gay in Belfast? (Ellsworth, Blue Hill, Stockton Springs: rent, house, living)

[elston]

I am a gay man in a committed relationship moving back to New England after several years in San Diego County. My partner and I will be settling in one of the towns around Portland--probably in the area around Saco or Scarborough. I have family in that area. From what I know and am told Portland has a visible gay community and is just fine with that. My experience living in NH was that most people don't care what you do or how you live your life as long as it doesnt intrude on them. The "reserved" New Englander image is really a matter of respecting boundaries and not presuming or infringing on privacy rights.

I have checked web sites for my church denomination (Unitarian Universalist) and the ones in Southern and mid coastal Maine all indicate they are "welcoming congregations" and have a rainbow logo or some such on their web page. I have found the UU churches to be the best way to begin to find "community".

[moughie]

Unitarian churches are a great choice! Also there used to be some very accetping and open UCCC and Episcopal churches in the greater Portland area.
Unfortunately my "info" is 12 years old, pre Bush- so who knows what the climate and sentiment is now
Best of luck to you!

[ScranBarre]

As a fellow gay male, I wouldn't allow the narrow minds of others to force you to narrow your own horizons as you ponder relocation. My family and I vacationed in Maine several years ago, and we truly fell in love with the sheer beauty of the state. My parents wish to retire there someday, and I can most definitely see my partner and I retiring someday in Portland as well once I retire from my political and accounting career in Scranton, PA.

I've noticed that a lot of people are simply "afraid" of cultures and ideas that they have never been exposed to before. It's easier to approach something new and different with a closed mind as opposed to an open one I suppose. If you're respectful of the boundaries of others and simply wish to fulfill your life dream of returning to Maine, then why base the decision on as to whether or not OTHERS would accept you? If they don't, then that's simply their loss. I've met my fair share of neo-Nazi homophobes in Pennsylvania as well (hell, the KKK is now headquartered here too I believe), but I've come to the conclusion that as long as I ignore them they eventually go away.

Don't give up on pursuing your dreams out of fear of homophobia. There are conservative jerks everywhere who can make some pretty hurtful comments; don't let them get to you! Best of luck!

[KiddinAroundFarm]

Originally Posted by xmainer

These comments are so helpful. Maybe I'm seeing a little of the community I'm looking for on this forum. I love so many things about Maine. In fact, I'm heading up there to visit my folks in a few weeks and I'm already jazzed with anticipation. (I live in CT, you see. Don't get me started.) That said, change is a little scary, but this forum has started to make me more hopeful about returning to my home state. Keep the comments coming!

This forum is extremely helpful, and full of friendly folks!!! As far as your question, while I don't have personal experience with Belfast in particular, we've known people who were gay/lesbian and lived in that general area who never had any issues. I really agree with another poster who said that as long as you are a law-abiding, nice, responsible neighbor and citizen that mostly you won't have issues.

I know that when we moved here from CT we noticed a whole new attitude. Things that would bother folks in CT didn't seem to faze people here, and are even celebrated, like our love of doing things "the old way" and farming, and growing what we eat, etc. In CT we were "wierd bohemian" folks, and yet, we are further from that than I could ever explain. lol. I think there's just an air of superiority in CT that you won't find here, well, in most areas. At least above oh, Augusta. (yes, was a joke for those that live in the southern part of that state... I do not mean offense. But those that live here northerly will "get it".)

And on the CT note, I can understand completely why you want to leave there. What area are you in now? There are a couple others here that are from CT, or live there now, and are moving to ME. We lived in the Tolland/Vernon/Stafford area for years.

[strichmo]

I've been lurking here awhile now and this seems like a friendly enough place to ask questions and not be slammed or ridiculed, so here goes. I'll be moving to the Belfast/Searsport area (from hideous southeastern Arizona) shortly (hopefully around Thanksgiving and certainly before Christmas). I am a fifty-year-old highly responsible and sensible gay man. It's just me and my small black poodle. I have been a librarian for nearly thirty years and have done some post-secondary teaching as well (English, information literacy, and paralegal studies). I write a lot, but have only published a little. I am also a certified paralegal and an uncertified, but trained masseur (which I will never do for money and only for friends). I am not interested at all in "furthering my career, but if that happens, it's okay; I mostly just need a way to support myself and the poodle and to hopefully make at least a meagre contribution to the community. Any suggestions on how to start making that happen would be appreciated.

Also, again, it's just me, the poodle, and, as you'd probably expect from an English teacher and librarian, a couple thousand books and comics. I am not looking to buy, but to rent an apartment, a half-house, or a small house in the Belfast/Searsport area. Suggestions on reliable sources for this kind of information is also needed.

