Maine's Own Off Topic Thread - Part 4 (moving to, vehicles)

[ILUVMAINE]

Well, here's another strange story! Here's some background first. I was born and raised in Shreveport, LA, then moved to Charlotte, NC until last summer. Travelled to Maine every year at least 4 -6 times since the early 90s!

Last year we were flying to Maine and had a layover in Detriot! Northwest had overbooked - surprised? They were asking for people to give up their tickets in exchange for a free ticket! We decided that a few more hours delay would be worth a "free" trip to Maine. There was another couple who made the same decision. The airlines sent the four of us to a comp motel for the night. The next morning the shuttle took the four of us and the flight crew to the Detriot airport to catch our "late" flight! After we all checked in and were in the sitting area waiting , I decided to buy one of my gossip magazines. When I returned the other couple and my hubby and I decided to start up a conversation! They were currently living in Chicago BUT were originally from Shreveport. In fact, "he" had just purchased a company in Shreveport, which was sold by one of my good friends. After talking more, we started asking questions about where they went to school etc. The guy and I went to high school together AND were in the same graduating class! I still didn't recognize his name BUT I had only know him by his then nickname! OMG, he and I had gone to one of the proms together!

[CoastalMaine]

My very first trip to Maine as an adult was in the summer of 1984. I took my mom and my 5 year old daughter while now deceased hubby was working on the Cape. I had been to Maine twice before as a young teen. Once to the cabin of my parents friends on a small pond or lake that I thought was nasty. We ended that trip at the boardwalk at Old Orchard which was much more enjoyable than the previous 4 days in a woodsy, mildewy, dank cabin! The next time was two and half weeks at a really cool humungous cabin with no electricity and no running at Moosehead which had been in my friends family for generations. That was wonderful. Many wonderful memories of skipping around in canoes and small boats, lugging water up from the well pump down the hill, board games at night, etc.

For some years, my husband had been going yearly on a trip down the Allagash with friends... being manly men... lol and I wanted to see the coastline because of the urging from hubby. So off mom, daughter and I went to see what we could see. No reservations, no plans, just got packed and off we went. Remember, wayyyyyyy back in the day before cell phones and internet... the dark ages! lol

When we got to Maine, I wanted to get off the Tpke and go up route 1 to see what was it really like up there. (Mom used to go to Maine every year as a child as her moms family was from Nova Scotia, so they would travel to see them once a year). Up route 1 we get to going, stopping here and there at various little antique shops, curiosity shops, etc., thoroughly enjoying the excursion. Beautiful summer day in July... as we get about halfway through the south coastal town of Wells, there is a bit of summer traffic, (mind you it's a JOKE compared to Cape Cod summer tourism season, but still, traffic nontheless), so we are slowed down to a crawl through this particular area and I take my eyes off the traffic ahead and scan the scenery on either side of us. About 50 feet ahead of us, I see this white haired gentelman walking along the road. Hmmph I think to myself, that physique looks familiar, but how can that be? I don't know a soul up here. We keep crawling along, edging closer to the man walking. Suddenly it comes to me and I turn to my mom and say, "Mom, is that FENTON walking along the road????" Startled, she says with surprise in her voice, "Where?" "Right there I continue, walking on your side up ahead!!!"

Sure enough, as we got closer, we could see, it was indeed, her brother-in-law, my uncle, married to her older sister!!!! lolol We got up alongside and yelled out, "FENTON BEAN!!!! What are you doing here?" And he looked over in total disbelief as well. Quickly, he told us to turn at the next right and wait for him; which we did. Turns out he and my aunt Barbara, (my favorite aunt and uncle on both sides) had decided at the last minute to move their travel trailer to this quiet little seasonal park off route 1 from the Cape.

We ended up spending the first night of our adventure at a motel attached to the park as my cousin, his wife and two daughters showed up as well. We all went to dinner, went to the beach the next day, went antiquing together, and then off we went on the rest of our adventure. Where I saw Downeast for the first time and was smitten for life!

It is still one of the most coincidental, but heartwarming memories in my life.

Years later, (in the mid 90's), after they'd both passed on, I split the cost of keeping the trailer there with my cousin for a few years and took the family there every summer.

