Where did you come from? / how long have you been in Maine? / what do you think? (Bangor: real estate, renting)

[K-Luv]

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

-I resided in Minneapolis, MN for ten years prior to moving to Maine and currently I am looking down the barrel at one year in Portland. Originally, I am from California.

what do you like?

I like that it is not Minnesota.

I like that I live on the ocean.

I like that there is not a strip mall around every corner (yet).

Ma and pop stores a plenty.

Quiet, for the most part. You don't have the hustle and bustle of a city.

Overall, good people. This is the only place that when some one inquires about my day I feel that they genuinely mean it.


what would you like to change?

That Mainers would grow a pair and take a pro-active stance, for, anything.

Getting rid of the Baldaci administration. I am not saying that the state needs to be run by conservatives or Republications, but sheesh, this guy needs to go soon or else Maine is going to be in some deep deuce that will take a long time to dig out of. At least get some people in office who are business friendly.

Some lines painted onto the roads would be nice. Seriously, having a slab of road with two (or four) 'lanes' of traffic going in opposite directions with no indication of exactly where the lanes are does not cut it.

The potholes......that will probably never get filled in.

Would it hurt to have a few street signs every now and then. Seriously, WTF? I am assuming that this is some inside joke being played against tourists and those from away, because it is too moronic to not be a joke.


Getting a Chipotle in Portland. Yeah, I know, save your comments.

It's 2008 and most of the state (even Southern Maine) seems to think that it is still 1908. I know that is the attraction, but it wouldn't hurt to move forward, even a little.

LL Bean. Ugh, yuck. Clothing for the suburbanite weekend warrior. I don't understand Mainers absolute obsession/obedience to this brand, and I probably never will. An icon? Why?

The two Maine's need to recognize each other as a part of one Maine.

Most of Maine is of an older generation that lives in Mayberry and that makes for some head butting of my generation who lives in the city.

Taxes in Southern Maine are effin' ridiculous.

A lot of people seem to be pissed off at something. A smiling face is a rare sight.

[K-Luv]

Hmmm....I didn't read the comments above mine before I posted my post. Interesting......even though I know that those sentiments were/are here and very deep-rooted. To think, I actually held my tongue and didn't say some of what I really wanted to. I can understand what y200 is saying, probably because I am from away. I am not intentionally trying to insult anyone from Maine, but I agree with him/her and I think that many positive points were made, but I can see where the comment regarding tourism hit a nerve although I read it to mean that once Maine gets more business friendly then the state would not have to rely on tourism $$ as much. Just my perspective. Now I am worried about my comment regarding Maine and the 21st century.

[Bydand]

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

Born in Michigan, lived a couple other places, came to Maine directly from Michigan. Been here sense 1987 except for 2004-2006.


what do you like?

Beautiful scenery and some warm friendly people.



what would like to change?

Actually nothing, because while the state no longer is a good fit for me and my family, it IS a good fit for many people. I don't expect a place to change to fit my needs or wants; if it doesn't fit, time to move on IMHO. Maine really is a unique place that isn't for the masses, which is both a blessing and a curse for the state. A blessing in that it keeps the population down and the troubles that go with overcrowding to a minimum. With the lower population though comes a higher cost of services provided per person.

Maine and Mainers shouldn't change in my opinion, but a change in Augusta and their "business as usual" wouldn't hurt though .

[sugarmama!]

well, we're not there yet...but we're trying. i will tell you what we love from our visits.

acadia
bath
portland
popham beach
locals
vinalhaven
lobster
light houses
wiscasset
small town-new england charm
villages
beaches
mountians
lakes
sunsets
seasalt air
snow
potatoes!!!!
llbean
the mainer accent!!


being a vermonter, i can understand how mainers feel. (some) out of state people move in to our beautiful state(s) to get away from the hustle and bustle...then they want to change it, or complain about the smells. (cow poop, of course!) or the noise of tractors, or the small town greens with traffic back ups...or the lack of huge malls...etc, etc, etc.

nothing annoys me more than a person moving near a farm, buying land, building a big beautiful house....then when spreading season starts...to file a law suit complaining that the farmer is spreading too close to their house. PUH-LEASE!

so, yeah...if you don't like small town...and that is what a lot of maine is all about...(and vermont too) don't move and expect the old timers to want change.

