Which Maine town do you prefer? (Bangor, Brunswick: co-op, employment, schools)

[OutDoorNut]

Originally Posted by maine4.us

If you aren't going to need a job, or telecommute, I would go to Blue-Hill.

Why couldn't they telecommute from Blue Hill? Don't at least some parts of Blue Hill have fast and reliable internet access?

[maureenb]

Originally Posted by maineguy8888

Also, in the spring and early summer, living near the coast is like hugging a huge bathtub full of 40-50 degree water.

huh...guess that makes me a bathtub hugger!

[newenglandgirl]

Originally Posted by OutDoorNut

Why couldn't they telecommute from Blue Hill? Don't at least some parts of Blue Hill have fast and reliable internet access?

I believe that town is on their list. They are taking a trip back to the area in May. thanks!

[maineguy8888]

Originally Posted by newenglandgirl

How far north do you live? Do you have high-speed internet there? That is on their list of needs. And decent high school.

Way up north, in the County. We do have HSInternet in most places. The schools are pretty good as schools go. (Plus there is the Maine School of Science and Math, one of the top 100 schools in the country. It is a "magnet school".....kind of like a charter school).

[newenglandgirl]

Originally Posted by maineguy8888

Way up north, in the County. We do have HSInternet in most places. The schools are pretty good as schools go. (Plus there is the Maine School of Science and Math, one of the top 100 schools in the country. It is a "magnet school".....kind of like a charter school).

I always wondered what it is like way up north in Maine. It seems totally remote and everyone lives rural, right? Or are there some small towns in which there are neighborhoods? Do folks go over into Canada often, and what is the nearest draw n Canada (NB)?

I imagine northern Maineahs as very hardy people indeed.

[maineguy8888]

Hardy, yes. There is still quite a bit of that (although not like when I was a kid).
We have several decent-sized towns in the County (Houlton, Presque Isle, Caribou) that all have 7-9,000 people. The Caribou/Presque Isle/Fort Fairfield triangle actaully has over 20,000 people, all within 20 minutes of each other. We do indeed have neighborhoods...lol (forgive me for laughing). I happen to live in a very nice one, in fact! We have quite a bit more than some people realize, but yes, we are pretty much small towns and villages.
The Canada thing is interesting. For example, Madawaska has around 4,500 people, but is right across the bridge from Edmundston, which has almost 20,000 people, two malls, etc. Fort Kent, Van Buren and Fort Fairfield also have sister towns right across the bridge or border. Houlton is only 10 minutes from Woodstock NB, which has around 10,000 people. The area on both sides of the St. John River from Houlton to Fort Kent has quite a few people, well over 100,000 all together.
My family and I usually fly out of Fredericton, which is 2 hours away (Canada has an excellent highway system). Quebec City is 3-4 hours from the County (we're actually flying out of there in a couple of weeks, as we got a good deal). There are a number of things just across the border, like Kings Landing, the NB Botanical Gardens, and Grand Falls, which is pretty spectacular. People here do go "over across" quite a bit, and vice versa.
We are our "own world" up here, and people either love it or hate it..

[newenglandgirl]

What is Millinocket like? Is the town interesting? Conservative? How far from Bangor?

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by newenglandgirl

What is Millinocket like? Is the town interesting? Conservative? How far from Bangor?

They have a topless bar in East Millinockett!!!

[newenglandgirl]

an asset to the town in these tough times, no doubt

[tcrackly]

I haven't been to all of those towns, but I think my preference would be Ellsworth. It's quaint, a little artsy, yet still country...and near the water.