Moving to Maine? Help! (Portland, Bangor: ski resorts, home, job market)

[texasgirl21]

I have been searching for a place like this for months! Here is my story. I am 23 and my fiance is 24. I have lived in Texas for about 18 years and my fiance has lived in Texas for about 8 or so years. He is previously from Maine and his family still lives there. He's been itching to move back for years.

I am from a big city (Dallas) and have never lived in a small town like I know most of Maine is. My fiance's mother wants us to live with her for a short time but his family all lives mainly north near Bangor and Standish. I would feel more at home in an area such as Portland.

If we do end up moving to Bangor or an area around there is it going to be completely country? I picture living in Maine where the nearest neighbor is 3 miles away and the nearest grocery store 20 miles away. Please tell me it isnt so! I have been to Maine over the summer a couple years ago and I absolutely loved it, probably because it wasn't snowing. I know its gorgeous I'm just scared, its so not Texas.

Also, how is the job situation? I am a recent grad from college and definitely need to find a job quickly.

Not to mention the snow situation. Texas gets some ice here and there over the winter but for the most part its sunny constantly. I don't know if I will survive the blizzards and the winters and the still having to go to work if theres 20 inches of snow on the ground (everything in texas gets closed if there is a 1/4 inch of ice.

I really need a change of scenary, I am tired of Texas and I would love to be around more family. Lemme know what you guys think of Maine and the different areas.

[Mark S.]

Bangor is certainly A LOT smaller than Dallas, but it's still a city, as is Portland. And if you get too lonely for the big city, Boston isn't that far away.

So Bangor certainly isn't "completely country" where your nearest neighbor is 3 miles away. But the great thing about it is that if you want to be out in the country, it's only a short drive away.

Job situation really depends on your experience. What's your degree in?

Weather will definitely be a big adjustment. We were up in Maine shortly after Easter, and we got hit with 8 inches of snow because of the nor'easter that blew through. But I was so impressed at how well the roads were kept. Even when we were up in the boonies up in Aroostook county, the roads were spotless.

[forest beekeeper]

You are young, come and try it.

At worst if you do not find that living in Maine suits you, then move somewhere else.

Do you hunt? or Fish?

Do you like to snow ski?

Maine offers a lot for outdoors folks.

[texasgirl21]

Originally Posted by Mark S.

Bangor is certainly A LOT smaller than Dallas, but it's still a city, as is Portland. And if you get too lonely for the big city, Boston isn't that far away.

So Bangor certainly isn't "completely country" where your nearest neighbor is 3 miles away. But the great thing about it is that if you want to be out in the country, it's only a short drive away.

Job situation really depends on your experience. What's your degree in?

Weather will definitely be a big adjustment. We were up in Maine shortly after Easter, and we got hit with 8 inches of snow because of the nor'easter that blew through. But I was so impressed at how well the roads were kept. Even when we were up in the boonies up in Aroostook county, the roads were spotless.

my degree is in child development but I'm thinking it will be a lot easier to find a job if I get my teaching certificate.

[texasgirl21]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

You are young, come and try it.

At worst if you do not find that living in Maine suits you, then move somewhere else.

Do you hunt? or Fish?

Do you like to snow ski?

Maine offers a lot for outdoors folks.

I don't hunt...or fish. And i've never tried to ski before. But I could definitely try it right? Where can you ski in Maine?

[forest beekeeper]

SkiMaine

Maine Skiing Directory

SkiCentral - Maine Ski Resorts

[AlisonL]

FYI, Standish isn't north.

[forest beekeeper]

Standish is 158 miles and 2 hours 38 minutes South of me.

[oceanfit185]

Originally Posted by texasgirl21

I have been searching for a place like this for months! Here is my story. I am 23 and my fiance is 24. I have lived in Texas for about 18 years and my fiance has lived in Texas for about 8 or so years. He is previously from Maine and his family still lives there. He's been itching to move back for years.

I am from a big city (Dallas) and have never lived in a small town like I know most of Maine is. My fiance's mother wants us to live with her for a short time but his family all lives mainly north near Bangor and Standish. I would feel more at home in an area such as Portland.

If we do end up moving to Bangor or an area around there is it going to be completely country? I picture living in Maine where the nearest neighbor is 3 miles away and the nearest grocery store 20 miles away. Please tell me it isnt so! I have been to Maine over the summer a couple years ago and I absolutely loved it, probably because it wasn't snowing. I know its gorgeous I'm just scared, its so not Texas.

Also, how is the job situation? I am a recent grad from college and definitely need to find a job quickly.

Not to mention the snow situation. Texas gets some ice here and there over the winter but for the most part its sunny constantly. I don't know if I will survive the blizzards and the winters and the still having to go to work if theres 20 inches of snow on the ground (everything in texas gets closed if there is a 1/4 inch of ice.

I really need a change of scenary, I am tired of Texas and I would love to be around more family. Lemme know what you guys think of Maine and the different areas.

I was just a recent college grad looking for work in the Portland area. At the time it was pretty hard to find a job. But the job market is getting better. I think it all depends on what industry you are trying to get into and what experience you have. I would recommend getting a low level job in the mean time to help you get by until you find something better. I worked the door at a bar and the front desk of a gym until I found a “real” job. In the end things worked out.

There are parts of Maine that are completely country. And Portland and Bangor are both smaller than some neighborhoods in Dallas. So be ready for a change. That being said, Maine is really nice. Both Portland and Bangor are really clean cities with very friendly and well educated people. Portland has about 60,000, and about 100,000 the the greater area. Bangor is closer to 35,000, with probably 60,000 the the greater area. So, there are plenty of neighbors and grocery stores to be had.

Also, when compared to Dallas, anywhere in Maine has almost zero crime.

I have lived in both the Bangor area and Portland. I prefer Portland. It just has a bit more going on. But Bangor isn’t bad at all. Being from a big city you might not be able to tell much a difference between them. Also, family can make all the difference. So maybe Bangor will work for you.

The outdoors is really the best part of the state. We have the Ocean, rivers, clean lakes and mountains. Any type of out door activity, Maine has it. And it’s probably some of the best in the country.

As for the snow, there is no easy way around it. We have long hard winters. But probably the best summers. And if you haven’t seen it, the fall will impress you. The rules for surviving winter are simple. Learn to walk on ice, drive in snow, and get good winter gear. A remote car starter, snow tires, and a good winter jacket will make you life a lot easier.

Hope this helps

[oceanfit185]

Originally Posted by texasgirl21

I don't hunt...or fish. And i've never tried to ski before. But I could definitely try it right? Where can you ski in Maine?

Sunday River and Sugar loaf are the big mountains. Their are also smaller ones, depending on your area.