Where did you come from? / how long have you been in Maine? / what do you think? (Belfast: Valentine's day, houses)

[Elcarim]

Peter, our friends and family are giving us two months. The guys Brad works with are all jokingly telling their boss they all need a week off about mid-May to come haul us back to Texas. We'll revisit the topic with all of them in a couple of years!

[toadling81]

I came to Maine in 1989 by way of Oklahoma and Rhode Island. My father moved us up here, to Calais, where he was not able to find a job for 3 years until he started his own business. My mother held it against him for years, moving us up here! It was very difficult at first, we had nothing. Then we moved to Eastport, where things got a LOT better.
My mom, being an Okie, has still not quite adapted to Maine. She doesn't venture out in winter much, still has a fear of water and boats (which is crazy because my dad is on the water all the time!). She did well for several years, but is now a shut-in, by choice. Still waiting to move south again!
I love Maine. I grew up here basically, and after 8 years in New Mexico am back, with my own family this time. We have met the same challenges my family did when I was a kid in 1989 - no jobs. So we are moving yet again, near Ellsworth, to stand a better chance of survival. Without a strong back or good degree/credentials, it is wicked hard to make it in Down East Maine. Starting from scratch anyhow...best for older folks with money or those who have a nest egg saved up.
I love the beauty of the place, the ocean, forests, everything.
I do not like some of the locals' mentality that shuns outsiders and those 'from away'. I suffered a lot for that as a kid adjusting to the elementary schools here, and my family was never accepted into the community fully, except by others who were from away. That is a major issue.
The isolation can be a drawback, depending on where you are in Maine. In Eastport (and in Machias), you are a long distance from certain things. Going to Bangor was like a trip to Florida for most families growing up. Sometimes it seems as if parts of Washington County are 20 years behind the rest of the world, literally!
But Maine is worth it. I moved back up here to raise my family, so they can experience it too and love it as I have come to do. We are going to do it a bit closer to 'civilization' though, because I can't go through the hell of my childhood that my parents went through, moving up to Calais penniless in the middle of winter and not knowing what to expect!

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by toadling81

I came to Maine in 1989 by way of Oklahoma and Rhode Island. My father moved us up here, to Calais, where he was not able to find a job for 3 years until he started his own business. My mother held it against him for years, moving us up here! It was very difficult at first, we had nothing. Then we moved to Eastport, where things got a LOT better.
My mom, being an Okie, has still not quite adapted to Maine. She doesn't venture out in winter much, still has a fear of water and boats (which is crazy because my dad is on the water all the time!). She did well for several years, but is now a shut-in, by choice. Still waiting to move south again!
I love Maine. I grew up here basically, and after 8 years in New Mexico am back, with my own family this time. We have met the same challenges my family did when I was a kid in 1989 - no jobs. So we are moving yet again, near Ellsworth, to stand a better chance of survival. Without a strong back or good degree/credentials, it is wicked hard to make it in Down East Maine. Starting from scratch anyhow...best for older folks with money or those who have a nest egg saved up.
I love the beauty of the place, the ocean, forests, everything.
I do not like some of the locals' mentality that shuns outsiders and those 'from away'. I suffered a lot for that as a kid adjusting to the elementary schools here, and my family was never accepted into the community fully, except by others who were from away. That is a major issue.
The isolation can be a drawback, depending on where you are in Maine. In Eastport (and in Machias), you are a long distance from certain things. Going to Bangor was like a trip to Florida for most families growing up. Sometimes it seems as if parts of Washington County are 20 years behind the rest of the world, literally!
But Maine is worth it. I moved back up here to raise my family, so they can experience it too and love it as I have come to do. We are going to do it a bit closer to 'civilization' though, because I can't go through the hell of my childhood that my parents went through, moving up to Calais penniless in the middle of winter and not knowing what to expect!

Groovy

[RANGER.101ST]

Originally Posted by flycessna

So..............now that you have made the big move...........what do you think of our fine state


Where did you come from and how long have you been in Maine


what do you like?

what would like to change?

question #1 where did i come from?
well my dad use to say he found me and felt bad so he brought me home.
my mom sats the stork brought me.
question #2 how long have i been in maine?
some say to long.
some say not long enough.
but i have been here 40+ yrs.
question #3 what do i like?
pizza,beer,cheetoes,morgan,hunting,fishing,boating ,
every thing allmost.
question #4 what would i like to change?
government,driveing laws,honting laws,fishing laws,taxes,i could go on but there's only 4 questions.

