Wishful thinking or reality? (Augusta, Gardiner: mortgage, house, find a job)

[LHoss]

Hello to all, great site and reading through the archives gives me some good insight on Maine. Currently reside in Massachusetts and my wife, son and myself are very interested in moving to Maine, my wife is originally from Gardiner ( yah I stole one from ya ), and I have family in Readfield,Monmouth so we would like to move within a 30-40 mile radius of Augusta. We had looked extensively at Readfield 4-5 yrs ago and should have bought but got cold feet, our main concern is schooling for our son who will be a freshman in high school in 09, man that was kind of freaky typing that. We currently have nearly 300k in equity in the house we live in, we will be looking to build/buy a house in the 250K range,would like a view 5 or more acres, etc. Jobs,my wife is a medical assistant and I am a self employed electrician, would like to do something different but that is for another day, can we make life work in Maine? We will be mortgage free, cars paid for we carry no debt, have 50k or so in retirment socked away, college is our next biggest forseeable debt. Also forgot to mention we are in our mid thirties, I myself love the outdoors, have bird dogs, hunt, fish, etc, my wife doesn't really have any hobbies but I get the sense she would like to be closer to her friends and family, and we both cannot stand the rat race we face daily here anymore. So whatta ya think, what towns would make a good fit for us?

[WishingForMaine]

I forget where Augusta is compared to Jonesport, but I lived in Jonesport in 1986 and have been whining to go back ever since. I'm Floridian. ugh.
Jonesport was a small cute town. Home to the Fastest Lobster Boat Races, and I think nothing else. ha.
So, my vote is Jonesport.

[GrittyMcDuffy]

Keep us updated how you do.

[LHoss]

Does anyone know where CMP hires there employee's ? I have been looking at there website for I dunno 10 yrs now and have never seen a linemans job open up? And how do most people go about the move, do they find work first and then make the move or sell it all and jump in feet first? This is huge for me as I have never moved away from where I have grown up, I am trying to think think this through and weigh pro's-con's, am thinking next summer.

[BacktoNE]

Originally Posted by WishingForMaine

I forget where Augusta is compared to Jonesport, but I lived in Jonesport in 1986 and have been whining to go back ever since. I'm Floridian. ugh.
Jonesport was a small cute town. Home to the Fastest Lobster Boat Races, and I think nothing else. ha.
So, my vote is Jonesport.

Augusta is 159 miles from Jonesport/ 3 hrs 20 minutes each way.

Jonesport is certainly more beautiful than Augusta (most places are) but for employment, Augusta is a better target area for most people.


As for CMP, I believe they use an outside agency for hiring purposes these days. Many large companies have gone to that.


As a rule, it is easier to get moved and then find a job. People tend to be wary of anyone who says they are moving to a completely new area and want to make sure that any potential employee is "feet on the ground" before making plans to hire him or her.

[LHoss]

Originally Posted by BacktoNE

Augusta is 159 miles from Jonesport/ 3 hrs 20 minutes each way.

Jonesport is certainly more beautiful than Augusta (most places are) but for employment, Augusta is a better target area for most people.


As for CMP, I believe they use an outside agency for hiring purposes these days. Many large companies have gone to that.


As a rule, it is easier to get moved and then find a job. People tend to be wary of anyone who says they are moving to a completely new area and want to make sure that any potential employee is "feet on the ground" before making plans to hire him or her.

That is what totally freaks me out, that could be detrimental to my health doing that, lot's of late night drinking involved On another not BIW is looking for Electricians so I put my name in, never know until ya try

[contented]

hoss, it's my experience that skilled tradespeople can do very well along the coast. i'm familiar with the blue hill peninsula (ellsworth to stonington) which is growing on its own and has a lot of work generated by the building of second homes for the monied folks from boston, washington, philadelphia, new york, etc, who spend as much time here as they can.

good luck