Relocating...Best town for us?? (Portland, Brunswick: real estate, house, unemployment)

[organick]

We are looking to relocate to maine and want some help deciding where to. My wife is a psychologist, so some access to people is necessary. We want to buy some land with a modest house. We live an organic lifestyle and live as self sustainably as possible. We are looking for open minded people and a community that values natural food/ health etc. artists maybe. Just a good open liberal area ( i mean it doesnt have to be san fran liberal but not conservative) We value outdoor activities, live music, arts/craftsman. Any help or suggestions would be great.

[lrfox]

^Gorham is the first town that comes to mind for me when I read your post. It's a rural community (though here, they say it's a Portland suburb) that's about 15-20 minutes outside of Portland. There's a LOT of open space, and you could easily find a nice chunk of land, build a modest home and harvest from the land. There are also plenty of Orchards, Farms, etc in the area to buy locally grown organic produce from.

The residential portion of the University of Southern Maine is situated near the town center (which is cute by the way) of Gorham. Real Estate in the area is relatively affordable, but relative is the key word as i don't know your budget.

Other towns that may fit your bill-- Scarborough (West of I-95), Westbrook, Windham, Raymond, Cumberland, and Gray. This is the short list. other members will chime in with more ideas (I bet there are a bunch along the Midcoast). Further South of Portland, I'd look at York, Kittery or Wells.

[dmyankee]

Wellington!

You need your old SDS card to get in.

[tankratt]

Belfast is artsy and nice, where are you coming from? maybe Maineah or Mermie will help out, They usally have good advice.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Belfast is becoming artsy, but the artists want to make a profit. Farmington fits the granola pattern, but they are far enough north that their artists and craftsmen want to make a profit too. From the description, Provincetown, Mass might suit organick just fine.

[CoastalMaine]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

Belfast is becoming artsy, but the artists want to make a profit. Farmington fits the granola pattern, but they are far enough north that their artists and craftsmen want to make a profit too. From the description, Provincetown, Mass might suit organick just fine.

They certainly couldn't buy a modest house with some land in P'town NMLM. Or anywhere on the Cape for that matter. The artsy fartsy crowd down in P'town are seasonal. The rest of the time they're in Key West and other warmer areas. Any serious arts/craftmen type people usually enjoy profiting from their works. I sure do. I get an enormous thrill when I see people enjoying what I've made and created. It's quite satisfying, but the green stuff is good too. lol P'town has about 47% unemployment in the winter for the folks who do stay. Along with a lot of drugs and alcohol abuse issues.

It certainly sounds as though you would enjoy the Belfast area and certainly the Common Ground Fair in Unity that's held each year in the fall.

[BoundtofindME]

Since you need access to people, the population may be too sparse in areas outside the more populated southwestern part of Maine.

[arzachena]

It does sound like Belfast.
You could live in Belmont, Searsmont, Swanville, Northport, Morrill, Liberty,
Brooks, Monroe, Waldo, Montville, Thorndike, Knox, Freedom, Unity, Lincolnville or Belfast.
All great towns. ??Did I forget a town??
Frankfort and Winterport

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by organick

We are looking to relocate to maine and want some help deciding where to. My wife is a psychologist, so some access to people is necessary. We want to buy some land with a modest house. We live an organic lifestyle and live as self sustainably as possible. We are looking for open minded people and a community that values natural food/ health etc. artists maybe. Just a good open liberal area ( i mean it doesnt have to be san fran liberal but not conservative) We value outdoor activities, live music, arts/craftsman. Any help or suggestions would be great.

Bowdoinham. Very artsy town. Beautiful little town near the river, but you'll still be within easy distance of Topsham, Brunswick (home of Bowdoin College), and Freeport.

Down East magazine did an article about the town a month or two ago. It might still be on their web site.

[mainebrokerman]

hallowell, blue hill, kennebunk