[chaosX5]

I had to pull this thread up, I'm off topic

I've spent some time on my local city CD forum, I now know more than ever before that I have to get outa here! The topics do not interest me at all. I think that CD forums really do show people what an area is like( if you read enough)

I realized that if I did a "test" and read the forum about my city with "new eyes" and then questioned myself......would I want to move here? A resounding NO! was the answer.

You all are an amazing group of people! Diverse? yes.........but all of you have given a "flavor" of Maine and it's culture. It suits me and my personality and I'm glad to be sure of it because of you all and this forum. Thanks so much

Do you all get tired of all the Thank you's from me?

[msina]

Dear Chaos, You're a welcome additon to the Maine forum. I have to agree with you, there are some wonderful people here. I'm a bit partial but, there is no other place I'd rather be than Maine. It's home. I don't always post but I do read through the threads daily. Often I see that any questions I may have information to answer with, have already been well addressed by some of the wonderful people here. It seems to me,... our members are eager to be of help to all.

[forest beekeeper]

chaosX5 -

Can you be 'Off-topic' in a thread titled 'Off-Topic'?

I don't know.

Have you considered what region of Maine you would be most interested in?

[chaosX5]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

chaosX5 -

Can you be 'Off-topic' in a thread titled 'Off-Topic'?

I don't know.

Have you considered what region of Maine you would be most interested in?

We like the Bangor area, hopefully close to the U of M at Orono..... but really where ever DH can find an opening in his field. We will be happy most places but we would prefer not to be too far south and can't afford the coast! We have time to figure it all out.........we will hopefully be up there in later fall to check things out

[fxtrader]

Originally Posted by chaosX5

I had to pull this thread up, I'm off topic

I've spent some time on my local city CD forum, I now know more than ever before that I have to get outa here! The topics do not interest me at all. I think that CD forums really do show people what an area is like( if you read enough)

I realized that if I did a "test" and read the forum about my city with "new eyes" and then questioned myself......would I want to move here? A resounding NO! was the answer.

You all are an amazing group of people! Diverse? yes.........but all of you have given a "flavor" of Maine and it's culture. It suits me and my personality and I'm glad to be sure of it because of you all and this forum. Thanks so much

Do you all get tired of all the Thank you's from me?

I know what you mean! I am a long time Mainer but now live in Ct. but spend most every Friday - Sunday in Maine. I find the Ct. boared to be of no interest unless someone is talking about the New England sports teams.

[woxyroxme]

This is kind of funny, I had called to make reservations at Harris Point for dramamama6685 and myself, Jeannie Harris asked my name and I replied Ken MacCutcheon, she asked if I was related to the Mallochs, which I am. That's the wonderful thing about Eastport, after spending too much time living among strangers in flatlander hell at least there is one place in this country where I can go where everyone knows someone in my family and can let me know how they are doing. We will be there from 9/12-24th and I can't wait.

[elston]

Originally Posted by woxyroxme

This is kind of funny, I had called to make reservations at Harris Point for dramamama6685 and myself, Jeannie Harris asked my name and I replied Ken MacCutcheon, she asked if I was related to the Mallochs, which I am. That's the wonderful thing about Eastport, after spending too much time living among strangers in flatlander hell at least there is one place in this country where I can go where everyone knows someone in my family and can let me know how they are doing. We will be there from 9/12-24th and I can't wait.

I found that when I joined the church in Saco/Biddeford.....several people came up to me and said they knew my mother and father....and some kind words....it made it feel as if I were coming home, even tho I had never lived in Maine.

[Elcarim]

Originally Posted by woxyroxme

This is kind of funny, I had called to make reservations at Harris Point for dramamama6685 and myself, Jeannie Harris asked my name and I replied Ken MacCutcheon, she asked if I was related to the Mallochs, which I am. That's the wonderful thing about Eastport, after spending too much time living among strangers in flatlander hell at least there is one place in this country where I can go where everyone knows someone in my family and can let me know how they are doing. We will be there from 9/12-24th and I can't wait.

Anonymity is commonplace here. I've never experienced what you're talking about, but how cool is that?! Can't wait to see you guys in September. And I think we'll know you when we see you!