The thought of moving terrifies me! Yet I really want to! :) (Portland: for sale, insurance)

[Luv4ThePaws]

Hey ya'll!

So, I am having a crisis! My husband and I have always kept our eyes open and ears to the ground about different places to move to. We have a nice home in a lovely neighborhood, but the dream lifestyle stops there! We have crazy traffic, overcrowded schools, strip malls galore, a poorly run county and horrible unemployment (up to 11%, although neighboring counties are up to 15%! ) Plus, NC was just voted the 18th worst state to live in due to crime, and home invasions have been insane around here! I mean, kick in the door, gun in hand, tie up the mom and baby kind of home invasions! It happened to my mother-in-law's next door neighbor!!!

So, we have kept Maine and Pittsburgh (my husband almost took a job there last year and we still consider it an option) in our minds as future places to raise our future kids. Well, now we are really going to have to get going with the moving thing! My sweet husband lost his job today and I already lost mine in February! He doesn't even get severance pay or anything! So... we figure if we can find jobs out of state and manage to sell our house (3 for sale in the neighborhood, including next door...) then we think now is a good time in our lives to move...

But, the thought of moving scares me so much! I mean, does anyone else feel this way or felt this way previously?The thought of moving somewhere new again and hoping to be accepted by the locals worries me! There are memories in this house, good memories- I was married in this house! My dad helped me pick out this house and now he is gone but seeing the walls he painted comforts me somehow. It is a whole crazy mix of emotions... Does anyone out there get it? I am overwhelmed.

Oh, and just like when I moved here, we would be moving to Maine sight unseen... But we have friends in Maine and New England who love it up there and we feel we will too... Of course, we would love to try and visit and were planning to in July, but probably can't now. We are thinking maybe the Bath area to move to? My hubby would no doubt have to work in Portland, as there is not much call for his line of work (media/radio) outside of bigger cities. He went to school in Syracuse, so he is okay with the cold and snow and I am adaptable... As long as I get sunshine in the winter!

Thanks for listening!

P.S. Do you have any dog limits? We have 2 small, 2 big and they are all inside dogs.

[Woof Woof Woof!]

Moving is really hard to do. It is always very scary, but the truth is that you will adjust to the new place and be happy there. It will be a different life, but a good one. Just make sure you can find a job in the new area. Parts of Maine are very isolated.

[CalieCat]

Sorry to hear about you and your husbands job loss... The last time my husband lost his job (5 yrs ago) he didn't get any severance and it was also the last of the month and our insurance lasted only a few days (couldn't afford the family COBRA). Georgia is a "right to work state" and they can pretty much get rid of you for any reason and don't have to offer any severance.

Right now I don't know if I would try to move anywhere without a job first, unless your friends in the New England area would put you up...

[Luv4ThePaws]

Thanks for your kind words, Woof and Calie! We definately wouldn't move without jobs (or at least one for him!) and have been encouraged by employment prospects in Maine, but we will see what kind of interest our resumes generate! Doesn't it stink how they can just let you go without insurance or anything?! They didn't even offer him COBRA and my mom said they always should, although we probably couldn't afford it. But, still! And this is a huge corporation too- I know they have money for severance pay!!

There has been so much stress today that I try to remember all the beautiful pictures of Maine that I have seen and that cheers me up a little bit! For now, I am wearing my new LL Bean flip flops and wishing...

[sahana_kumar]

Hi Luv the Paws,

I read your post and its really hard to take it and the question comes to our mind as to why me or why us ? A few years ago, i also lot my job and was feeling depressed for about 6 months until I got a good break. You would need to be patient and just keep your cool and keeping praying and i am sure god would show mercy on good souls like you. The way you described your house and dad's involvement is so heartrending.

Best wishes,

Originally Posted by Luv4ThePaws

Thanks for your kind words, Woof and Calie! We definately wouldn't move without jobs (or at least one for him!) and have been encouraged by employment prospects in Maine, but we will see what kind of interest our resumes generate! Doesn't it stink how they can just let you go without insurance or anything?! They didn't even offer him COBRA and my mom said they always should, although we probably couldn't afford it. But, still! And this is a huge corporation too- I know they have money for severance pay!!

There has been so much stress today that I try to remember all the beautiful pictures of Maine that I have seen and that cheers me up a little bit! For now, I am wearing my new LL Bean flip flops and wishing...

[RHB]

I always thought of those jitters as the anticipation jitters...the great new wonderful experiences that await me (hubby career military - we moved every three years)

There are a lot of radio stations around, so you might not have to be by Portland...unless that's where you want to be.

