I think I'm going to love it in Maine~ (Portland: fit in, employment)

[reindeerlady]

OK, I'm daring to start a thread, gulp. I've been goofing off all day, not working on my quilt project, just reading old posts on this forum. I'm enthralled. I just finished skipping through the one asking folks new to Maine what they liked/disliked/wanted to change about Maine, and I found myself nodding my head like a bobble doll.
I heartily agree with the utter arrogance of what we call out-of-staters (original, huh?) in regards to speed limits, farms spreading manure, local school systems, common decency, and on and on - and on. Because Vermont has become such a magnet to these folks, largely but not wholly due to the ski industry and tourism, I don't know too many towns left that don't have several McMansions plopped like so many cow poops on our beautiful hills-and an influx of wealth and service demands that are pushing property costs and taxes through the roof. I can't really afford to live in my own state!
I deeply resent newcomers cramming down everyone's throat their ideas that we "have" to be more multi-cultural, we "have" to be more liberal, and we "have" to do more for everyone. I don't think I'm racist or ultra-conservative, but I want to target shoot when I want to target shoot, I want to help someone out of the goodness of my heart, not because I'm told we "need" to support the cause du jour, when I know of towns where kids are going hungry AND I get truly annoyed when some jerk in an SUV the size of the state they just moved here from rides my bumper for miles and then gives me the finger as he passes on a corner just because I choose to observe the speed limit! Now, I know I am generalizing, but it seems more and more like I'm crossing trails with people who make me grind my teeth. Maybe I'm focusing on them too much. However, my decision to prod my DH to leave and strongly consider Northern Maine as our destination came from one particularly bad day in our "Queen City" of Burlington when I was bumped into by the pocketbook of not only an ultra-chic Mom, but also one of her two bored teenagers (while shopping at a local store that had very wide aisles, one of which I wasn't even remotely in the middle of) and NOT ONE of them bothered to say "sorry" or "excuse me". Two generations of rude right in front of me. Later on, DH was online reading an article about a guy who had prepped for emergencies with his family and when they actually experienced one, his neighbors showed up at his door, toting guns, demanding he share his food and supplies. Not asked, mind you - demanded at gunpoint. It seems they were too busy with their lives to think of prepping. Although that incident took place in another state, I can easily see that sort of thing happening here in not too many years if the economy tanks... It's an entitlement mentality, it's here, and I want nothing to do with it!
DH's place of employment is considering layoffs. It might actually be a blessing if they do. We are trying to be open to that small voice inside to see if this is right for us, but since we don't need bars, bleeding hearts, or increasingly aggressive people, it seems like it might be a good place for us. And we looove winter, even though we're homebodies! I just hope we can find our place to fit in, as it sure isn't in Vermont anymore

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by reindeerlady

OK, I'm daring to start a thread, gulp. I've been goofing off all day, not working on my quilt project, just reading old posts on this forum.

Shame on you.

... I'm enthralled. I just finished skipping through the one asking folks new to Maine what they liked/disliked/wanted to change about Maine, and I found myself nodding my head like a bobble doll.

Be Vwery vwery careful, that might be addictive.

... I heartily agree with the utter arrogance of what we call out-of-staters (original, huh?) in regards to speed limits, farms spreading manure, local school systems, common decency, and on and on - and on.

But folks from away like to dictate how Mainers live.

... Because Vermont has become such a magnet to these folks, largely but not wholly due to the ski industry and tourism, I don't know too many towns left that don't have several McMansions plopped like so many cow poops on our beautiful hills-and an influx of wealth and service demands that are pushing property costs and taxes through the roof. I can't really afford to live in my own state!

I hear you

... I deeply resent newcomers cramming down everyone's throat their ideas that we "have" to be more multi-cultural, we "have" to be more liberal, and we "have" to do more for everyone.

But don't you know that it is for your own good?

... I don't think I'm racist or ultra-conservative, but I want to target shoot when I want to target shoot, I want to help someone out of the goodness of my heart, not because I'm told we "need" to support the cause du jour, when I know of towns where kids are going hungry AND I get truly annoyed when some jerk in an SUV the size of the state they just moved here from rides my bumper for miles and then gives me the finger as he passes on a corner just because I choose to observe the speed limit! Now, I know I am generalizing, but it seems more and more like I'm crossing trails with people who make me grind my teeth.

That is bad for your teeth, and you jaw.

Rum is much better

... Maybe I'm focusing on them too much. However, my decision to prod my DH to leave and strongly consider Northern Maine as our destination came from one particularly bad day in our "Queen City" of Burlington when I was bumped into by the pocketbook of not only an ultra-chic Mom, but also one of her two bored teenagers (while shopping at a local store that had very wide aisles, one of which I wasn't even remotely in the middle of) and NOT ONE of them bothered to say "sorry" or "excuse me". Two generations of rude right in front of me.

Such is life.

I bet they were spending food stamps too

... Later on, DH was online reading an article about a guy who had prepped for emergencies with his family and when they actually experienced one, his neighbors showed up at his door, toting guns, demanding he share his food and supplies. Not asked, mind you - demanded at gunpoint. It seems they were too busy with their lives to think of prepping. Although that incident took place in another state, I can easily see that sort of thing happening here in not too many years if the economy tanks... It's an entitlement mentality, it's here, and I want nothing to do with it!

Learn skills, stock up [if you must], but never ever tell anyone.

