From North Carolina to Maine......But Where? (Portland, Bangor: real estate, rental)

[onespeed]

My fiance and I are moving to Maine from Asheville, NC - the only problem is we aren't sure which town (there seems to be so many great ones). I thought y'all would have some good suggestions.

What we want: coastal, access to outdoor adventures (biking!), small town, not too touristy, a respectable hospital to work in (i'm a nurse).

We're torn about proximity to Portland. It'd be great to be somewhat close (I hear Maine Medical is a great hospital) although it's not necessary. we don't want to be in a "suburban" or "bedroom" type town. Any and all suggestions are much appreciated - Thanks!

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by onespeed

My fiance and I are moving to Maine from Asheville, NC - the only problem is we aren't sure which town (there seems to be so many great ones). I thought y'all would have some good suggestions.

What we want: coastal, access to outdoor adventures (biking!), small town, not too touristy, a respectable hospital to work in (i'm a nurse).

We're torn about proximity to Portland. It'd be great to be somewhat close (I hear Maine Medical is a great hospital) although it's not necessary. we don't want to be in a "suburban" or "bedroom" type town. Any and all suggestions are much appreciated - Thanks!

What about EMMC?

[BoundtofindME]

Or Mount Desert Island Hospital in Bar Harbor. Oh just saw you didn't want tourist area. Nevermind...

[BacktoNE]

How about Damariscotta? It's a beautiful, small coastal town, lots of outdoor activities in the area.


Miles Health Care - Miles Memorial Hospital

Welcome to Damariscotta, Maine

Damariscotta Region Chamber of Commerce

[shadowfax1997]

I too was going to suggest damariscotta. Small town. Lots to do. Hospital is pretty good, but the state owes it, like most hospitals, millions of dollars.

[Acadianlion]

Originally Posted by onespeed

My fiance and I are moving to Maine from Asheville, NC - the only problem is we aren't sure which town (there seems to be so many great ones). I thought y'all would have some good suggestions.

What we want: coastal, access to outdoor adventures (biking!), small town, not too touristy, a respectable hospital to work in (i'm a nurse).

We're torn about proximity to Portland. It'd be great to be somewhat close (I hear Maine Medical is a great hospital) although it's not necessary. we don't want to be in a "suburban" or "bedroom" type town. Any and all suggestions are much appreciated - Thanks!

What will your fiance do while you are being a nurse? This will determine where you will go.

[retiredtinbender]

I'm with forestbeekeeper, Bangor. There's St Josephs and Eastern Maine Med. Then again I'm not partial to Portland. Bangor's a good "jumping off" point for the rest of Maine.

[starwalker]

If you specifically are seeking "coastal" then Bangor won't do...

However, I suggest that -- after a few months of researching coastal towns (if you want less population, start looking UP the coast from Portland) come up and pay a visit.

I spent hours researching, based on my criteria which were focusing on CENTRAL Maine when I was planning to move here from the coast of NC (Beaufort) and had settled on the area north of 95, within a commuting distance of either Bangor or Augusta for working. My week long camping visit to the area in the fall of 07 convinced me it was Bangor and not Augusta (I just didn't like the capital city) and when we were able to move we ended up renting for half a year in Milo while we hunted further.

Other considerations and visits after we moved up had us looking toward Washington County, and I still love that area but more practical considerations (that being my need for stable broadband Internet for my work, versus my desire to live on a few acres in a rural setting) brought us back to the area north of Bangor.

The hospital there is great (from an outpatient's point of view) and there are also medical facilities in Dover-Foxcroft, a smaller community to the north of Bangor. That is, if "coastal" is negotiable...

[Roadkill95]

Just curious,why do you want to leave NC?

My wife and I are on the fence what to do. I made the mistake of going to Florida the end of December 82 deg and sunny, back here in CT it was 8 and snowing when we came home on New Years eve. GRRRRRRR. I love the warm weather down in the south in the winter but love New England.

I sure could do without snow and cold but love the landscape and people here in the north. I love the water, salt and fresh and love to be in the woods, down in the south its so flat.

I have been looking at real estate down there but just can't get excited in FL and SC.

I'm thinking nice little place on a lake or ocean in ME and maybe spend 2-3 months in a rental down south.

Its snowing hard here today and I love seeing it come down, just hate to have to go out in it. (I guess thats a love -hate relationship)

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by starwalker

However, I suggest that -- after a few months of researching coastal towns (if you want less population, start looking UP the coast from Portland) come up and pay a visit.

Very good advice. A visit before moving is a must if you can swing it.

We spent about a year researching various places in New England and upstate New York, then we visited. Places we thought we would love we didn't like very much. Places we thought we'd hate we liked a lot. And the place we ended up moving didn't even make our original possibility list.

Use the internet and library to research. Check towns' Chambers of Commerce. Most of them have free packets they are happy to send you. Start making a list, then come for a visit.

Originally Posted by starwalker

That is, if "coastal" is negotiable...

Growing up in the rural Southwest, I got used to the idea of vast distances. Driving for hours and hours and hours to get where we wanted to go was just part of growing up.

New England just ain't like that. No, Bangor isn't coastal. But it isn't hours and hours from the coast either. It's only a little over an hour to Bar Harbor from Bangor. If you want both mountains and ocean, then Bangor would be a good possibility, since it is in between both of them.

Unless you move to the western mountains or way up in Aroostook, you're never really TOO far from the coast. And even the western mountains have some gorgeous lakes.

As for nursing jobs, I have never seen any town anywhere that wasn't advertising for nursing jobs. The smaller towns might have a clinic rather than a full hospital, but I can't imagine a nurse not finding work anywhere.