and amenities etc.

Some of the former mill towns in Maine are fairly blighted in terms of little business opportunity and the lack of good jobs and other opportunities has exacerbated drug issues in those communities.

But no place in Maine is a dump, except the dumps where refuse is transferred.

Please stop with your BS. We get it. You like Maine regardless of the facts.

Nonetheless, there are very nice towns in Maine--but NOT Augusta/Lewiston or Bangor !

OP: I have been to Maine many times over many decades. Family had a 3 house compound on the coast for several decades.

If you want a nice small town, look at Camden, Maine.

This person is why Mainers hate people from outside.

[Anonymous]

If you end up in a town/region with a lot of transplants, you'll probably meet enough friendly people. They'll be in the same boat as you. That includes many (not all) towns from York to Bar Harbor.

Poverty has been VERY hard on many towns in Maine, including parts of this section of the coast. In many parts of the country this creates a wariness of outsiders, even if it's not logical.

So which town you're thinking about really matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lived there for a total of 12 years, before during and after college/graduate school (U of Maine, Orono) and law school (GULC).

I lived in Bangor/Orono, Ellsworth area, and Portland for a time. I traveled extensively all over the state for work and recreation.

If your thing is high end shopping, haute cuisine or endless cultural opportunities, you won't like anywhere but Portland.

If you can truly embrace a rural lifestyle and more limited social opportunities, you'll love rural Maine which starts within a few miles of Portland and extends to everywhere else. Bangor, Augusta and Lewiston are really just larger small towns.

Plenty of Mainers are friendly and welcoming, and some are not - like anywhere else.

Maine is more conservative, especially in the rural areas. You can find a group of progressive friends if that's your thing, but the more rural you are the more intentional work it will take to find such folks.

OMG. This post is nutso as Augusta & Lewiston are crime-ridden dumps.

https://wcyy.com/most-dangerous-places-live-maine-2024-crime/

You must be a very negative human being.

Maine has THE LOWEST CRIME RATE IN THE NATION. Of course there is some crime, and most of it is happening in cities - just like everywhere else in the country. You forgot to mention the crime that happens in Portland/So. Portland.

That has nothing to do with the fact that Bangor, Lewiston and Augusta are like large small towns in terms of culture and amenities etc.

Some of the former mill towns in Maine are fairly blighted in terms of little business opportunity and the lack of good jobs and other opportunities has exacerbated drug issues in those communities.

But no place in Maine is a dump, except the dumps where refuse is transferred.

Please stop with your BS. We get it. You like Maine regardless of the facts.

Nonetheless, there are very nice towns in Maine--but NOT Augusta/Lewiston or Bangor !

OP: I have been to Maine many times over many decades. Family had a 3 house compound on the coast for several decades.

If you want a nice small town, look at Camden, Maine.

This person is why Mainers hate people from outside.

Agree that this person is very obnoxious and should stay in Kennebunkport and hush.

However, it is true that most people will not enjoy resettling in interior Maine. The small cities in interior Maine, while they might be fine for an afternoon every now and then, are just not very nice. Add in that it's cold and dark for many months of the year, and that's just not gonna work for a lot of people. NP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have spent a bit of time in Portland and a bit of time in a pretty rural area. In my opinion, Portland is lovely. I'm sure the rest of the coast is similar. But it's a radically different vibe once you go inland. Very rural. Lots of guns, lots of people living on the precipice of poverty. I don't know about the "crime rate" in these rural communities (I'm not talking cities like Lewiston, but the areas outside of those small cities) but there's a lot of drug use and drinking. I don't think that results in a higher crime rate necessarily, but it's not a place where I would easily be able to find a community.

I think you can probably drive an hour from many settled parts of Maine and hit a big box store or major grocer to do extensive food shopping.

There's just not a strong economy outside of the coast. It's pretty, but so rural, and so remote.

A lot of towns in Maine are not all that pretty. The 6000 lakes and ponds might look intriguing on a map, but many are developed all the way around, and in pretty haphazard ramshackle fashion.

And this has likely been mentioned, but the coast Down East of Bar Harbor does not have a strong economy.

[Anonymous]

Interior Maine is not attractive--at least not the towns.