[ljotis]

where did i come from? Actually I can say that I'm not living in maine, but instead Atlanta, GA for right now, as I'm in the military and not retiring for another 10-12 years, I've been all around the globe and miss home

how long have i been in maine? Off and on for the first 17 years of my life, and try to only go back in the summers.

what do i like? Most of the people, some are very non accepting, which really hurts not only them, but those around them...nm, thats next question. I love the fact that there is land for days, that people have kept most of their values up there, you can leave your keys in your car, and usually nobody takes it. I like that its the place I grew up and learned about life, but can't say I've learned anything like i've learned living in the big cities.

what would i like to change? As stated before, acceptance. My wife and I went up there and she was scoffed at, because she wasn't a local. (aroostook county eh) There aren't young people anymore because its easier to move away and get a job, or join the military, or whatever, and make money. For most of us, if we would have stayed, it would have been a life sentence to low income, drugs, and no future. My family moved up there, and we were low income, poor, not drugs thank god. Basically move some better jobs up there to get more generations up there, alot of young people are looking and going elsewhere to live, but we move back when we're older...alot older

[mollysmiles]

Originally Posted by ljotis

where did i come from? Actually I can say that I'm not living in maine, but instead Atlanta, GA for right now, as I'm in the military and not retiring for another 10-12 years, I've been all around the globe and miss home

how long have i been in maine? Off and on for the first 17 years of my life, and try to only go back in the summers.

what do i like? Most of the people, some are very non accepting, which really hurts not only them, but those around them...nm, thats next question. I love the fact that there is land for days, that people have kept most of their values up there, you can leave your keys in your car, and usually nobody takes it. I like that its the place I grew up and learned about life, but can't say I've learned anything like i've learned living in the big cities.

what would i like to change? As stated before, acceptance. My wife and I went up there and she was scoffed at, because she wasn't a local. (aroostook county eh) There aren't young people anymore because its easier to move away and get a job, or join the military, or whatever, and make money. For most of us, if we would have stayed, it would have been a life sentence to low income, drugs, and no future. My family moved up there, and we were low income, poor, not drugs thank god. Basically move some better jobs up there to get more generations up there, alot of young people are looking and going elsewhere to live, but we move back when we're older...alot older

wow..... and you're making all these judgements from the first 17 years of your life, on and off, and being here a bit in the summer?? Those are some pretty bold and inaccurate statements coming from someone with so little "feet on the ground" experience. "A life sentence to low income, drugs, and no future"??? That is not only FAR from the truth, it's extremely rude to make those judgements based on no facts at all. grrrr.....

and Toadlings, I can only say that I'm very grateful that the experience you've had is not the experience of most of us. I hope all works out for you and your family in Sullivan--it's a very pretty area, and one of my favorites!

[ljotis]

I didn't mean the state, I meant the county I lived in. I love the county, don't get me wrong, but reality check, if you are a younger adult, under the age of say 30-35, what is there to do? Most don't have college education, live on the government..nm.
Who am I to say, I loved the state, was just telling you what I saw, I lived there for almost 15 years, and come back for a month here and there, and whenever I see people whom I grew up with, most have the same feeling. If I hurt yours, I guess my opinion was wrong and you or whatever mod there is here can delete it np

[mainesnowflake]

I was born in Maine and have been here for 42 years.

I like most everything about Maine, the 4 seasons, the uncomplicated way of life, the taxes could be lower but that is minor compared to all the wonderful things this state has to offer. We have beautiful lakes and many islands as well as mountains.

I really don't like the thought of too much change because what makes Maine so appealing is its simplicity. I do however believe that Maine does have areas that need improvement.

[dramamama6685]

Originally Posted by mollysmiles

wow..... and you're making all these judgements from the first 17 years of your life, on and off, and being here a bit in the summer?? Those are some pretty bold and inaccurate statements coming from someone with so little "feet on the ground" experience. "A life sentence to low income, drugs, and no future"??? That is not only FAR from the truth, it's extremely rude to make those judgements based on no facts at all. grrrr.....

and Toadlings, I can only say that I'm very grateful that the experience you've had is not the experience of most of us. I hope all works out for you and your family in Sullivan--it's a very pretty area, and one of my favorites!

Low income.. doesn't mean so poor and downtrodden that the only way out is drugs.. for crying out loud.. it's vacationland. There's tons to do that costs little or nothing. When we were up the only entertainment we spent money on was a whale watching tour, but then jusy enjoying walking around in God's country is our idea of a good time.

[fxtrader]

Originally Posted by ljotis

I didn't mean the state, I meant the county I lived in. I love the county, don't get me wrong, but reality check, if you are a younger adult, under the age of say 30-35, what is there to do? Most don't have college education, live on the government..nm.
Who am I to say, I loved the state, was just telling you what I saw, I lived there for almost 15 years, and come back for a month here and there, and whenever I see people whom I grew up with, most have the same feeling. If I hurt yours, I guess my opinion was wrong and you or whatever mod there is here can delete it np

What is there to do? fish, hunt, hike, snowmobile, ATV, 4x4 off roading, dirt biking, mountain biking, swimming, boating. Most of my family are still there including the younger generations and while they may not be rich they appear to live a "richer" lifestyle than most people I interact with.