... DH's place of employment is considering layoffs. It might actually be a blessing if they do. We are trying to be open to that small voice inside to see if this is right for us, but since we don't need bars, bleeding hearts, or increasingly aggressive people, it seems like it might be a good place for us. And we looove winter, even though we're homebodies! I just hope we can find our place to fit in, as it sure isn't in Vermont anymore

Enjoy the ride

[AustinB]

The people with the guns may have actually pepped for an emergency... I know that I have bought more ammo

[tcrackly]

I can see where you're coming from, just don't allow any Utopian vision on Maine. Speaking as an "out-of stater" who has been here for 25 years married to an "old Mainer" I have met my share of new generation "old Mainers" who exhibit rudeness and a general lack of values or community. I have been profiled, my credibility challenged by "real Mainers" because I'm African-American,, even though I share many of the values of these people's grandfathers.
I love Maine and it's people, but the whole world is undergoing change and not for the better. I like to fish, hunt, hike, and I also like the art, the theater, and new cultures. Somehow we need to revive (resuscitate) the old, real humane values of land, family, community AND STILL embrace new foods,sounds, faces and ways of communicating.
When I'm faced with aloof youngsters connected at the hip to thier electronic devices I try to draw them out, encourage them to see the hawk flying overhead or the golden cranefly at their feet. Most think I'm nuts and they are multigenerational Mainers/first generation internet!

[retiredtinbender]

We're living in a time when things have changed quickly and drasticly for some of us. Everyone seems to be in a rush; gotta go, gotta see, gotta do...NOW. Just like in the movie "Vacations" where Chevy Chase bobs his head at the Grand Canyon and says OK lets go. People have their own itinerary and heaven help anyone that gets in their way. We have mostly become a world that expects everything to be given to us and get our own way at any cost. That's why I like it here and don't like going to Bangor or Portland. Other larger cities like London or Philly the people just ignore youand as long as you stay out of the way they don't plow into you. But as reindeerlady says sometimes you can be well oyut of the way and still get bumped with no "excuse me". And charity should have at least a hint of altruism and not just giving/doing and ensuring others know about it.

And tcrackly hits it with the kids and their ipods (gotta have one earbug hanging down though). We used to want to go out and play. Now you have to kick them out and they just sit or roam. I sound like my father. He warned me I'd end up this way.

[reindeerlady]

I hear all of you and thank you for letting me vent without skewering me. After I posted that, I thought "Huh, had a bit built up inside there, didn't we?" Believe me, I fully expect to come across some of that wherever we end up, but hopefully fewer times than each and every time I have to mingle with others! I sometimes get around it by trying to see other folks as just being mirrors for me to look at as a warning for me not to get too full of myself. Other times, tho, I'm just disgusted with our lack of respect for each other.
"I love Maine and it's people, but the whole world is undergoing change and not for the better. I like to fish, hunt, hike, and I also like the art, the theater, and new cultures. Somehow we need to revive (resuscitate) the old, real humane values of land, family, community AND STILL embrace new foods,sounds, faces and ways of communicating."
I understand what you're saying; I hope hope to have neighbors who are of like mind, even if they don't talk much. I just finished reading BETTER OFF (by Eric Brende), and have been mulling it over along with the idea of moving from here. The relationship between technology, stress and community is getting more delicate every year. This was a good read; insightful, non-judging and gave me some good ideas to go forward with. Not too bad for a .99cent ebay win!

[Mercator Projection]

Originally Posted by reindeerlady

..., we "have" to be more liberal, ...

Pardon me, but I find this funny. Vermont is viewed (correctly or not) by much of the country as a bastion of green & liberal ideology. Many midwestern red-state cranks consider VT hostile territory that probably should be walled and contained. I just find it ironic that you complain of all the liberalism being IMported, when the perception (fear?) is very much the opposite.

But you're telling us that its all NY's fault?

Anyways, nice rant. And by nice, I mean chock full of generalizations and hyperbole.

[RANGER.101ST]

[quote=reindeerlady;6749029]

I just finished skipping through the one asking folks new to Maine what they liked/disliked/wanted to change about Maine,

we dont want to change maine but the new comers try like he@# we like it just the way it is.

but I want to target shoot when I want to target shoot

, dam right i think every one that wants to shoot should have the right.

I want to help someone out of the goodness of my heart

,i dont help any one becouse i have no heart.

I get truly annoyed when some jerk in an SUV the size of the state they just moved here from rides my bumper for miles and then gives me the finger as he passes on a corner just because I choose to observe the speed limit!

do what i do let him by then ride his bumper and flip him off.or you could ride his bumper then bump him put him in a spin and flip him off on the way by.

DH was online reading an article about a guy who had prepped for emergencies with his family and when they actually experienced one, his neighbors showed up at his door, toting guns, demanding he share his food and supplies. Not asked, mind you - demanded at gunpoint.

ya i can see this hapening at my house.

[mollysmiles]

Originally Posted by retiredtinbender

... I sound like my father. He warned me I'd end up this way.

awww.... I think that's a good thing

[reindeerlady]

Originally Posted by Mercator Projection

Pardon me, but I find this funny. Vermont is viewed (correctly or not) by much of the country as a bastion of green & liberal ideology. Many midwestern red-state cranks consider VT hostile territory that probably should be walled and contained. I just find it ironic that you complain of all the liberalism being IMported, when the perception (fear?) is very much the opposite.

But you're telling us that its all NY's fault?

Anyways, nice rant. And by nice, I mean chock full of generalizations and hyperbole.

Yeah, sorry for the rant. I've just been through trying to drive around Chittenden county to do errands during the Holiday rush, sheesh. Vermont USED to be very republican and independent. Ever hear of Ethan and Ira Allen? Farming was hard work for the early folks and it's no picnic for the current ones who are still trying to hang in there. Yeah, it was largely imported- but now it's being exported, yay!