Moving to Maine (Bangor, Eastport, Washington: transplants, how much, houses)

[Maine Writer]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

Maybe not entirely 'safe' for passenger vehicles, but perfectly safe for folks to walk.

We cross one lake to get to another to ice fish. I stay as close to shore as possible on the snowmobile without hitting boulders. Chicken, I'm telling you.

[BacktoNE]

Here is the link to the WI story. There were pickup trucks out there too. Didn't notice that on the news.

Crews rescue 12 people from floating ice chunk in Green Bay | Postcrescent.com | Appleton Post-Crescent

[Maine Stargazer]

That would be worth seeing!

And, you seem to really know your ice. Do you go ice fishing a lot?

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

Thanks.
Ouch!

That must have been really HUGE.

I don't like ice cracking underneath me. If my weight can make it crack at all, then I leave.

3 of us went out, and our combined weight was not able to make it crack at all. Then when we were able to p-i-c-k-a-x-e a hole through to water, we saw that it is really thick. From the charts provided on safe ice thicknesses, I see that the charts would also indicate that it is safe for walking [but questionable for vehicles].

I was kind of thinking about driving the tractor out on it though, if it gets a bit thicker. I am wondering if I could use the backhoe to punch through the ice and dig up some tree stumps. We have a few tree stumps that sit in the marsh where the water is normally about a foot deep. It would never be safe to backhoe them in the summer.

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by Maine Stargazer

That would be worth seeing!

And, you seem to really know your ice. Do you go ice fishing a lot?

Then come on over and lets take a walk

Our house over looks a marsh, the water rose up in the marsh before it froze. For now we have a massive sheet of ice 20 paces from our house. So far the water level has not dropped.

Last year the water level stayed low, then it froze.

The year before the water level came way up like 3 foot above the current level, then it froze and then the river dropped 4 feet. So there was a massive sheet of ice, attached to trees, suspended 4 feet up in the air above the water. Later when it finally did begin to crack and break apart it was a very bizarre landscape.

Did I mention that our house overlooks all of this, and that it is very close?

It does and it is.

When I look out our windows i see these things. When I go out and tend the chickens, hogs, goats and sheep, I see these things. Sometimes I get bored so I walk out onto the marsh.

So far each winter is different.

Pretty and different.

We keep a couple kayaks tied up on the embankment, in the summer I like to go out on the water.



I do very little fishing though.

I like watching the eagles though.

[wabanaki]

you not only can walk on water, you also can walk under water.

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

The year before the water level came way up like 3 foot above the current level, then it froze and then the river dropped 4 feet. So there was a massive sheet of ice, attached to trees, suspended 4 feet up in the air above the water. Later when it finally did begin to crack and break apart it was a very bizarre landscape.

[Casper1212]

Even I know better than to try and walk on water, even if it is frozen! In hubby's hometown, there's a nice large lake with a nice what-was-once new Jeep at the bottom of it. Some idiot tried to drive it out into the center of the lake one year when it was frozen over. Don't know if he survived, but his Jeep didn't.

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by wabanaki

you not only can walk on water, you also can walk under water.

I have walked, eaten, slept, and lived entire months at a time underwater. Under ice too.

It is one of those things that submariners do.




Maine is much nicer.

I enjoy having moved to Maine.

It is much warmer here

[island mermaid]

Originally Posted by Casper1212

Even I know better than to try and walk on water, even if it is frozen! In hubby's hometown, there's a nice large lake with a nice what-was-once new Jeep at the bottom of it. Some idiot tried to drive it out into the center of the lake one year when it was frozen over. Don't know if he survived, but his Jeep didn't.

Dear Casper,

Many people in Maine drive on lakes during the winter, most of us are not idiots.
Please see the following:
YouTube - Sebago Ice fishing



Some people even race cars on lakes, please see the following:

YouTube - Ice Racing

These cars race on The New Meadows RIVER in West Bath, MAINE every sunday. It's actually a pretty big deal that draws in hundreds of people and vendors every week.