[flycessna]

Originally Posted by Luv4ThePaws

Hey ya'll!

So, I am having a crisis! My husband and I have always kept our eyes open and ears to the ground about different places to move to. We have a nice home in a lovely neighborhood, but the dream lifestyle stops there! We have crazy traffic, overcrowded schools, strip malls galore, a poorly run county and horrible unemployment (up to 11%, although neighboring counties are up to 15%! ) Plus, NC was just voted the 18th worst state to live in due to crime, and home invasions have been insane around here! I mean, kick in the door, gun in hand, tie up the mom and baby kind of home invasions! It happened to my mother-in-law's next door neighbor!!!

So, we have kept Maine and Pittsburgh (my husband almost took a job there last year and we still consider it an option) in our minds as future places to raise our future kids. Well, now we are really going to have to get going with the moving thing! My sweet husband lost his job today and I already lost mine in February! He doesn't even get severance pay or anything! So... we figure if we can find jobs out of state and manage to sell our house (3 for sale in the neighborhood, including next door...) then we think now is a good time in our lives to move...

But, the thought of moving scares me so much! I mean, does anyone else feel this way or felt this way previously?The thought of moving somewhere new again and hoping to be accepted by the locals worries me! There are memories in this house, good memories- I was married in this house! My dad helped me pick out this house and now he is gone but seeing the walls he painted comforts me somehow. It is a whole crazy mix of emotions... Does anyone out there get it? I am overwhelmed.

Oh, and just like when I moved here, we would be moving to Maine sight unseen... But we have friends in Maine and New England who love it up there and we feel we will too... Of course, we would love to try and visit and were planning to in July, but probably can't now. We are thinking maybe the Bath area to move to? My hubby would no doubt have to work in Portland, as there is not much call for his line of work (media/radio) outside of bigger cities. He went to school in Syracuse, so he is okay with the cold and snow and I am adaptable... As long as I get sunshine in the winter!

Thanks for listening!

P.S. Do you have any dog limits? We have 2 small, 2 big and they are all inside dogs.

Well, I would come here and visit a lot before you make any rash decisions. I would NOT come here sight unseen.

I, for a while was actually considering a move to the Charlotte area..you get a lot more for your money there, compared to here..Taxes were a LOT lower, and the job market was a lot better too. But I am pretty familiar with the area and I totaly understand the traffic issue...But in all honesty, crime to me is really subjective. I grew up in small suburb of Boston (well, a city by Maines standards) and that town is about as affected by crime as the most rural area of Maine. I found the same thing living in the DC metro area..very high overall crime rate..but if you could afford it..there were areas that were hardly effected by crime and were beautifull.. Because Maine is such a poor state I think a lot of it has a level of petty crimes and social issues that a lot of people from away would be suprised to see.

Schools can be another issue too. I am probably the most dissapointed by the schools in Maine. I will admit that it is nice not to have to worry "as much" about someone going postal with a gun...however the course work and quality of education leaves little to be desired and there seems to be a lot of drinking and petty drug use through the scools.

have you considered moving just out of the charlotte area? One of the communities we looked at was Hickory. good luck!

[reloop]

Here's a "stepping stone" if-you-will; however, as I always (and I mean always) say, don't move up here sight-unseen. You really must have a job before you come. Good luck to you.

JobsInME.com - Local Maine jobs, careers and employment (Home)

[Sunday1]

Before I forget to comment on this Luv4ThePaws, COBRA is not optional for employers (those with more than 20 employees) - it's required by law - so your DH's employer has to offer it. Here's a link to the Dept. of Labor's Q&A web page about COBRA. Your DH has 60 days beyond termination to accept or reject it:

U.S. Department of Labor - Find It By Topic - Health Plans & Benefits - Continuation of Health Coverage – COBRA

Expense is another issue - but wanted to make sure you knew that your mother is correct -

I lived in Charlotte for three years and like you, never liked it. It was ten years ago, however, and I'm sure my experience is enough out-of-date that it's counter-productive to share it. I think it's worthwhile to note, however, that like a lot of states, NC has a few very different regions. I don't think Raleigh-Durham or the coastal communities have much in common with Charlotte, for example. (With the exception of the North Carolina school system which was 49th in the nation while we lived there - so we put our DD in a private school). If your DH gets a job offer in the northern part of the state, I sure wouldn't rule it out without taking a good look at it.

As for Maine, we're not there yet (moving this summer and are very excited about it!!) - so I'll leave that advice up to the "regulars" here on city-data which I can tell you will be a unique source of helpful information! You've come to the right place!

[Fern435]

Acadianlion provides very practical advice to people thinking of a move to Maine...