Thinking about moving to Maine (Portland, Bangor: best schools, college, utilities)

[dramamama6685]

Originally Posted by cindyh

You mean, if I make under $70,000 I'm eligible for free health care? Well, heck. I was worried about the $1000 a month insurance payments, but if I don't need them, then it's one less bill, as far as I'm concerned. Right now, I work for the county government here in Maryland and I pay $46 a month for myself and my two children. We're hoping to move somewhere close to Machias in a year or two so my daughter can attend the UMM.

Wow! We are paying $40 a week for medical only, another $15 for crappy dental coverage, and no vision coverage at all. We make under $70 K combined now..when we retire and move to Maine, our annual income will be considerbly less. Shhhh...don't tell my mom about the healthcare or she'll wanna come with.

[rguyor]

Hello MhMaine,

I hope I'm doing this right; my first post and I'm hoping this is going to MhMaine. You mention a lot of great things about Westbrook and the things you all value are the things my family is looking to find.

Would you mind answering a few questions:

Apparently winters can be long and a bit harsh. Not a problem, I grew up in Michigan. We currently live in Colorado and the weather is quite good, particularly low humidity year round. However, with low humidity, you have dry, dusty land that can be pretty brown and barren. Question: what are your summers like? I imagine you have higher humidity, but we're hoping with lower high temps, this isn't too bad.

My wife and I really want to find a place with 1.5 acres or more. We've seen some stuff on line. Any opinions on how to find places like this? We'd like some land for our boys to roam around, etc., grow a nice size garden, etc., but would like to be pretty close to neighbors and town. Again, any suggestions? Any particular realtors you know that specialize in this?

My career backround is pretty mixed; corporate communications, training, staffing & recruiting, and I have management experience of small teams of 2-6. I also served on staff with several churches over the years, so I have leadership experience in these contexts and have worked with all kinds of people in all kinds of situations, crisises, etc. So, as sort of a administrative, management, project management generalist, what's your opinion on finding work? Any companies or organizations you would suggest I check out?

Finally, the tax question. What are the property taxes like in Westbrook? Do they vary much from town to town in the Portland area? One posting on this site stated that Maine's property taxes were high, but total taxes (sales, state, etc.) weren't that bad compared to other US states.

Finally, feel free to share anything else about Westbrook and the general area that comes to mind.

Thanks.

[Johnda]

Originally Posted by starwalker

I'm a strange duck in many ways, I guess... even though I live in the middle of town here in NC at present, I still light a kerosene lamp to light my kitchen while I make my coffee in the early dawn. I just don't like the jarring effect of turning on the electric at that hour.

This still may not make any sense to anyone outside of my own brain... but I tried!

Wow...You are not a strange duck at all! I really like the idea of lighting a kerosene lamp for your morning coffee. Very comforting. We have a gas fireplace and I like to light it up in the cooler months to have my coffee by. It's nice to know there are other romantics out there. Enjoy your cup while the early sun shines through the trees!

[loges]

The only real drawback to Maine is people are aloof, and often times unfriendly. I have spent 30 years in the state, both up north on Moosehead Lake, and in the south (I live in Portland). It is not an overwhelming vibe the folks around here exude, rather, an intolerance to what they percieve is a direct threat to their way of life (out-of-state folks). If you are thinking of getting a place in a northern community and are not a conservative christian, good luck... the politics will ostracize you guaranteed... there is a constant underlying resentment in the south also, between "townies" or "locals", and the outsiders, and given enough time spent you will pick up on this. It is segregated between economic lines as well, with a few in Portland and the greater area being educated professionals from elsewhere- and service people who have high school educations.

[Elcarim]

Originally Posted by loges

The only real drawback to Maine is people are aloof, and often times unfriendly. I have spent 30 years in the state, both up north on Moosehead Lake, and in the south (I live in Portland). It is not an overwhelming vibe the folks around here exude, rather, an intolerance to what they percieve is a direct threat to their way of life (out-of-state folks). If you are thinking of getting a place in a northern community and are not a conservative christian, good luck... the politics will ostracize you guaranteed... there is a constant underlying resentment in the south also, between "townies" or "locals", and the outsiders, and given enough time spent you will pick up on this. It is segregated between economic lines as well, with a few in Portland and the greater area being educated professionals from elsewhere- and service people who have high school educations.

This is common nomatter where in the world you live. We actually found Mainers to be the friendliest and most genuinely helpful people we've ever met in our lives. We spent the entire time we were there simply dumbfounded by the phenomenon!

[loges]

mainers consider Portland to be northern massachusetts, and speak of it with distain. even in brochures it is not considered the "real maine"... Boaters have written that the lobstermen off the coast of maine are really mean, and try to intimidate often. There is no doubt a hick vibe that permeates the atmosphere once you leave the "touristy" areas where people will be nice because you give them money. There are MANY things I like about living here, and don't even mind the weather. The natural backdrop of the coast is stellar, and still relatively unspolied. BUT, leave the safe zones of commerce, and take a trip to say, Biddeford, and you will see what a run down mill town atmosphere is really like. You won't like it....

[DavidoftheNorth]

Originally Posted by loges

The only real drawback to Maine is people are aloof, and often times unfriendly. I have spent 30 years in the state, both up north on Moosehead Lake, and in the south (I live in Portland). It is not an overwhelming vibe the folks around here exude, rather, an intolerance to what they percieve is a direct threat to their way of life (out-of-state folks). If you are thinking of getting a place in a northern community and are not a conservative christian, good luck... the politics will ostracize you guaranteed... there is a constant underlying resentment in the south also, between "townies" or "locals", and the outsiders, and given enough time spent you will pick up on this. It is segregated between economic lines as well, with a few in Portland and the greater area being educated professionals from elsewhere- and service people who have high school educations.

Please don't take offense at this, but could it be that you are a little bit of an a$$hole and just don't realize it?

[loges]

i see someone wants a sugarcoated view of Maine, and gets nasty and childish when others express their opinions... i said there is good and bad in Maine. It aint all flowers and roses here... grow up, and learn some self-control....

[DavidoftheNorth]

Originally Posted by loges

i see someone wants a sugarcoated view of Maine, and gets nasty and childish when others express their opinions... i said there is good and bad in Maine. It aint all flowers and roses here... grow up, and learn some self-control....

Now, now, nowhere's perfect and we never promised you a rose garden.

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by loges

The only real drawback to Maine is people are aloof, and often times unfriendly. ...

Hmm, I have not seen this in Old Town.

Certainly not here in Argyle, maybe a bit in Orono, but not much.

The Maine that I have experienced has been very friendly and open.

Do you belong to a church?

A fraternity?

Are YOU active in the schools?

I have spent my entire adult life, moving into new communities every couple of years, learning to make my way around in them, and trying to fit in.

So far Maine has been very friendly to us.

But again, I went and got active in the lodge, and the Legion and at the post; we joined the farmer's market.

Just yesterday, I picked up a hitch-hiker, who turned out to be a neighbor. Now I have made yet one more friend

When any of my goats get lose, and a neighbor brings one of them home again; I go to their home and give them a dozen of our hen's eggs. Making friends !

By and large, folks will treat you like a mirror. If you are not friendly, then they will mirror your coldness back at you.