Thank you, once again.

[fledgeling]

I don't want to rain on anyones parade here, but I moved from Mass. 4 years ago, to be somewhere beautiful, and quiet. While that is certainly true here, i have come to dislike it here intensely! First and foremost, talk to people that live there, and spend a winter here, before you move. There is a fine line, between quiet solitude, and isolation, and remote areas like this, can be very difficult, especially if you don't have a network of friends or family here. There are few jobs, no resources, and winters are long , long, long!!! Summers are lovely, but all too short. It is a very poor area, and houses are falling apart, because noone can afford to do anything about it. People come in the summer, and get misled into thinking it is going to be like it was in the 50's, with small town living like a lot of us remember. It is not, I repeat, NOT Mayberry! Rent and real estate may be cheap, but the price of food and utilities, makes up for it. There are hardly any farm stands, and other things that you would think would be everywhere in a place like this. I had a business for 4 years, but it is not a strong tourist destination , except for people coming to camp etc. The worst of it, is the mind set of a lot of the people here. Although I have met many wonderful friendly people, there is a large faction of 'Mainuh's" , that hate everyone from away, and blame us for everything. their "Downeast Pride", is nothing more than a huge chip on their shoulder, that they wear like a crown. Sure they have stuck it out, for decades, but a barnacle sticks to a rock, because it has to. Also, the predators are a lot more in your face in these small towns, and I can't count the number of times, I have heard, and experienced myself, stories about shady contractors, and the like. They are not required to be licensed apparently, so beware. These "handimen," and others will charge you up the butt, show up when they feel like it, never return your calls, and do a crummy job to boot. They will hate you because you are "from away" but will love your money!!!! I believe that decades of Poverty, has resulted in a poverty of the mind for some people, that is generational. I would not want to raise a child here. There is not enough diversity, or resources here for a balanced upbringing. Alcoholism, spousal and animal abuse are rife here. I think that furthur south, at least not much north of Bangor, would be a far better choice. Of course, there are many people that love it here, and my experience is not everyones. However, because the majority of people I have met, from away, have had similar experiences and impressions, I thought it was worth mentioning. Of course, where ever you go, you must paint your own canvas, so to speak, but it is nice I think to know All views, on a place, good, and bad. I wish someone had told me both sides of this coin!! Best of Luck to you!

[Maine Writer]

Originally Posted by fledgeling

I don't want to rain on anyones parade here, but I moved from Mass. 4 years ago, to be somewhere beautiful, and quiet. While that is certainly true here, i have come to dislike it here intensely! First and foremost, talk to people that live there, and spend a winter here, before you move.

What would anyone like to know? I've lived in Washington county for 18 years. I can answer a few questions.

There is a fine line, between quiet solitude, and isolation, and remote areas like this, can be very difficult, especially if you don't have a network of friends or family here.

That's something anyone would be able to see after spending a few minutes here. Obviously if someone doesn't want to be isolated they shouldn't move to an isolated area.

There are few jobs, no resources, and winters are long , long, long!!!

December to March isn't that long. We don't usually have snow in April though it does happen.

Summers are lovely, but all too short. It is a very poor area, and houses are falling apart, because noone can afford to do anything about it.

Noone? Really? Two percent of the properties in my town are falling apart. It's easy to figure since 100 tax bills go out. One is laziness, the other is poor choices. How can you honestly say noone can afford to repair their house?

The blanket statement about everyone in Washington county being poor is old, tired, insulting and suffocating. It's not true.

I would not want to raise a child here. There is not enough diversity, or resources here for a balanced upbringing.

That's bullcrap. You might not be capable of providing a balanced upbringing for children but we are. You know, that's one of the most insulting things I've read here. How DARE you insult my parenting abilities and my children? You met my children...when? And you know my parenting abilities...how?

I'll stop here.