Is there life east of Bangor? (Brewer, Old Town: credit, income, living)

[mollysmiles]

but Alan the deer are friendly!

I know what you mean though---it's knowing that you might be there a while waiting for the next car to come by

[BacktoNE]

I remember the first time I was ever on the airline. It was almost 9 years ago and my now DH was taking me someplace as a surprise. I knew he had a camp out in the "middle of nowhere" but I had no idea what that entailed.

We took a right off the blacktop in, I think, Amherst and started driving down dirt "roads" about 7 miles into the woods. I was starting to think that this man, who I believed to be an amazingly sweet guy, was really a serial killer taking me into the woods to do something evil. We ended up at his camp which fronted on some pond, can't remember the name of it. No indoor plumbing. No electricity. He did have a couple of gas lights, a gas stove and gas fridge. Uh-huh. And an outhouse.

Clearly, after 4 months of dating, he didn't understand that Nancy doesn't do wilderness.

Long story short. He decided that since he'd never met a woman who liked the camp, he would just sell it. Great idea!!! Our former next door neighbor bought it instantly.

And that is my experience with anything east of Bangor. And why I also believe that when we return, Bangor is as far north as we will venture. I don't think I'm cut out for living in a really rural area.

[AliceT]

BacktoNE, gee, he sounds like my kind of guy and that sounds like my kind of home. Dang.

[BacktoNE]

Alice, the funny thing is, after he sold it, he admitted that he really hadn't used it much the past few years. It seems the older he got, the less appeal the outhouse had, especially in the middle of the night. He assures me he's never regretted selling it.

[badger207]

OK Now I REALLY wonder what I've gotten myself into.

[AliceT]

It's very similar to what I have going on in the woods, no power, no water, no phone but I do have a cell phone and an Internet card for a laptop. I power the place with marine batteries, have oil lamps, lightsticks, run a little electric desk lamp off the batteries and inverter if I really need a bit more light and recharge my batteries with my vehicle. I admit, sometimes I forget to recharge the batteries - then I just run an extension cord from an inverter attached to the car battery and live in the "lap of luxury."

Solar is coming. A well was supposed to come last summer, but couldn't get any well drillers to come all the way out to me. Had one contractor tell me he'd charge me $200 just to come out and give me an esitimate. I kept that $200 and said no thanks. Maybe next year. Maine Power is planned, too - as a backup to my solar system.






Indoor plumbing is on the agenda, too, but I'd really like an elaborate outhouse. In the mean time, a luggable loo keeps me from having to venture into the darkness in my slippers.

[Zymer]

Alice, wouldn't it be a little more efficient to use a dedicated generator to do the charging, instead of the car? I should think it would take a lot less gasoline to run a little 1.5kw generator.

[AliceT]

At times, I have trouble picking up my 8-pound pomeranian.

With the car, I turn the key and it volunteers to move without me having to lift any weight or push it over a rough terrain. It's what I have to work with for now.

I seriously doubt I would be able to pull the cord of a generator and I am not mechanically inclined. My pomeranian isn't particularly helpful, either.

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by AliceT

At times, I have trouble picking up my 8-pound pomeranian.

With the car, I turn the key and it volunteers to move without me having to lift any weight or push it over a rough terrain. It's what I have to work with for now.

I seriously doubt I would be able to pull the cord of a generator and I am not mechanically inclined. My pomeranian isn't particularly helpful, either.

I love the sound of your place... and it is a lot like where I raise my kids, to be honest. Don't some of the generators have an electric start now? We had a little one and I COULD pull start it, but it was not easy... and lugging the deep cycle batteries that we used with the solar panels was not fun either, but at least they had handles. But they are heavier than your Pom...

I wouldn't mind being in that kind of situation again... but since I need to work at a job for a while yet I can't be TOO far off the beaten path

[Abbymoulton]

That is just great Alice....more "power" to you.......punn intended
Actually it sounds wonderful to me.