[peachie_in_maine]

Originally Posted by y200

In terms of things I'd like to change I think I'd make Maine a little more friendly to outsiders. If Maine is ever going to revitalize itself then it needs to welcome people investment and ideas from outside.
.

I married a man from Canada. When he moved to Maine, he was treated badly. Very

I found that hard because I love Maine- it's my home. But I come to realize that Maine is like a big close family. Everything is important. Change can be scary.
Parents~and Mainers like things as they are, and sometimes any kind of change can have great affects on everything around it.

Compare it to ..... this.. ~ kind of like if you cut one tree, it affects many things.
Some you might not think of.
The tree gave a home for a bird, shade to a yard, a swing for a child. etc.
May not seem that important,... but when you really thing about it .. it does.


I loveeeeeee people from away. Most people from away come here because of what maine has to offer.

Other states are moving ahead and have given up what we have for growth. I like growth too, but to much is not always good.

As time went on, people welcomed my husband *I'm not sure what they thought a big city chef might do, but he's truly enjoying the simple things about Maine and feels he gives back what they enjoy while providing a touch of his ole life cuisine to the good people of Maine.

Tami~peachie

[K-Luv]

When I first moved to this state and was interviewing for employment I seemed to run into a lot of what I took at the time to be Oh, you're one of those! Which was very disheartening to say the least. I wanted to yell at these people Hey, I LIVE here too!, but looking back I see that what they were really saying was Hmmmm....I wonder when this one is going to leave, as it seems that there is a high rate of transientism in this state/city.

Other then that, and a few instances on this board, I have yet to feel any "resentment" from Mainers for being here. Maybe that is because I live in Portland, which has a high number of people from away, but I dunno as I have yet to live anywhere else in this state so I have nothing to compare my experience to. I do, however, occasionally get the You're from where!?! And you chose to move here!?! What were you thinking!


It seems like a natural, human thing to do. It is safe to say (because it is historically true) that at some point New England wanted to break-off all ties with Europe and develop as it's own entity-but at the same time many traditions (and names) were kept, more then likely out of sheer comfort.

I think that another reason is that many people move to Maine with childs eyes and naive preconceived notions of what Maine is all about (which has been a common theme in my posts regarding Maine, by the way; particularly crime in Portland) only to have reality slap them in the face and either attempt to 'recreate' that comfort, move, or moan about it.

Maine or not, no-one wants to hear some out-sider bemoan their state/region.

[flycessna]

Originally Posted by y200

I'd make Maine a little more friendly to outsiders.

If Maine is ever going to revitalize itself then it needs to welcome people investment and ideas from outside.

there's a very narrow-minded streak here that hates anything different or any kind of change..

Thank you for your honesty. I do not feel as though you are dumping on this state and everyone in it. You are giving an honest opinion of your experiences here. "a little more friendly" is not such a bad thing.

"narrow minded streak" I guess that could be a little offensive....but I get the point of what your saying.

I've lived in many different places and there are good and bad people every where. I have met many friendly people who have been born and raised here....

but I agree...there is a large percentage of people that are stand off-ish. You know the one's I am talking about....they don't wave back.....you can't seem to get a smile out of them when you speak to them around the neighborhood. They are not even really friendly to the other life long Mainers in our neighborhood. So all I am saying....and what I assume y-200 was eluding too...is there seems to be larger percentage of unfriendly people than other places I have lived. Unfriendly might not even be the right way to put it, I am sure they are all good, honest, and hard working people, they just rather keep to themsleves.

