Here are some thoughts about moving to Maine (employment, living)

[Acadianlion]

For any of you folks out there who are looking to move to Maine, I have a couple of thoughts to pass along. It seems from reading these posts that a lot of people want to live out of the way of social pressure as it exists in more urban locations. Well and good. But an awful lot of of people want all the advantages of living whereever they live, but just with fewer people, more scenery, the same ease of shopping and use of city facilities. For all who have been thinking that Maine might be ideal, here are some random comments.

1. Maine has exactly the same kind of social problems that exist everywhere, be it juvenile crime, drugs, divorce, drunk driving and so on. We just have fewer people spread over a large area, but the issues of society are here as elsewhere.

2. Maine is a small economy. The back bone of the Maine economy is the small business. Most community will offer little in employment and despite a succession of governors announcing that Maine was going to be a technology leader, that kind of transformation is slow coming. If coming to Maine is going to require a steady job as a production work of some sort, you will find it hard to get work anywhere outside of the southwest corner of the state.

3. Maine is about families, mostly. Most of the towns activities are centered around raising young, and being a community. If you don't like the slow pace and smallness of "small towns" and come here with the attitude that everything in New Jersey, or Maryland or Sacremento or Phoenix was MUCH better because there were more doctors, more stores, more whatever, then you will be unhappy here. Most locals will either ignore you or freeze you out: if you have an attitude about where you live now, it probably won't be better here.

4. Peace and quiet? Look carefully at a road map. You will notice that Route One, which is the major highway that goes from the Candian border to Key West runs through almost EVERY town on the Maine coast. What this means is that these towns developed first due to coastal boating traffic, and when the road went through, the development of the coast was due to highway traffic. In Maine, this highway and a lot of other roads are maintained and controlled by the State Department of Transportation. Expect growth in traffic and road improvements to be a touchstone of living along the highways in Maine. If you want true peace and quiet, try the really small town that are NOT lying long state numbered roads. In those towns there will probably be a small convenience store with a couple of gas pumps, and perhaps a really little post office, a volunteer fire department and a town hall. It is this kind of environment that a lot of people seek, and it still exists in Maine.

Maine is a growing and changing state. yes, we have high speed cable and satellite tv here, and throughout the state there IS cell phone coverage but it is spotty. But be sure that you understand that this isn't Philadelphia with scenery and sparce populations. Come and visit, and if you are serious about moving here, plan on spending some time looking around. Many people who post to this list will be radially unhappy once they actually land here, but for those who do their "homework", this might be the sort of place that you always wanted to be.

[pixieshmoo]

I think your post is excellent...thank you for the insight

[chris]

that is an excellent summary..!

[luvbeer]

well i was trying to help with the wireless phones and im checking with places and see what ones will put a antenna on my land

[luvbeer]

and make better service for all that go and all that live

[DavidoftheNorth]

Originally Posted by Acadianlion

2. ...The back bone of the Maine economy is the small business...

I don't believe, with all due respect, that that analysis is completely accurate. While small business IS very important, the foundation upon which it exists, the money generator, I believe, is the forest industry. Without that, there would be dramatically less need for small businesses to support the industry and/or their employees. Of course, if the traditional forest industry continues to decline, and if the population on welfare increases, this scenario will change.

[mollysmiles]

Love your post, Acadianlion, and oh, how true!

About the cell phone coverage...in Downeast Maine it helps to have a good relationship with your cell provider, because you will call them monthly after bouncing off the Canadian towers and getting the roaming charges! US Cellular is great about it though and removes the charges--this month it was $34.

[irishmom]

Originally Posted by mollysmiles

Love your post, Acadianlion, and oh, how true!

About the cell phone coverage...in Downeast Maine it helps to have a good relationship with your cell provider, because you will call them monthly after bouncing off the Canadian towers and getting the roaming charges! US Cellular is great about it though and removes the charges--this month it was $34.

I agree Acadianlion's posts are always very objective and accurate to me anyway.

Good to know about the Canadian Tower thing as well...we haven't been able to use our cell phones there at all...but this year we switched to verizon and were hoping they may work. We'll see next month, but now I'll watch out for the roaming charges! Thanks!

[7th generation]

Very well put Acadionlion-rural Maine with is great but with little or no anemmities. DavidoftheNorth has a good point except for the fact that the paper industry is fading fast with the import of cheap paper. Meade sold 680,000 acres before selling their 5 mills. The new company, Newpage,sold the hydro plant to Florida Power and Light. I believe the days of Maine being a powerhouse of renewable forestry is waning.

[DavidoftheNorth]

Originally Posted by 7th generation

Very well put Acadionlion-rural Maine with is great but with little or no anemmities. DavidoftheNorth has a good point except for the fact that the paper industry is fading fast with the import of cheap paper. Meade sold 680,000 acres before selling their 5 mills. The new company, Newpage,sold the hydro plant to Florida Power and Light. I believe the days of Maine being a powerhouse of renewable forestry is waning.

After the paper industry kicks maybe we can change the state slogan from, "Maine.....the way life should be!", to "Maine....a great place to put an economy!"