Advice On Moving to Maine (Augusta, Orono: appointed, school, university)

[SoCal2Maine]

JP
I thought everyone went to bed...you're the first post in 45 minutes!

When did you go and visit Maine? How long did you stay? Did you stick to mostly Augusta or did you visit any other places?

[Petertherock]

Jpurvis, why don't you try looking in northern Florida? I heard it's not as expensive, not as bad for crime, and the heat isn't as bad either (although pretty much all of Florida is the same in the summer)

I know I am looking at the Port St. Lucie area (which isn't really north Florida) and I have heard from people that live in that area that crime isn't that bad and I found what others have told me is a good apartment complex for $560 for a 1BR apartment. That's a heck of a lot lower than what you will pay for anything in the Portland area.

I have also heard good things about the Tallahassee and St. Augustine area too.

[dramamama6685]

Welcome SoCal and jpurvis.. feel lucky.. our goal date is 2021. Want to wait to retire with full benefits from my current job. I am sooo jealous. Keep the light on for me!

[spaige]

Originally Posted by Jpurvis

It has gotten worse, but that is normal, anytime you get more people, you are gonna have more crime. Naples is not as bad as some areas, but it is getting there. The thing with Naples, you have to be a millionaire to be able to afford to live here. I know they say taxes and stuff are high in Maine, but they are here too. Property taxes anyway, and I know since you are in Ca, you know all too well.
I never in a million years thought I would ever want to live in Maine, I always figured I would stay south. But when I went, I fell in love with it. So I am making my way there as soon as I can.

The Naples area is great what with Long Lake and being able to connect to Beg Sebago. We will be here for when you return.
Sue from Maine

[Beth G.]

SoCal,
I had to laugh when I read your post since I have been researching like crazy whether to move from Maine to SoCal. I have had many visits there and have always wanted to move there. After my last visit a month ago I decided enough is enough, I should just do it. Unfortunately my husband isn't on board with it so it'll take some work.

How many times have you visited Maine and why Washington County? I live in Southern Maine and if I stay in this state, I wouldn't have it any other way! Just curious what areas you have visited and if you've ever been here in the winter.

[Jpurvis]

Sorry about getting back on two weeks later or so. I went to Maine Last year in Dec and stayed a week, then this year I went in Oct cause I have never seen the fall. We stayed a week also. We stayed pretty much in the Augusta area, we did however, go to Portland. Went to Cape Elizabeth so I could see the lighthouse. That was cool. We wanted to go to Bangor and Acadia National Park, but we ran out of time.
As for moving to North Florida, the Tallahasssee area is pretty and seeing as I am a Florida State fan, but Florida is just not for me anymore. I have been here all my life, my family and most of my friends are scattered everywhere now, and I am just ready for a change. And when I do something, I do it big, like moving 1700 miles away. Ha Ha.
I am really excited about moving and I figure I will give it a year, and if for some reason
it doesn't work out, I will move elsewhere. But I really don't see that happening. I think it will be just fine. can't wait....

[Newdaawn]

I have to chuckle when I see so many thinking they will like life in Maine after living in a warm state that is heavily populated.. Perhaps you should visit "now" to get a feel for winter. We had 15 inches of snow about 2 weeks ago then a few smaller dustings of 2 to 4 inches. Then again on the16th another 9 inches that iced over in the night. Tomorrow we are expectin another 2 to 4. Most nights this week it has been between 0 and 9 above. Good to keep this in mind.

[Abbymoulton]

Originally Posted by Newdaawn

I have to chuckle when I see so many thinking they will like life in Maine after living in a warm state that is heavily populated.. Perhaps you should visit "now" to get a feel for winter. We had 15 inches of snow about 2 weeks ago then a few smaller dustings of 2 to 4 inches. Then again on the16th another 9 inches that iced over in the night. Tomorrow we are expectin another 2 to 4. Most nights this week it has been between 0 and 9 above. Good to keep this in mind.

I for one, do have all that in mind. I lived in Maine from the day I was born until I was 34 years old. I HAD to move to Florida due to health reasons. I have been here for 20 long very hot, very miserable years. I do admit that winter was not always my favorite time of the year, but I do know what the winters are and at this stage of my life am very much looking forward to curling up by the woodstove. Try living in 106 degree heat for months on end; with days higher than that. You never seem to find relief until Christmas when it finally feels like Fall. (76 today). I agree that everyone should try it out for a while...and I think most of those moving there have.

[Elcarim]

Anyone who would move to Maine without seeing it at its worst or doing a significant amount of research on the state as a whole is silly. And after all that, a few months PLUS some of soul searching are still in order!

We saw it at what I think was the beginning of mud season - brown half melted snow and sludge everywhere! The van had to be washed twice in 5 days - and I'm guessing I'll get tired of having a clean vehicle pretty quickly up there. That or go broke at the car wash.....

The absence of a throng of people was a beautiful thing! We could HEAR the trees growing in all the silence. We could hear the crashing waves, the wind howling, and the crunching sound the snow makes when you walk across it. And did you know that snow makes a sound when it's falling? It's the lightest sound that I couldn't quite describe in words, but you can really hear it! It was magical.

We could see the kindness in the eyes of the gawkers who couldn't figure out why the hell we chose MARCH to visit! Then they spoke, and continued talking about how much they love their town and their community of neighbors. We even met a girl who had moved from her home that was about two hours south of where we live now in Texas. She loves it there in Belfast and swears she'll never leave. She was a sweet girl - waited on us twice at the seafood place by the dock. She remembered us when we came in the second time and asked how our trip was going, and reminded us of a few places we needed to see while we were there.

[Petertherock]

I have lived in New England all my life and when I was younger I loved the winter and snow. I have to admit I still do love a good Nor' Easter. The trouble is now that I am in the working world you don't get "snow days." In the line of work I am in I have to be at work no matter what the weather is. It doesn't matter if it's 24 inches of snow, a hurricane, or anything in between I have to be at work.

It's not fun when you have to drive in this crap all the time. It's not fun when your car is so covered in salt you can't even see it's original color. It's not fun when you wash your car it's covered in salt again 2 minutes after you get it cleaned. It's not fun when it's so cold that it hurts to breathe. It's not fun when the wind is so biting that it doesn't matter how many layers you have on you are freezing.

It's not fun when everything is dead 7 months out of the year. That's 7 months or more without leaves on the trees, without flowers, without green grass. Where everyone has the sniffles and spreads colds around like wildfire. I know I would love Florida because I would never have to deal with snow and cold again. But I would even be happy in a place like Virginia where they get a true four seasons. In Maine we get 2 seasons. Winter and summer. There isn't much in between. And summers only last about 2-3 months and then it gets miserable.

I can't wait when I am able to afford to move to a warmer climate because Maine isn't for me.