Thinking about moving to Maine (Bangor: coupon, rental, salaries)

[YankeeTom]

(and for an example of Maine ‘humor,’ check out a comedian named Bob Marley who is from Maine and is about as funny as stepping barefoot on a rusty nail, then falling backwards into a plate-glass window).

Depends;

Is it You doin the fallin?

[itsadryheat]

Hello Pixieshmoo,

We too are looking to relocate, thought Maine was it hands down! What have you concluded so far? I have been reading all the posts and am beginning to realize that no matter what we do we must determine what we want out of where we live, what we are willing to give up and what we are not willing to compromise on. We just need a good ol' family heart to heart talk. I know there is no "perfect" place to live, boy do I wish there was, it would make this so much easier! We have lived in the midwest and now in the southwest, crime here in Phx, Az is horrible and we have four daughters and my dad to care for, it seems expensive to us. The midwest was definitely better as far as what would be affordable housing for a large family.
But we do not feel drawn back there. I love having the four seasons that the midwest gave us but we really love the ocean, eastcoast. I will be praying for you to have clarity and discernment in your decision. We too are needing to make a change and don't want the heartache that the move to AZ brought our family 3 years ago.
Be Blessed.

[FLtoMaine]

Add my husband and me to the growing group of people looking to relocate to ME. We drove up (yes from FL) two weeks ago and began scouting in the Ellsworth worth area. I work in healthcare make decent $, my husband is a plumbing contractor. However, if/when we get there I've promised myself a year "off" to pursue a fun job. For me that means something involved with wildlife research or sanctuaries/animal rescue etc. I have no aspirations of big $ here, will even volunteer for the right work. Am I dreaming? My husband is going to have to support us - you guys need plumbers up there right? We are prepared to scale back - the things we like to do hike, canoe, etc., don't cost much. We are looking forward to simpler living.
But we also are looking for land 1-10 acres on water (fresh lake or nice river).
We hope to build a small home and enjoy the view with a cup of coffee/glass of wine/beer and some good neighbors. Seems feasible right?

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by FLtoMaine

... But we also are looking for land 1-10 acres on water (fresh lake or nice river). We hope to build a small home and enjoy the view with a cup of coffee/glass of wine/beer and some good neighbors. Seems feasible right?

Yes, it is feasible

[corgis]

Interesting reading here - we have a second home in Eastport. I love it here, I love the people, the weather, the small town atmosphere. We live in West Virginia in the winter and can't wait for my husband to retire so we can move to our summer home full time.

The cost of living in Eastport is much cheaper than in West Virginia as are the taxes. The cost of heating and electricity is also much cheaper. I really like the rural aspects of Eastport.

We owned a second home in Dammariscotta for 10 years before the region got discovered and the housing prices went through the roof. We sold our place there and moved on up the coast 4 years ago and I don't regret one single thing.

I am in Eastport from May until October with my family coming up for a week or so every 6 weeks. My husband is a licensed electrician so when he retires from WV state government, he will have a marketable skill up here to help out our pensions and retirement funds.

[forest beekeeper]

corgis -

Great post!

... The cost of living in Eastport is much cheaper than in West Virginia as are the taxes. The cost of heating and electricity is also much cheaper. I really like the rural aspects of Eastport.

You tell 'em

... I am in Eastport from May until October with my family coming up for a week or so every 6 weeks. My husband is a licensed electrician so when he retires from WV state government, he will have a marketable skill up here to help out our pensions and retirement funds.

Sounds about right.

[AlisonL]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Granitegirl - that's funny you should mention health, because I am asthmatic myself (go figure). Technically cold weather is worse on asthmatics than warm weather and therefore Maine would probably be not such a hot choice. However, I do beg to differ that. I have asthma that has developed from smoking. I've quit before and have felt wonderful, so I figure if I stick to quitting, the cold won't be so bad. In addition, I believe (maybe it's stupid, maybe I read it somewhere, who knows) that the cold weather kills many more germs. The warmth allows them to breed and grow. So I'm not afraid of the cold. Plus, my husband usually shovels, not me (he,he,he )


Pixie,
I am leaving Maine because the cold bothers my asthma terribly. I spend all winter right indoors. I need warmer winters so I can enjoy my life.

[AlisonL]

Just realized I replied to a very old post. Dang the CRS anyway!!!!

[dramamama6685]

Originally Posted by corgis

Interesting reading here - we have a second home in Eastport. I love it here, I love the people, the weather, the small town atmosphere. We live in West Virginia in the winter and can't wait for my husband to retire so we can move to our summer home full time.

The cost of living in Eastport is much cheaper than in West Virginia as are the taxes. The cost of heating and electricity is also much cheaper. I really like the rural aspects of Eastport.

We owned a second home in Dammariscotta for 10 years before the region got discovered and the housing prices went through the roof. We sold our place there and moved on up the coast 4 years ago and I don't regret one single thing.

I am in Eastport from May until October with my family coming up for a week or so every 6 weeks. My husband is a licensed electrician so when he retires from WV state government, he will have a marketable skill up here to help out our pensions and retirement funds.

We will be on our way up to Eastport in less than 4 weeks. My husband has family up there. It only took once for me to know that's where I want to spend the rest of my life. I don't think that I can talk him into the summer home thing, though I am trying. We will probably go through it at least, when we are up. In case you are curious, the house is on Water St. located in a group of 4 homes and it's the pale yellow? (memory a little fuzzy after 4 years) right next to the brown one with blue shutters. I believe that it used to belong to his uncle, Kenny Malloch.

[corgis]

Originally Posted by dramamama6685

We will be on our way up to Eastport in less than 4 weeks. My husband has family up there. It only took once for me to know that's where I want to spend the rest of my life. I don't think that I can talk him into the summer home thing, though I am trying. We will probably go through it at least, when we are up. In case you are curious, the house is on Water St. located in a group of 4 homes and it's the pale yellow? (memory a little fuzzy after 4 years) right next to the brown one with blue shutters. I believe that it used to belong to his uncle, Kenny Malloch.

I think I know which group of houses you are referring to - the brown one is for sale now, if it's the same group. When you get here, drive up Boynton St towards the IGA, I live in the yellow house that has the car with WV license plates. Stop in and we'll talk. We are renovating this house one room at a time, so while some of the rooms look nice, some look awful but that's the price we chose to pay when we bought this house - our thought was to buy the worst house in the best neighborhood and take our time fixing it up. It'll take several more years but we don't require a perfect house. This one was built in 1879 so it's got it's share of problems.

By the way, I was born and partially raised about 50 miles from Toledo, Ohio so I know about the midwest, the heat, mind numbing cold and wind in the winter, lake effect deep snows coming off Lake Erie.