What is Maine like? (Portland, Biddeford: sales, real estate, find a job)
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There seems to be a theme on a couple threads here in the Maine forum about miscommunication and holding back the negative side of this state. It's almost as though people are looking for some one to blame for them moving here. It seems that us folks who do live here and enjoy it are a bunch of Polly Anna's. Sometimes people only want to think about the cute bunnies, the beautiful woods and shoreline and not think of the other side of the coin.
I don't ever remember a thread that had all glowing, positive-only, post like that. I remember people like Acadianlion, Mermaid, Ranger101st, and a bunch of others, myself included, that do not sugarcoat a thing. They gave the good and a large dose of the bad from making a living to taxes, to LURC, and DEP. Almost all "I want to live free in Maine" threads get the standard "Ever been here? Visit a few times in different seasons, different areas." speech. I also know quite a few folks who looked at Maine through rose colored glasses that changed their minds after either speaking with folks here or coming up and checking the place out, like they were advised.
If you move to a town and show them a bad attitude you can't complain about being treated badly. The statement made about tourists who show up with "Serve me at once you ignorant wench!" attitudes is correctand some people don't realize they exude that. They are too used to using it where they have lived before. I've seen it first hand and called the people on it.
If you moved here and disregarded the downside, sorry, but it ain't from lack of info on here. I've seen that first hand too. If you don't like it (and I know this is trite and probably impolite) move as soon as your able. I've done that. Gat my tailend back home as soon as possible. One time took 20 years to do it. Just don't blame us for your not reading/heeding the info/warnings along with all the good stuff. We told you the scenery was not edible. (There, I feel better now. Ignore the spelling errors.)
There seems to be a theme on a couple threads here in the Maine forum about miscommunication and holding back the negative side of this state. It's almost as though people are looking for some one to blame for them moving here. It seems that us folks who do live here and enjoy it are a bunch of Polly Anna's. Sometimes people only want to think about the cute bunnies, the beautiful woods and shoreline and not think of the other side of the coin.
I don't ever remember a thread that had all glowing, positive-only, post like that. I remember people like Acadianlion, Mermaid, Ranger101st, and a bunch of others, myself included, that do not sugarcoat a thing. They gave the good and a large dose of the bad from making a living to taxes, to LURC, and DEP. Almost all "I want to live free in Maine" threads get the standard "Ever been here? Visit a few times in different seasons, different areas." speech. I also know quite a few folks who looked at Maine through rose colored glasses that changed their minds after either speaking with folks here or coming up and checking the place out, like they were advised.
If you move to a town and show them a bad attitude you can't complain about being treated badly. The statement made about tourists who show up with "Serve me at once you ignorant wench!" attitudes is correctand some people don't realize they exude that. They are too used to using it where they have lived before. I've seen it first hand and called the people on it.
If you moved here and disregarded the downside, sorry, but it ain't from lack of info on here. I've seen that first hand too. If you don't like it (and I know this is trite and probably impolite) move as soon as your able. I've done that. Gat my tailend back home as soon as possible. One time took 20 years to do it. Just don't blame us for your not reading/heeding the info/warnings along with all the good stuff. We told you the scenery was not edible. (There, I feel better now. Ignore the spelling errors.)
That sounded soooo much better when Reloop said it. Just sayin'
I was career military, so I bounced around a lot. East Coast, West Coast, North, South, Overseas, ...
To me I have found Maine to be fairly inexpensive. But I am not on the coast in a McMansion. I am an hour inland in a forest alongside a river.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kmanloup
... How friendly are Mainers?
I have found Mainers to generally be very friendly.
There will always be a guy who **** in his wheaties, but mostly folks are nice.
If you are nice, others will be nice.
I think the biggest part of it is up to you though. Go to church and make friends. Go to lodge, or Post, or Hall, or Grange, or whatever local community organization fits you the best. Go there, bring food for the potluck supper and introduce yourself.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kmanloup
... What is your favorite part of Maine?
If you slide off the road folks will stop to yank you out of the snow.
If your car dies and you step out, folks will stop and ask if you need help.
If you decide to stay inside after a storm and ignore the snow on the ground; neighbors will show up to check on you.
There seems to be a theme on a couple threads here in the Maine forum about miscommunication and holding back the negative side of this state. It's almost as though people are looking for some one to blame for them moving here. It seems that us folks who do live here and enjoy it are a bunch of Polly Anna's. Sometimes people only want to think about the cute bunnies, the beautiful woods and shoreline and not think of the other side of the coin. ...
I often get accused of being too positive about Maine.
A few years ago the river here flooded. Towns up and down were all flooded. Water came right up to my house, we lost power, I even posted photos of me kayaking in through our front door.
Every photo showed me smiling and laughing. In fact the entire event had me tearing up and smiling. Still to this day, I can't discuss it without smiling.
I have survived a few flooding events before that day. To my experience 'flooding' always meant men were screaming and dying, if we did not all work hard we were all going to be dying. 'Flooding' where it only means my house gets wet seems like using a powerful word for such a non-event. I built our house and if I needed to I could build another one. It is replaceable.
I positively like Maine.
There is crime everywhere, but in Maine the crime rate feels low.
