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Kiwiluvr got me thinking about my neighborhood. Everybody generally minds their own business (even if everybody in the neighborhood likes to gossip a little bit about everybody else; it's kind of a harmless pasttime).
But the thing is, everybody is friendly, and I know without a doubt that there isn't a person in the neighborhood who wouldn't help me out in a pinch, no matter what it might be. And everybody else knows the same thing about me and everybody else. I like that.
I dont know if its just me, but I'd help any neighbor if they ask- but it takes almost a crisis for anyone to even attempt to ask, no one wants to bother the neighbor-we all get along fine- come to think of it, thats how our family is too, so maybe it is me...
In the 20 yrs Ive been here,l I dont think I have asked a neighbor for anything-except for permission to hunt, and use an atv on a neighbors piece of land
but, if thier was a crisis, I think we all know we'd help each other.,
during this last flood, I did have a neighbor ask if if I needed any help
ah yes....when I had 2 greyhounds - retired racers, and if they ever got free, and run off, the neighbors were good enough to grab them when they could and hold them til I picked them up
I think it's not Maine, but rather the rural part of Maine that makes it friendly. In rural America, we know our neighbors, we are just as likely to give help as to receive it. We all know we do depend on each other, even if not directly. That is lost in larger cities. Logically since Maine does not have large cities, it would be much more likely to be a friendly place.
Where I lived in a large southern city, I would never stop to render aid to someone who had broken down. Here in Maine, I don't hesitate to pull over and offer assistance. I guess I feel safe enough to do this, plus I carry a lot more "stuff" that can help a stranded motorist, such as: oil, antifreeze, water, jumper cables, fix a flat, a tow rope, etc.etc. In the south I didn't feel the need to have all these things on board, but here in Maine, they are essential. Oops, forgot about the Maine Atlas. I drove 80 miles round trip daily to work a couple of years ago. I needed all that "stuff" to feel safe on the roads. I stopped to help at least 3-4 people that year. Many of them lived in the same area as I do.
Put it this way the state has 381000 people that are on welfare. The crime is going thought the roof because of the pill heads. Last week there was four arm robberies of drug stores in Augusta. But if you are just coming for the summer you should be OK Check out Camden Rockland OOB
Just because Maine is the safest state doesn't mean that there won't be crime.......there's just LESS crime. It's an unfortunate truth........there will always be bad people doing bad things, and the evening news is right there to tell us all about it in great detail!
Well. I had written up a great reply to the OP in that thread up there I edited and then, because I have been stressed and beyond tired lately, my mind is apparently gone and I, for some reason, looked at the date of 06/2012 and my mind said, "that was last year".
Ugh! Sleep is very important for people, keep that in mind.
OP, here's basically what I said in reply to you:
I moved from Miami to Maine last May.
Yes, Miami has a lot of culture. Miami is also loud, obnoxious, rude, arrogant, snotty, pretentious and people just plain old don't care much about other people. Some do, most don't. It is also boiling hot 345 days out of the year.
Maine? Not so much. In fact, last year during summer, people here were complaining about the humidity. Prepare to be confused at first, ("What humidity?" I honestly asked), and then amused because, seriously, WHAT humidity?! (But they will get their turn in the winter time to make fun of us because we will be shivering and saying how damn cold that wind is and they'll say, "What cold?" It wasn't that cold this winter but some days that wind was just biting.) And don't be surprised if people ask you if you're hot when you are wearing a sweatshirt on a 70 degree day. Uh, no. I'm not...it's not that warm!
In Maine, people drive slower. If you are used to Miami traffic, this may be difficult to get used to. (I'm still working on my road rage. It still hasn't sunk in that I do NOT have to fight for everything...I'm getting there.) The good news is, most people on the freeway stay to the right so you can actually get around! In town...well...I've seen more older people in Maine than I ever did in "retirement haven" Florida. And they drive slow. And they LOVE to make a career out of turning their cars. So...be patient if you are used to impatient driving in Miami.
I can't remember the last time I heard someone lay on their horn, most especially the millisecond the light turned green. That doesn't happen here and I can't even begin to describe how refreshing that is. You might hear a slight, short, "beep", if the light is green and you're off in La La Land but no one LAYS on their horn the INSTANT the light turns green.
OH and you don't have people flipping you off left and right, either! I have yet to see anyone here, (unlike Miami), getting dressed while they drive, putting on make up while they drive, reading a book on their steering wheel while they drive, turning left from the right lane four lanes over cutting everyone off and then blaring their horn and flipping off everyone. I have seen three people, in total, in an entire year, run a red light. They were not all at the same red light, either. Unlike Miami where you have six more cars go through the red light. So, even though they drive slow, they don't act like they went from donkey and cart to behind the wheel like they do in Miami. If you hate Miami traffic, this will be a wonderful experience for you.
The people...first of all, they speak English! And you don't get an attitude for speaking English! And people don't grunt at you and walk away when you ask a question, such as in a store, for help. They actually HELP! In fact, they approach you and ask you if you need help.
(I know, I should have warned you to be sitting down for this post.)
