How is Portland life? (Bangor, Camden: sales, how much, houses)

[RunD1987]

Fiancé is in the final gauntlet of completing nursing school and I am jumping into the fray. Fiancé and I love the outdoors and the beach. We have been considering moving up the coast somewhere between Portland to Salem.

I have only been to Maine once in my life. Family and friends been up much more then me. Have family that live up that way. One in Camden, another somewhere up North (Not sure where), friend used to live in Bangor Maine, and a few friend's on the coast near Portland. Add in my cousin moved up that way not sure if York or Portsmouth.

Fiancé and I want to escape the busy life. We don't mind being near a city. With traffic, congested roads, and no where to escape. However, being in CT escaping to the quiet corner means less job's and less amenities. Also not many options to attend school (Only 1 school.) We like this small city on the coast in the quiet corner New London. It has great food, sites to see (Lighthouses/Ferry to Block Island/Beaches/Coast Guard Academy/few state parks.) Not many museums, but bookstores are near by, which is great. Add in the mall for shopping. Not many walking/bike trails, which is a downer. They have limited train service to New York. About hour to two hours to bigget cities up North.

Anyways kind of looking for something similiar. Been looking into Portland thinking next Summer might plan to take a week check out Maine.

Know little about Portland have a few runners up that way who rave about the food and Bradbury Mountain.

What do you like about Portland? You regret living there?

Do they have places to bike and run?

Any bookstores? How's the libraries? Museums?

Any Metaphysical store's or Buddhist places near Portland Maine?

How is the hospitals up that way? I work in Mental Health so like t continue being a nurse in that field. Not sure if state or private know outside of Portland there is a Psychiatric Hospital.

How are colleges in Portland?

Good schools for a couple looking to settle down with family maybe?

Taxes why so much complaints? Currently taxed at 5% becoming a nurse my salary will spike a bit I'll hit being taxed at 5.5% possibly 6%. Add in property taxes paying between $6K to $10K for a $200K house. Property tax where I currently live is 51 to 52%. Some places again out in the quiet corner are much less. Not sure how much gas tax is here, but sales tax is believe 6.5%. So anything less then that is better in my books.

How is the weather? We average about 40 to 50 inches of snow for 20 or so days in the winter.

Have to research thinking of doing the Navy Reserve when I get my BSN have to look into closet training center to Portland.


Appreciate the feedback.

[AustinB]

means less job's and less amenities

Portland is nice, but Your above comment fits.

[RunD1987]

When I mean less job's less amenities. Your out in the woods the closest Walmart is 30 to 40 minutes away. New London has one CC and one accelerated nursing program. Have to travel hour around the state or out of state to advance your degree.

I know Southern Maine has a RN to MSN program in the Portland area, so thats a plus :-D.

Also heard there are museums and a concert venue in Portland. You are about 3 hours from Boston. That's not too bad.

Appreciate the feedback.