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Ok before I head to Maine I just want to be prepared for what I am in for... If I chose the Bangor area or 30 miles north...
What is the winters like? I am from Colorado so I can handle a winter... However our roads are plowed and it melts a few days or a week later... How does this compare to Maine?
How hot / humid does it get in summer? Is it humid and tons of mosquitos with all the water?
Does it rain alot? If I buy some land and build a cabin should I anticipate tons of rain? Also is there alot of flooding?
Can you go fishing in any of the lakes? Looking at the map on google I see tons of lakes.. thousands... Are there fish in all of these?
Any Medical Specialists nearby?... If I am in Bangor or north of, and lets say I have to see a doctor.. (good one) how far would the drive be?
Is there Beaches in Maine with warm water? I know theres an ocean and a coast.. but are there miles upon miles of beaches? Or is it mostly rocks and too cold to swim..
I won't try to answer your questions that are specific to Bangor and points north.....I live in Southern Maine. But I don't want you to feel neglected so I will at least say what I can.....I think you will find the coast is pretty rocky as you get north of Portland and the ocean water is pretty cold.....or at least invigorating! Lakes are generally warmer. That is not to say people dont go swimming....they do....but it is a different experience.
If you do move to Maine.....welcome and good luck.
Ok before I head to Maine I just want to be prepared for what I am in for... If I chose the Bangor area or 30 miles north...
[ Any Medical Specialists nearby?... If I am in Bangor or north of, and lets say I have to see a doctor.. (good one) how far would the drive be?
Is there Beaches in Maine with warm water? I know theres an ocean and a coast.. but are there miles upon miles of beaches? Or is it mostly rocks and too cold to swim..
Is there anything else I should know? thanks!
I know that are many good hospitals and doctors in Bangor.
Ok before I head to Maine I just want to be prepared for what I am in for... If I chose the Bangor area or 30 miles north...
What is the winters like? I am from Colorado so I can handle a winter... However our roads are plowed and it melts a few days or a week later... How does this compare to Maine?
Wow! Our roads get plowed, too! (Did you think Maine roads didn't get plowed? )A large portion of municipal budgets in Maine are devoted to snow removal, including sand and salt..
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_iLL
How hot / humid does it get in summer? Is it humid and tons of mosquitos with all the water?
It depends on where you live for both- some areas are prone to being more humid, as well as having more insects. You didn't ask about black flies... pesky little things that (I find) are a LOT more annoying than mosquitos.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_iLL
Does it rain alot? If I buy some land and build a cabin should I anticipate tons of rain? Also is there alot of flooding?
Again, flooding depends on the topography of where you may build. You will need to investigate individual lots and flood risk before making a conclusion about that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_iLL
Can you go fishing in any of the lakes? Looking at the map on google I see tons of lakes.. thousands... Are there fish in all of these?
I don't fish, but there's a lot of good fishing in Maine. If it's of interest to you, you should look at a copy of "Maine Fishing Maps: Lakes and Ponds" (I believe there is more than one volume, depending on which area you are interested in..).
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_iLL
Any Medical Specialists nearby?... If I am in Bangor or north of, and lets say I have to see a doctor.. (good one) how far would the drive be?
Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor is the largest medical campus in the the region- FULL of specialists and primary care physicians. If it can't be done in Bangor, it's probably something needing extra-specialized specialists and you would likely have to drive to Maine Medical in Portland, or Boston. There are many general practitioners in smaller clinics all over Maine. Also in Bangor is St. Joseph's Hospital, not as large as EMMC, but still a good place for health care.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_iLL
Is there Beaches in Maine with warm water? I know theres an ocean and a coast.. but are there miles upon miles of beaches? Or is it mostly rocks and too cold to swim..
Maine is known for having a very rocky coast, and most of the beaches (at least on the northern coast) are crushed rock, not sand. The water is cold. Usually only children and very brave souls swim in the ocean, though if you happen on a shallow cove, the water will be much warmer and swimming would not be so... bracing.
Is there anything else I should know? thanks! [/quote]
Ok before I head to Maine I just want to be prepared for what I am in for... If I chose the Bangor area or 30 miles north...
A very nice area.
Quote:
... What is the winters like? I am from Colorado so I can handle a winter... However our roads are plowed and it melts a few days or a week later... How does this compare to Maine?
Pretty much, yes.
It is really not a problem here. The roads are very well maintained through the winters.
Quote:
... How hot / humid does it get in summer? Is it humid and tons of mosquitos with all the water?
80's
Some areas get more skeeters, some areas get less.
Quote:
... Does it rain alot? If I buy some land and build a cabin should I anticipate tons of rain? Also is there alot of flooding?
Sometimes it 'seems' like a lot of rain.
Some areas are subject to flooding, low lands.
Quote:
... Can you go fishing in any of the lakes? Looking at the map on google I see tons of lakes.. thousands... Are there fish in all of these?
Yes.
Quote:
... Any Medical Specialists nearby?... If I am in Bangor or north of, and lets say I have to see a doctor.. (good one) how far would the drive be?
Bangor has two hospitals. One comfort hospital and one teaching hospital [very up-to-date].
Quote:
... Is there Beaches in Maine with warm water? I know theres an ocean and a coast.. but are there miles upon miles of beaches? Or is it mostly rocks and too cold to swim..
The ocean water is warmer than California's is, though there are very few beaches. It is mostly rocky. Not to say it is all rocky.
On the West coast you mostly would require dry-suits to go in the water, here not so much.
Ok before I head to Maine I just want to be prepared for what I am in for... If I chose the Bangor area or 30 miles north...