Crisis happens everywhere, but when you in such a calm and peaceful place how bad can it get?
There seems to be a theme on a couple threads here in the Maine forum about miscommunication and holding back the negative side of this state. It's almost as though people are looking for some one to blame for them moving here. It seems that us folks who do live here and enjoy it are a bunch of Polly Anna's. Sometimes people only want to think about the cute bunnies, the beautiful woods and shoreline and not think of the other side of the coin.
I don't know that that's what anyone's saying.
Personally, I think there's a huge difference in perspective between many of those who post regularly in the Maine forum and some of those looking to move there. Most of the posts about Mid Coast, Downeast, Central and Northern Maine are spot on. You, Forest, Mermaid, and many others are generally spot on with your insight and do an excellent job of highlighting the positives and negatives (more so than in many other state forums which is why I like to come back from time to time and read threads here).
I notice the perspective issues mostly in threads regarding Southern Maine (specifically the Portland area). To get more specific, the questions posed by younger people coming from more populated areas. K-Luv pointed out that many people responding to those threads are either retired, life-long Mainers or people who have moved to the area to escape larger metros.
People in Maine view that area of the state SO much differently than outsiders. Obviously insider and outsider perspectives will vary quite a bit everywhere; but the Maine take on Southern Maine (particularly Portland) is so far off from the perspective of those from outside of the state that it makes for some really "iffy" responses to questions about that area (especially with how well suited it is for young people).
For example, there were recently threads about how "democratic" Portland is. As with any political topic, responses were all over the map. One poster described it as ultra liberal. The "Berkeley of the East." Having spent a lot of time in the Bay Area for work and pleasure over the past few years, I know they're nothing alike. Portland definitely leans a little to the left and even has a slight bohemian vibe, but Berkeley of the East? No way. They're not even close. Portland may be more liberal than the Maine average, but it's far from Bay Area extreme. It doesn't even feel as progressive as many smaller cities and towns right here in New England.
Another one that comes to mind is the cultural aspect of Southern Maine. There's no denying that Portland is the cultural hub of Maine. However, this often gets blown out of proportion. I can't tell you how many Direct Messages I've had from people who were really disappointed with the way things like Portland's nightlife, museums, art scene, music scene, etc. were described here and how they panned out. Portland is great in many of those aspects for a city its size, but it's a huge downgrade for those coming from larger cities. I'm not talking about Boston, NYC, LA, etc. I'm talking about even medium sized cities like Providence, Milwaukee, Austin, Portland (OR), etc. I don't think that message is conveyed all that well. Many posts would lead one to expect more than they will find.
But I don't think it's "sugar coating." The same applies to many of the negatives of living in Southern Maine. You don't have to look very hard to see people discussing the so-called "bad" neighborhoods in Portland. Or see a post about how awful rush hour traffic can be in the Portland area. There are plenty of people who write about how all of Southern Maine is just one big suburb of Boston (even though Portland is 2+ hours away, and Southern Maine is still fairly rural as a whole). Maine's one of the safest states in the nation. Half of Maine lives in York, Cumberland or Sagadahoc County and they certainly contribute to those statistics. To almost anyone coming from even a moderately populated area outside of Maine, what passes as a "bad neighborhood," "heavy traffic," or "densely populated" in Maine will seem funny.
You're absolutely right in saying that there are many very straightforward members in the Maine forum. However, there are some topics that seem to be incapable of getting straight answers. I still get messages from people who have questions about Portland. I haven't lived there for almost 3 years and rarely post in the Portland form anymore. There are a few members who do an excellent job covering the family aspect of the Portland area and Southern Maine. It's the single 20-somethings and 30-somethings that I think sometimes have a harder time getting an accurate picture.
At the end of the day, each one of us is responsible for our decisions. I'm not going to hide the fact that I was super excited to move to Maine and ended up REALLY let down. For a while, I blamed everyone else. When I finally came to terms with the fact that it was my fault and my lack of research that was the problem, I became much happier. I still moved and am glad I did; but I don't resent Maine for not being thrilled with living there. There is nothing to resent, after all. Barring an incredibly traumatic experience (and even then, those tend to be isolated incidents), the problem is more often you and not everyone else. It took me some time to realize that.
I've never been to Maine, but I can tell you that small towns everywhere are cliquish and the people aloof. In no small town I've been to have the people welcomed me with open arms into a Norman Rockwell-like church potluck or Sunday dinner feast. They got along without me since they were established, and that was how they preferred it - they have their own friends and family and lives. That's been true in the Midwest, the Northeast, the Northwest, and even California. Only in university towns have people been more accepting of outsiders.
Maine has a lot of small towns, but they're no different in that way than the ones elsewhere. Don't move to a small town or city unless you know someone with deep roots in the community, preferably family.
West of Ellsworth would probably be considered to be 'mid-coast', whereas east of Ellsworth would be the true 'Downeast'. You can actually see and feel the difference once you pass through Ellsworth.
You mean less people? Downeast Magazine seems to think any part of the coast north of Camden is Down east.
You mean less people? Downeast Magazine seems to think any part of the coast north of Camden is Down east.
Down wind from Boston is 'Downeast'.
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