It has nothing to do with not assimilating I've embraced everything that is Maine, it's just the way I see it.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by flycessna

Thank you for your honesty. I do not feel as though you are dumping on this state and everyone in it. You are giving an honest opinion of your experiences here. "a little more friendly" is not such a bad thing.

"narrow minded streak" I guess that could be a little offensive....but I get the point of what your saying.

I've lived in many different places and there are good and bad people every where. I have met many friendly people who have been born and raised here....

but I agree...there is a large percentage of people that are stand off-ish. You know the one's I am talking about....they don't wave back.....you can't seem to get a smile out of them when you speak to them around the neighborhood. They are not even really friendly to the other life long Mainers in our neighborhood. So all I am saying....and what I assume y-200 was eluding too...is there seems to be larger percentage of unfriendly people than other places I have lived. Unfriendly might not even be the right way to put it, I am sure they are all good, honest, and hard working people, they just rather keep to themsleves.

It has nothing to do with not assimilating I've embraced everything that is Maine, it's just the way I see it.

Flycessna, Your interpretation of Mainers treatment of you and others from away has kind of mellowed over the past few months. I know you still don't completely understand why people from Maine are the way they are but it seems to me that you are TRYING hard to understand and perhaps becoming more accepting of the fact that you really are not being singled out or snubbed because as you have observed many Mainers don't even talk to other natives they have known all their lives. Call it an indepent nature, crotchetiness, stubbornness or whatever but as you seem to be understanding it is not ignorance. It really is just the way people are around here. Good for you. Like I've said before it just takes time and understanding and you Will be come a friend to the native Mainers and you will fit in! I still have that bottle of maple syrup set aside for you...neighbor!

[Alaskapat528]

My attitude has always been: I am friendly but don't like my neighbors "running my door in." I wave at them and have conversations with several of them. However, people here tend to mind their own business. If someone needs help we help, and likewise with our neighbors. If I ever moved to Maine (which I'd love to do), I would embrace the beauty and uniqueness of the place. I would not want to change anything because too much change quickly ruins a place. Box stores and strip malls ruin the beauty of a place.

I am the type of person who respects others privacy and like the same returned. If someone does something nice for me I will always repay them with a gift of some sort to show appreciation.

My husband works with a man who was born in Mass. and came to Alaska about 15-years ago. He had stated he married a woman from Maine and her family would never accept him cause he wasn't born in Maine; they eventually divorced.

I do think Mainers have their own type of sense of humor as we all do in different states. I have found the posters on the Maine forum to always be friendly and helpful.

I am wondering if I'd fit in there in Maine; I know I have been accused at times of being stand-offish, don't think I am, I just like to assess people before I decide I really want to get to know them well.

And the one thing I truly appreciate about Alaska and Maine is the beauty; the wonders of Mother Nature; the water; coastlines which do NOT need to be marred with ugly condos and apartment buildings. Nothing better then seeing a mama moose with her calves wander through your yard nibbeling away on the trees. I always have my camera ready.

[island mermaid]

I feel that myself personally have always appreciated my own privacy as far as I hate with a passion 'drop-in company'. Please just give me a call first totell me you are headed over, that way I can at least pick up my underwear that the dog might have just dragged out into the living room without my noticing. I've never had neighbors that were in direct view of my house, so I liked that aspect of privacy too.

That being said, I've always been open to new people in town. If someone new showed up, I'd always say hi and offer help in the way of if they needed to find certain services/ grocery stores/doctors and hospitals or such. Many times if I come accross people on the sidewalk looking at a map, I'll always stop and offer directions. Same for people stopped along the roadside looking at a map with that dazed and confused look on their face, if there was a safe place to stop and offer help, of course I will. When I worked in the restaurant I'd always offer suggestons of places to visit or "must see's" while you're in the area. Ya, I'm proud of my town(s) and where I live(d) and yes, if you're here I want you to see just how amazing it truly is. Do I sound like I'm stand offish? Do I appear to be rude? Hardly.