Maine-Truly the way life should be! (Portland, Dover-Foxcroft: sex offenders, crime, house)

[texasfornow]

Can I just 'say' that Maine is the BEST! How wonderful that I cannot find anything (significantly) negative about living in Maine. We are a military family who hail from Maine. Every place the military takes us, we have to worry about more crime, crowded living, traffic, racism, more drugs, and more sex offenders. I cannot tell you how many times in one day alone, that I want to ask my husband to ditch the military- become "poor" in a physical sense- to live in Maine and be "rich" in every other way. I know I am going to offend so many people, but I find that the places we have lived so far, Southern Texas, the Panhandle and Jacksonville, Fl, and places we could go to for duty stations, all are a way of life that I don't want for me or my family. I find that most who enjoy these areas, are those who don't know any better. They don't know what lies beyond this de-sensitized way of living that so many have. It's the head in the sand mentality where people know that gangs, drugs, murders, robberies, violence of many kinds, are going on in their home town. But, since they don't witness it themselves, it's as though it doesn't exist. I cannot tell you how many people say to me, "You have that every where you go" referring to all the violence and crime that occurs in places I have lived. I have to laugh and say, "You obviously haven't been to Maine". Want proof? Watch Maine's local news- ANY of them. Then, watch Corpus Christi, Texas's news or Pensacola, Florida's. Yes, these "ciites" are larger than Maine's largest city and statistically there will be more crime, but these areas are what I have experienced, and I have to say "No thanks".

[elston]

I must say the Police blotter in my Maine town has mostly notices of skunks under porches and cats up trees and sheep in the road with the fence down and suspicious folk in parking lots who turn out to be realtors or folks checking directions or the "unusual activity" reported turns out to be someone installing a new appliance or cleaning some ductwork; the missing child was found asleep in his room or came home late from a friends house.

Of course there is crime and domestic violence and there are offenders and I don't mean to minimize it....but reading the Police Blotter is very reassuring!

And there definately are traffic jams and delays.......but its one lane traffic jams and the scenery is beautiful while you are going slow. You arent looking down 5 or 6 lanes of red brake lights that stretch for as far as the eye can see. (I moved here from San Diego Co.)

[Elcarim]

"Amen" and accolades!!! 'Nuff said!

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by elston

I must say the Police blotter in my Maine town has mostly notices of skunks under porches and cats up trees and sheep in the road with the fence down and suspicious folk in parking lots who turn out to be realtors or folks checking directions or the "unusual activity" reported turns out to be someone installing a new appliance or cleaning some ductwork; the missing child was found asleep in his room or came home late from a friends house.

Of course there is crime and domestic violence and there are offenders and I don't mean to minimize it....but reading the Police Blotter is very reassuring!

And there definately are traffic jams and delays.......but its one lane traffic jams and the scenery is beautiful while you are going slow. You arent looking down 5 or 6 lanes of red brake lights that stretch for as far as the eye can see. (I moved here from San Diego Co.)

Amen, Elston! We decided to leave K's Subaru at the body shop Sun evening, instead of getting ourselves together to have it up in Dover-Foxcroft at 8 yesterday, when I didn't have to be heading out for work until 9:30... he was a little apprehensive about leaving it unlocked, by the shop, and putting the key in the place in the vehicle that they had designated. He was worrying about n'er do wells who might know the shop's protocols and was wishing for a secure drop slot...

Called the shop just after I left for work to check on it, introduced himself and inquired about the car and was glad he was sitting down when the fellow on the phone replied "what car?" Guy was just messing with him, knowing we were from away (NC plates, still...) and laughed when K said he was calling 'cause he was more used to places where they had a secure drop box for keys. The repairs were already under way..

[Siobjuan]

One of the biggest reasons we moved here. Folks just being folks. I actually LIKE watching the news here. You learn about the state and the happenings because the entire program is not taken up by crime. As a transplant, I find that so reassuring.

[fxtrader]

Watching the local news is one of my favorite things to do when going home. What a difference from where we live in NJ. We get both NY City and Philadelphia stations and I don't think I have seen a news cast that hasn't began with a murder. I like the "Bill Green outdoor" segment.

[Elcarim]

Just last night, we were watching the news (a rare occurence for us) only to see what the storm is doing. 5 minutes in, I declared that THIS is the reason I don't watch the news!!! It's also a perfect explanation of why we feel the need to bury our heads in the sand. What we don't know is going on right next door or two streets over won't hurt us.......hopefully. It's a very sad state of affairs to live in.

Can't wait to get to make the move from Texas to Maine and enjoy the evening news with you folks!

[genmomto5]

Originally Posted by fxtrader

Watching the local news is one of my favorite things to do when going home. What a difference from where we live in NJ. We get both NY City and Philadelphia stations and I don't think I have seen a news cast that hasn't began with a murder. I like the "Bill Green outdoor" segment.

When I was in NJ we got both Philly and NYC stations too, then I moved to MD where we got DC and Baltimore. I like living in Portland and watching local news. It's almost all relevant to my life. Nothing like watching the Philly and NYC mayoral races when you'll vote in neither... it got kind of annoying.

[shadowfax1997]

I had to laugh reading the OP. While maine certainly has some plusses, there are plenty of negatives too. Comparing rural maine to pensecola, fl is like comparing a model T to a new corvette. Pensacola metropolian area has 439,000 people - over 1/3 the state of maine.

There are plenty of negatives. How major they are depends upon if you are a "glass half full or empty" type of person.

In 14 years, my house 26 miles from portland has been broken into twice and ransacked. The first time I lost over $20K worth of guns, jewelry and antiques. Second time all the tools in my garage were taken. The murder rate in the state is well above normal this year according to the news the other day. I don't remember the exact numbers, and I am sure well below a larger city, but murders do happen pretty regularly. To say maine is crime free and gang free would be a gross understatement.

Cooling costs are minimal, but heating can break the bank. It is one thing to not be able to cool the house and have to deal with 80 or 90's. Totally different if it is zero outside and the house freezes, water pipes burst, etc. You simply can't go without heat. Most people in maine travel fairly large distances from home to work. I believe I read that maine workers travel the furthest distances of any state - on average.

Lack of sunshine in the winter makes many people depressed. Shortest day of the year in Maine is less than 9 hours. Driving in winter is much more hazardous than summer as snow/ice become issues. Many people pony up for a second set of snow tires for their cars. Salt used on the roads tend to eat cars, although new body sheetmetal is much more resistant. The salt can also kill plant life along the roads.

We also have high taxes ( i know - some people will disagree, but I believe we do )

I can go on and on, but you might get the point. Every location has plusses and minuses. Maine certainly isn't perfect. It would be equally easy to generate lists of the great things in Maine which has been done ad nauseum on this forum.

[lookinforahome]

Shadowfax, what city do you live in ?