BEST Maine town to grow old in (Portland, Lewiston: wood floors, insurance)

[RiverBird]

Originally Posted by badhornet

Bangor. Very nice people. I remember flying in from Desert Storm when I was in the service and our plane stopped there to refuel. Seemed like the whole town was there in the airport to welcome troops coming back. They will always have a special place in my heart

Yes, I saw a film clip on the Bangor residents welcoming the troops home, very moving! What an amazing community!

A Bangor trip is on my radar

[elston]

I retired to Gorham Maine and have lived here for 3 years.....I really like it! I also like Saco.....which is a bit bigger than Gorham.....I could live happily in either. Saco has some lovely residential neighborhoods and a charming "down town" and active cultural life.....Gorham is a bit sleepier....but is close to everything. Both towns are well served medically and I could imagine growing older and remaining in either for the duration.

These are communities that put the word "neighbor" back into "neighborhood"; folks are friendly and welcoming and non-judgemental. You can chat with store keepers, volunteer, participate in activities and events and walk about without fear of crime.

[RiverBird]

Originally Posted by elston

I retired to Gorham Maine and have lived here for 3 years.....I really like it! I also like Saco.....which is a bit bigger than Gorham.....I could live happily in either. Saco has some lovely residential neighborhoods and a charming "down town" and active cultural life.....Gorham is a bit sleepier....but is close to everything. Both towns are well served medically and I could imagine growing older and remaining in either for the duration.

These are communities that put the word "neighbor" back into "neighborhood"; folks are friendly and welcoming and non-judgemental. You can chat with store keepers, volunteer, participate in activities and events and walk about without fear of crime.

Just curious...where did you move from and why did you choose Gorham? Are you a retired senior? Is there a senior center that might have van service? And, since I do prefer some natural foods, how close is that kind of market?
I did a quick realtor.com search on Gorham and found some charming small houses, but the prop taxes are high on these inexpensive homes. Do you feel that?

[elston]

Originally Posted by newenglandgirl

Just curious...where did you move from and why did you choose Gorham? Are you a retired senior? Is there a senior center that might have van service? And, since I do prefer some natural foods, how close is that kind of market?
I did a quick realtor.com search on Gorham and found some charming small houses, but the prop taxes are high on these inexpensive homes. Do you feel that?

My partner and I moved here from San Diego County California.....but we had moved out there from the east when we retired.....I had ties to Maine and other New England states and he had lived in NYC for many years. Neither of us liked CA life....and wanted to return to the NE. Since I have family living in Southern Maine....we started looking around Saco, Kennebunk, Scarborough, Buxton, Portland, Falmouth, Gorham. We did check on line lots of other regions of the state.....but really prefered southern Maine.

We had two criteria.......that it be near an indoor tennis court and that it be close to a Unitarian-Universalist Church.....that met both of our most singular requirements. We hoped to find a welcoming community....not politically reactionary.....and one that offered peace and quiet and beauty and charm. Proximity to the ocean or to lakes was also a consideration....as well as health care...cultural....amenities.

I don't think Gorham has any van service....altho I am old enough and getting older.....I am still pretty active....and my partner "is an excellent driver". (RainMan quote).

There is a Hannaford supermarket in town....it has a natural food dept but it is not a Whole Foods type place......downtown has the Hannaford, several banks, a CVS drug store...several fast food resturants and a couple of sit down lunch places.....as well as hair salon, insurance...art supply and a book store. There is a nice bed and breakfast Inn.

Gorham is a commuter community; being retired the traffic isnt a problem for us.....but for folks working in Portland ..... it is an issue.

[RiverBird]

Hmmmn, interesting info. Have you been to Gardiner and if so how would you compare it to Gorham?

Here where I live in Western New England, lots and lots of people over 60 who had bought rural land and homes in their 20s and 30s are now coming up on their 70s. I'm curious to know how living in outlying areas is going to impact on them esp those who need healthcare visits and see driving a problem in the next 10 years.

I love Maine, but all the places I visited are many miles between places. I think, as some posters suggested, that Bangor might be the most likely place if I ever do decide to move (that would be in maybe 5 yrs)>

[elston]

If you are worrying about people in lower or western New England, driving up to visit you in Maine.....going to Bangore adds quite a bit to their travels. When I lived in NH my parents moved to Eastport.....and then to Dexter....I considered those drives to be way way too far.....a real obstacle to visiting. I tried to do it no more than once a year.....until they got sick and I had to go up and stay over.

[retiredtinbender]

Originally Posted by newenglandgirl

Hmmmn, interesting info. Have you been to Gardiner and if so how would you compare it to Gorham?

Here where I live in Western New England, lots and lots of people over 60 who had bought rural land and homes in their 20s and 30s are now coming up on their 70s. I'm curious to know how living in outlying areas is going to impact on them esp those who need healthcare visits and see driving a problem in the next 10 years.

I love Maine, but all the places I visited are many miles between places. I think, as some posters suggested, that Bangor might be the most likely place if I ever do decide to move (that would be in maybe 5 yrs)>

This state is miles from itself. Bangor and suroounding area is a good "jumping off" point for it all though, IMHO. We lived there for awhile and loved it. Fairly centered and only a few hours from most anywhere.

[elston]

When I go to the symphony in Portland I see lots of vans from senior communities bringing their residents there for the concert.......I have a relative who lives in one of those communities that are set up to provide a continuim of services from your own home to home health services to apartments with meal plans and nursing services available prn.....and nursing home care. I dont know the finances etc....but several of them are in really beautiful settings with ocean views and an active social life...and like I say.....transport services. I think they provide a real alternative for seniors....that support independance but are available to assist as needed.

[tarragon]

China, Belgrade, Unity, Belfast, Camden. Unity is an interesting area. You are central to Bangor, Waterville, Belfast (ocean). The town has a new Amish community, MOFGA, they also have a small lake area, beautiful park, performing arts center, small college, a healthcare center, small grocery store...the intown homes are very nice older homes. All in all, it's a well kept town. I lived there for 25 years.

[Maineah]

I'd choose Starks and the surrounding area. They worship marijuana there and have a full automatic machine gun shoot in the sand pit every year. Talk about CULTCHA!