Does this exist? (Calais, Lubec, Eastport: yard, property, island)

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by BoundtofindME

Silly me.... I was using Roman Numerals...

ego te absolvo

[willb]

RTB- Please tell me that the plant at Prince's Cove will never be torn down, it's like the Parthenon or Stonehenge. I'd look in Edmunds, Whiting, and Trescott for acreage close to the water. There are still blackflies out that way that have never had human blood, and you're only a few miles from civilization as we know it.

[retiredtinbender]

Originally Posted by willb

RTB- Please tell me that the plant at Prince's Cove will never be torn down, it's like the Parthenon or Stonehenge. I'd look in Edmunds, Whiting, and Trescott for acreage close to the water. There are still blackflies out that way that have never had human blood, and you're only a few miles from civilization as we know it.

Ahh, Will. Sooner or later, at the very least, gravity will take over and...whoosh; Princes Cove will have more crap in it. Or perhaps the company will take care of it.

[Connecticut Pam]

I've gone by your post a few times about moving to Washington County Maine had finally decided to send a reply. My indecision came from the fact that I did spend some time in Northern Maine..still Maine and have to admit when first walked up to my in-laws house and saw snowbanks over my head and touching the telephone wires on the street I wondered what in the blue blazes I was doing. I was only in my 20's at the time and the split second I got alone to put my son down for his nap, I started to cry and ached for my family in CT. If you have never seen how it can and does snow in Northern Maine then you wouldn't understand. It is like the snow gods don't know what do do with all the excess snow that is around and the send it all to Northern Maine. Anyhow...long story short. Yes, Maine is gorgeous and yes there is low crime rate and all that good stuff but the people up there work twice as hard as anyone else I have ever seen. Sometimes there are not the opportunities there that you will find in the larger cities. If you live in a smaller town, you just might have to drive for a half hour to get to the doctor or to go shopping.

Has the bad economy forgotten Maine just because it is Maine? NO. They pay what everyone else does for gas, smokes and all that stuff. They are hurting over this economy too so be prepared to have just as hard a time finding work there as anywhere else.

If you are ready to accept the inconveniences of traveling to find good shopping, doctors, etc, then Maine is for you. If you are looking for people who know how to be a good neighbor and lend a helping hand then you are definitely going to the right place.

For me to move back, it means first snowstorm coming maybe late October, getting buried in snow all winter, 40 below zero temps in the winter, lots of mud come spring, blackflies chewing you up most of the summer then it starts all over again...but I do miss it and I miss my friends..what is wrong with ME

[Maine Writer]

Originally Posted by Connecticut Pam

I've gone by your post a few times about moving to Washington County Maine had finally decided to send a reply.

Washington county is not in northern Maine. You hear that a lot but it's not. We tend to forget that Maine has eastern and western sections too.

I've only lived in northern WaCo 18 years. I haven't seen snow to the power lines or black flies all summer yet. Maine Nature News publishes black fly reports for the entire state. Yes, it does snow in WaCo in October but that seldom happens and it's gone by the end of the day.

[mollysmiles]

From the black fly report it appears that it's fair to say that the "season" for those lasts about two weeks. Maybe it *seems* like longer to some?? Eastport has no blackflies btw, and there are probably other coastal areas that also experience that reprieve. Either way, they are certainly manageable, and most of us don't stay inside because of them. I wouldn't be able to live in Florida without sunscreen all of the time, so a couple of weeks of bug spray is just something similar in my mind--an adaptation you make to live comfortably in the climate you choose.

http://www.city-data.com/city/Calais-Maine.html for our negligible average snowfall amounts for October, and through the winter. I can't remember when it snowed in October last? Also, refer to the average temperature chart These are available for all cities and towns, and are a good source for accurate information.

When I lived in Eastport I did have to travel 20 minutes to get to the nearest Wal-Mart. I didn't mind. When I lived in Bangor I had to leave that extra time for traffic and parking anyway, so that's a wash to me. Local health care has never been an issue, with most *outlying* towns being at most 30-45 minutes from a doctor's office or health center. I think most of the larger towns have their own doctors. I am 90 miles from what I would consider somewhat "major" shopping on the US side, and almost an hour from the same on the Canadian side. But, I'm not a "shopper", never have been, and I prefer the outdoors and nature to a mall. I don't mind shopping online either if there is something I'm unable to get locally. So, for me, that is not an issue at all.

Living rurally is not for everyone. And for me it's extremely annoying to listen to the complaints of those who move here, have not done their homework, and just can't understand why the Wal-Mart that is 30 minutes away isn't open 24 hours, or why their local grocery store closes at 6 pm on a weekday. It's worth it to do your homework. It's important to remember too that those of us who *choose* this rural life appreciate it portrayed accurately and without exaggeration.

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by Connecticut Pam;

... snowbanks over my head and touching the telephone wires on the street

... the snow gods don't know what do do with all the excess snow that is around and the send it all to Northern Maine.

... Maine is gorgeous.

,,, there is low crime rate

... the inconveniences of traveling to find good shopping, doctors, etc, then Maine is for you.

... people who know how to be a good neighbor and lend a helping hand then you are definitely going to the right place.

... getting buried in snow all winter,

... 40 below zero temps in the winter,

... lots of mud come spring,

... blackflies chewing you up most of the summer

You paint a nice picture. that sums why Maine will never be over-populated.

[bignhfamily]

Originally Posted by Connecticut Pam

...it means first snowstorm coming maybe late October, getting buried in snow all winter, 40 below zero temps in the winter, lots of mud come spring, blackflies chewing you up most of the summer then it starts all over again...

Just how I like it!

[willb]

I was reading in the Downeast Mag at the dentist that we in Washington County have the highest average lows and the lowest average highs in Maine; around 13 in the winter and around 73 in the summer. In other counties it can be 15 degrees colder on average in the winter and 10 degrees warmer in the summer. In the 6 winters we've spent here, only in the last 2 has there been snow on the ground all winter. Also it seems like we have had less of the 15 below/30mph wind days. I think it was in the 50's on Sunday and our neighbor was down on the beach by the stonehenge ruins and got some nice pictures of a seal who came to far up the bank in her living downeast blog. Since we don't have blackflies on the east side of the island and the wind seems to dry up the mud pretty well, we are almost on the edge of spring fever.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

"In the 6 winters we've spent here, only in the last 2 has there been snow on the ground all winter."

How much snow is there in Perry this first day of spring? I need to go take some photos. The next few days are supposed to be nice.