I just wanted to say best of luck to you. Don't let anyone on the forums get ya down about moving there if your heart is set on it.
I've only vacationed there in the summers (for about ten years). I've stayed mostly in southern Maine, Sebgao/Portland area. We've stayed some summers with no mosquitos and some years with LOTS of them. Never experienced the black flies, but again, I don't live there either.
Just wanted to wish you all the best. It is our dream to someday go north. We're still trying to discern.
Thanks!
I already have the place I will stay picked out... and I will be selling my car then leaving on the 6th.. Good thing this new place is right next to a bike shop so ill buy a bike when i arrive... From there, I will find a car to buy and if this area is not my thing, I will just head a bit more south where its a little warmer... But I am definitely headed that way! you only live once right!
I can keep you all posted! May be helpful insight for those moving to Maine.. and thanks to everyone and there responses!
Maine winters can be cold (frequently below zero for weeks,) with snow accumulation that doesn't melt leading to a lot of dirty snow. Maine has many gray days in comparison to Colorado's milder, sunnier winters.
Snow removal is much more advanced in Maine and Maine drivers are much more skilled in driving in snow than your average Colorado drivers.
Black flies will out trump any discomfort caused by mere mosquitos, but the mosquitos is some areas are prolific.
Most of the Maine coast has water that is super cold. Southern Maine has good beaches. The many beautiful days lakes and rivers in Maine offer great swimming and fishing. You can drive 20 miles in almost any direction and you'll find a body of water. Colorado has very few places to swim.
Portland is a great place to live if you want a hip, urban environment. It also has milder winters than other parts of Maine.
Maine medical care is competitive with most of Colorado's. Nothing is as exceptional, however, as the Anschultz Medical Campus in Denver. It ranks among the finest in the nation.
Maine people are less outgoing than folks from Colorado. That isn't to say that they aren't friendly. New England is a Yankee area. I have found the educational level of the primary grades in Maine to be better than Colorado's schools.
Maine winters can be cold (frequently below zero for weeks,) with snow accumulation that doesn't melt leading to a lot of dirty snow. Maine has many gray days in comparison to Colorado's milder, sunnier winters.
Snow removal is much more advanced in Maine and Maine drivers are much more skilled in driving in snow than your average Colorado drivers.
Black flies will out trump any discomfort caused by mere mosquitos, but the mosquitos is some areas are prolific.
Most of the Maine coast has water that is super cold. Southern Maine has good beaches. The many beautiful days lakes and rivers in Maine offer great swimming and fishing. You can drive 20 miles in almost any direction and you'll find a body of water. Colorado has very few places to swim.
Portland is a great place to live if you want a hip, urban environment. It also has milder winters than other parts of Maine.
Maine medical care is competitive with most of Colorado's. Nothing is as exceptional, however, as the Anschultz Medical Campus in Denver. It ranks among the finest in the nation.
Maine people are less outgoing than folks from Colorado. That isn't to say that they aren't friendly. New England is a Yankee area. I have found the educational level of the primary grades in Maine to be better than Colorado's schools.
I hope that helps.
When I would hear folks "from away" describe Mainers and cold or unfriendly....I knew what they meant.....but it really is a matter of culture. New Englanders are fairly self contained and highly value personal privacy.....and respect boundaries......but they are definately "neighborly" if and when you need a neighbor....they would be right there. But they dont wave and honk at people they dont know....(southerners do) and they tend to avoid making eye contact with strangers. I grew up in New England and I understand that....but I have also lived in the midwest and south and enjoy the social ease of southerners.
What is the winters like?[/u] I am from Colorado so I can handle a winter... However our roads are plowed and it melts a few days or a week later... How does this compare to Maine?
Roads were very well plowed BUT it does not “melt a few days later.” Once the snow starts (usually late November) it sticks around till February or March. There have been winters where I had enough snow piled next to my house that I could stand on the top and be higher than the eaves of my roof.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_iLL
How hot / humid does it get in summer? Is it humid and tons of mosquitos with all the water?
Much more humid than Colorado. Mid-July through August is the worst for humidity. May through July is the worst for mosquitoes. And ticks. Ticks are actually more of a hazard than mosquitoes, especially if you have pets.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_iLL
Does it rain alot? If I buy some land and build a cabin should I anticipate tons of rain? Also is there alot of flooding?
Much more than Colorado certainly, but it varies from year to year. Maine officially is no longer in drought as of a few weeks ago. Some lowland areas will flood in heavier years. Most years it rains enough that we don’t have to worry about watering the garden. Others it doesn’t. Others it rains too much.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_iLL
Can you go fishing in any of the lakes? Looking at the map on google I see tons of lakes.. thousands... Are there fish in all of these?
You can fish in any lake in Maine. Can you eat the fish you catch? Probably not. Too much leftover pollution from the mills, acid rain from the Midwest, etc..
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_iLL
Any Medical Specialists nearby?... If I am in Bangor or north of, and lets say I have to see a doctor.. (good one) how far would the drive be?
]
Maine is full of old people and therefore full of doctors. If you require a specialist, you might need to go to Bangor or Portland. But general practice? Everywhere in Maine.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_iLL
Is there Beaches in Maine with warm water? I know theres an ocean and a coast.. but are there miles upon miles of beaches? Or is it mostly rocks and too cold to swim.
Several good beaches in Maine. The water is not warm. We’re on the North Atlantic. On the bright side: There has never been a confirmed shark attack on a human at a Maine beach. Yet.
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)A large portion of municipal budgets in Maine are devoted to snow removal, including sand and salt..