My time here in Arizona has been dismal. Lots of bad advice which I unfortunately was foolhardy enough to take has left me with a very nice house that I built (I think I've got a buyer though) and not much financial security left. I'm looking forward to a fresh start in beloved Maine, but this is without doubt, the scariest thing I've ever done in these fifty years.

So, kind words, positive thoughts, and gracious spirits are greatly desired. I look forward to hearing from you.

[msina]

I'm sorry I don't have a lot of Info for you. Here is a link that has rental property though. Belfast is nice, Searsport may be more affordable to rent in. It soounds like you have done some thinking and know what you are doing. Let us know when you have your plans set, we'll be glad to see you.
Maine Coast NOW - A Courier Publications Information Source

[moughie]

Originally Posted by strichmo

I've been lurking here awhile now and this seems like a friendly enough place to ask questions and not be slammed or ridiculed, so here goes. I'll be moving to the Belfast/Searsport area (from hideous southeastern Arizona) shortly (hopefully around Thanksgiving and certainly before Christmas). I am a fifty-year-old highly responsible and sensible gay man. It's just me and my small black poodle. I have been a librarian for nearly thirty years and have done some post-secondary teaching as well (English, information literacy, and paralegal studies). I write a lot, but have only published a little. I am also a certified paralegal and an uncertified, but trained masseur (which I will never do for money and only for friends). I am not interested at all in "furthering my career, but if that happens, it's okay; I mostly just need a way to support myself and the poodle and to hopefully make at least a meagre contribution to the community. Any suggestions on how to start making that happen would be appreciated.

Also, again, it's just me, the poodle, and, as you'd probably expect from an English teacher and librarian, a couple thousand books and comics. I am not looking to buy, but to rent an apartment, a half-house, or a small house in the Belfast/Searsport area. Suggestions on reliable sources for this kind of information is also needed.

My time here in Arizona has been dismal. Lots of bad advice which I unfortunately was foolhardy enough to take has left me with a very nice house that I built (I think I've got a buyer though) and not much financial security left. I'm looking forward to a fresh start in beloved Maine, but this is without doubt, the scariest thing I've ever done in these fifty years.

So, kind words, positive thoughts, and gracious spirits are greatly desired. I look forward to hearing from you.

You should have no problem settling into the Belfast/Searsport area! As a librarian, perhaps get to know the local library and maybe start a book club or reader's circle. I am sure that you, your black poodle and your book collection will be nicely welcome!!

Sorry you had a bad time out here in AZ. You know, out here in cowboy country things are quite different than the Northern NE! However I hope you enjoyed the amazing Sonoran desert and take with you memories of the beautiful mountains and evening skies

Do not be scared- change can be a good thing!! I am sure you will fare well. Best of luck to you and keep positive

[strichmo]

There are parts of Arizona that are absolutely breath-taking and not at all what most folks expect of the desert. Even the long stretches of desert wasteland, full of cactus and the myriad stinging and prickling and biting flora and fauna, is awesomely beautiful, but there's just too many people junking up the desert out here. One of the reasons I left rural Indiana was so I wouldn't have to look at trashed cars sitting in every other driveway on blocks, never to move again within my lifetime. But they do that here too in clueless Cochise County, which interestingly enough is apparently, at least statistically the incest capital of AZ.

I know there are those who do that in Maine as well; I've driven that length of Rte 9 from Bangor to Calais, but after reading Carolyn Chute's THE BEANS OF EGYPT MAINE, I can only conclude that Mainers do it with a lot more charm and elan than do Hoosiers or Arizonans.

Thanks again for your good wishes and while I know change can be good, the uncertainies involved in this particular move, still have me terrified, if in a good way.

Stephen

[mollysmiles]

Strichmo certainly let us know how the search for housing is going. I wish I could help....best wishes and be sure to check back with us all!

[Northern Maine Land Man]

School kids here take tests every few years to assess their progress. It's like a combined acheivment and IQ test. It is called the MEA or Maine Educational Assessment. The test is developed in some star chamber by educational theorists with doctorate degrees.

There was a question on the test where kids had to associate different images. One image was a tripod. Most kids associated the tripod with an automobile. None of these kids had ever seen a camera on a tripod. My wife was supposed to mark the kids wrong. She gave them credit for their actually correct answer.

When these kids get off the school bus they see an old Ford Tempo in the front yard with an engine hanging from a tripod over it. It's a common sight and no government zoning authority up here is going to have anything to say about it. ;-)

They do indeed perform this feat with elan. Everybody here knows precisely how long the three cedar poles must be and the length of chain needed to bind them together in order to compensate for the length of the come-along and the clearance over the radiator, given the total height of the engine. An engineer could figure it, but these folks just know and can do it on sloping ground.