Questions about Mainahs (home, to buy, living)

[Dobelover]

I just returned to Chicago from a trip to mid coast Maine. The scenery was indeed breathtaking, and the seafood was spectacular and lived up to the hype. My question is about the locals. People seemed to stare at my wife and I a bit longer than we are used to. We are white, ( although my wife is italian and often taken for Latina). At one restaurant while we were looking at the menu the lady at the counter seemed to be scowling at my wife and I but then seemed very friendly after that. Is this a unique experience or do local mainers tend to stare more? I hope I did not offend anyone. I enjoyed our trip very much.

In addition to some staring instances on our trip, on our way home at the portland airport. One of the policeman at the airport kept staring at me . I was in a bad mood at the time and might of had a mean look on my face, do people notice this more in Maine? My wife tells me I often need to smile more, but this is a unique experience for us, as we travel all the time, all around the country. Any insight woild be helpfull.
Derek

[Bydand]

No it isn't unusual for that to happen. I noticed it when I moved to Maine many years ago and really didn't notice it much after a bit. I doubt there was any intent on anybodies mind, just curious, or just waiting for a sign that you are ready to order, or need something else. You tend to get it more in smaller places and not so much in the heavy tourist areas. No biggie, just an anomaly of the general area. The Mainers I know and ran into for 20 years while living there are/were some great and friendly people.

Same as well look at you Chicago tourists here in West Michigan . Only main difference is that in Maine they are wondering if there is something they can do for you; and here we are wondering if you are going to bring up the frigging White Sox. (Cubs are cool though, LOL)

[RANGER.101ST]

you shouldn't take offence.
its towards the end of the tourist season and people are getting grumpy.
you have to understand that they get allot of rudeness over the summer from out of towners and they are on the offensive.
they are just waiting to see if you are rude or not if your not then they are not.
im from maine and i get stared at allot.especially in the big city like bangor.
i dont know if its my stunning good looks or if they are thinking look at that dam hick,(he should go back to the woods where he belongs).
i hope you had a good time in maine and come back in the beginning of the tourist season next year and you will see a big difference.

[Maineah]

Perhaps you have an exceptionally good looking wife??? We don't get too many real pretty ones up this way and sometimes we stare.....lol!!

[Dobelover]

Thanks for the replies, I figured it was maybe a combination of it being the end of tourist season, a small town vibe, and my exotic looking Italian-american wife. I dont know how many italian girls you guys see up in maine. What Ranger said makes sense, as I noticed other locals staring at one another quite a bit. Maybe there trying to figure out if they know you.

Bydand, I would love to bring up the white sox, our fans our much more down to earth and real than those yuppie cub fans!! I use to vacation up in Michigan when I was a kid, I loved Saugatuck and Holland Michigan. I havent been there in years, hope its still nice.

[dmyankee]

Ranger pretty well nails it, while a pretty wife always turns my head.

This has been a long, trying tourist season for all. I, for one am just riding out the next couple of weeks with the visitors, then the International Seaplane Fly In. It used to be said "the real money comes to Maine in September." Maybe it will ring true this year.

We are a pretty friendly bunch, though. This month, one of my British customers who is looking to buy on an island asked me for some advice for fun in the region. They have done just about everything, rafting and flying, etc. I arranged to have a friend take them out target shooting, as they get none of that in England. Its the most fun they have had! They have gone out several times now with guns of mine , from plinkers and hand guns, to high power rifles. The whole family had a blast (pun intended) and I got a bunch of spare ammo to boot!

So, we're not all bad. Consider coming up to Moosehead next time.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by dmyankee

Ranger pretty well nails it, while a pretty wife always turns my head.

This has been a long, trying tourist season for all. I, for one am just riding out the next couple of weeks with the visitors, then the International Seaplane Fly In. It used to be said "the real money comes to Maine in September." Maybe it will ring true this year.

We are a pretty friendly bunch, though. This month, one of my British customers who is looking to buy on an island asked me for some advice for fun in the region. They have done just about everything, rafting and flying, etc. I arranged to have a friend take them out target shooting, as they get none of that in England. Its the most fun they have had! They have gone out several times now with guns of mine , from plinkers and hand guns, to high power rifles. The whole family had a blast (pun intended) and I got a bunch of spare ammo to boot!

So, we're not all bad. Consider coming up to Moosehead next time.

What day is the Fly-in?

[JazzLobster]

As a transplant from Chicago, I can say that what you experienced wasn't terribly unusual here in Maine.

Native Mainers tend to be a little more shy and maybe a bit distrusting when they first meet you. This comes across as standoff-ish at first. Compare this to the midwest where most people are open and will start a conversation with strangers at the drop of a hat.

The upside is that once you have a Mainer as a friend, they will give you the shirt off your back. Deep down inside they're really nice people.

[GarlicGuy]

Originally Posted by Maineah

What day is the Fly-in?

September 10, 2009 through September 13, 2009

[tcrackly]

Originally Posted by Maineah

Perhaps you have an exceptionally good looking wife??? We don't get too many real pretty ones up this way and sometimes we stare.....lol!!

Hey!!!