Kids of all ages, people in general, they say things like, "Excuse me" and "Thank you" and "You're welcome" and...THEY MEAN IT! It's almost too shocking, I know.
The entire dang state is just one big pile of beauty. There's tons to do here if you like nature and outdoor activities. There's lakes and other bodies of water and NO gators! You can actually swim or take your dog for a swim and not worry about walking home with only a half eaten leash left in your hand.
(Course, there's the moose to learn about and they are huge and frankly their hooves and horns scare the crap out of me but thus far, I have not seen a moose. Course, I haven't exactly been out in the woods just yet so there's still time.)
People do not care what you drive. They do not care where you live. They do not care what clothes you wear or where you got them...unless you are telling them how cheap you got them. Bragging about how much money you spend in this area just makes you look like a damn fool, not cool. They don't care about those things because those things are not important.
When people say cliche things like, "down to earth", they probably got that by looking at the people in Maine. Down to earth, in the true sense, is how I would describe most of them.
One thing that you do need to know, however, is something you may not be used to because of being in Miami. Miami is huge, people come from all over, no one cares. We make friends, we work, we have fun, we learn different cultures and that's just how it is. Well, New England in general is known for being...aloof, so to speak, to those "from away". It does happen. It can be frustrating at times. I see that a bit when I'm out and about and I don't know if I'll ever get used to that.
But, not everyone is from Maine and what's interesting to me is that those who are not from Maine still act just like what everyone says Maine is: friendly. Not everyone who is native acts wary of "strangers", it seems to be certain age groups, but just know, it is there. It's not to the point you can't function and plenty of natives are very friendly and don't give a rat's patookis where you come from, they'll just plain old be friendly to you for no dang reason. But, there are some.
Maine vs Miami, Pros and Cons:
Pros: It's not boiling hot 99% of the year. The traffic is way, way, way, way less. It IS cheaper to live here even when you factor in heating oil costs. People are nicer. Every where is gorgeous but apparently, you aren't allowed to just pull over on the side of the freeway and snap photos, like I wanted to do...I guess that's frowned upon. Well then stop being so beautiful, Maine! New and exciting wildlife. You still have the ocean! And you also have forest and!!!!! A mountain! A real mountain! (I miss mountains...FL is just so damn flat!) No gators...I mean, I think they're cute and I miss them but I don't miss them being in the water where I want to swim with my dogs. No loud, bass thumping music booming out of every 3rd car. No horn blaring at every fricken intersection in the entire city. They actually follow the rule, "Stay to the right except to pass". It's more laid back, it's more relaxing, it's more chill, people are not impressed with your "stuff". It's NOT Miami!
Cons: Until I am over it, people drive too slow. And....hmmm. Yah, ok, that's pretty much the cons list.
OH! I almost forgot! When you order Chinese food up here? You don't get BEANS AND RICE in your fricken meal! You get actual fried rice and actual Chinese food...at least what this nation understands to be Chinese food....which we all know black beans and rice is not Chinese food.
Things I miss about Miami: The ocean is absolutely stunning. The colors I have seen in that ocean when the sun hits it just right is indescribable because "beautiful" is too lame a word for it. We have ocean here, it's still wonderful but those colors don't happen here. I miss that. I also miss Cuban sandwiches from Publix. Man those were good. And tres leches. Oh Lord help me, tres leches. Never in my life have I tasted a more perfect dessert. I miss the Everglades and the wildlife...mainly because that was my job and I miss my "regulars" on my tour, (the animals, that is). And while I don't miss hurricanes, I do miss how that did manage to bring such an unruly, angry, bitter, selfish city together.
That's it. I don't miss a thing else. Maine has a lot to offer and if you aren't one of those who has to be around loud, who IS loud, who cares far too much on what you're wearing or driving and you don't need to "go out" every single weekend, Maine has a lot to offer.
It's a breath of fresh air after living in a toxic environment.
Also, finally, something to keep in mind that I have noticed: Mainers, in general, have a very sarcastic sense of humor. If you get offended easily, you should probably just get over it because it's humor. It's my kind of humor so I appreciate it because FINALLY! At LONG last! Someone understands my humor!
Also, finally, something to keep in mind that I have noticed: Mainers, in general, have a very sarcastic sense of humor. If you get offended easily, you should probably just get over it because it's humor. It's my kind of humor so I appreciate it because FINALLY! At LONG last! Someone understands my humor!
It reminds me of Italian-esque humor back in Western NY. Also reminds me HEAVILY of my ex'es Nova Scotian family. Their hard humor made Mainers look like sissies. Maybe it's the Maritime environment.
Another thing that surprises East Coasters from more "mouthy" areas -- Mainers don't feel the need to fill the air with sound. The loud music is not Mainer, as you mentioned, nor the beeping. The loud talking either, or talking at all. If they don't talk much to you, don't take it personally.
When I'm in NY, where I unfortunately live part-time, after I've been in Maine I feel like the volume and quantity of talking on the street, subway, restaurants, everywhere is just maddening and crazy-making.
Birdinmigration, I have to spread reps around before I can rep you again. You've explained exactly how I feel. Peace and quiet is a new concept to friends and neighbors from other places.
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