Post Move to Maine - What surprised you as you adjusted? (Portland: appointed, house)

[waterlovers]

Hi all.

As we continue our research I have noticed posts from Maine people mentioning "The first year was rough." or "We were expecting, but instead found..."

Please share what surprised you after the move. In addition, what was the easiest and hardest part of your adjustment period?

Best
Marisa

[exscrantonian]

There was just a natural discomfort at being in a new place with new people. It isn't fun to start over and we were homesick for familiar people. As time went by --we would recognize people from our kids' school or work at the supermarket or at church. After a while, we didn't feel so out of place. Are New Englanders a little harder to know than other folks? There's some of that for sure. By and large, if you get involved in sports or school events--you meet other parents (if you have kids) and likewise if you join a church or some other civic organizations--you become a part of the community.

[genmomto5]

I guess the hardest part for me was not something area specific but just dealing with the psychological aspects of a huge move. We merged another child and adult in to our household and that was the hardest part. We made it through the winter without killing each other. It was as difficult for them as it was for us I bet. But we all still love each other. And we learned a thing or two about boundaries.

In Portland, figuring out the trash was interesting. We moved from a haul whatever you had to the dump on your own place or hire your own trash service. Here you have to use city trash bags and stay under 30lbs. Recycling is mixed and will take almost everything accept toxic stuff like batteries and styrofoam. Bulk stuff you are on your own and getting it to the dump can be difficult for city dwellers without pick-up trucks and such. (Budget cuts made last months yearly bulk trash bonanza the last one here). Freecycle is excellent for getting rid of decent stuff you no longer need and moving boxes.

We had all the oogly boogly winter weather warnings from everyone we left behind so the extreme winter was expected. Next year, if we get a more normal, milder winter, my kids may be disappointed with less snow. Spring, I was told, didn't really exist in Maine, and would be a sad show. While it is a little slower to start, it seems harder earned and therefore more precious and breathtaking than other springs I have encountered. I was in NJ last week and where we have gorgeous flowers right now they are mostly done with the spring stuff and on to the less extravagant summer blooms. Whitman was from New England and he penned "When lilacs last in the dooryard bloomed". I have always loved lilacs anywhere I have lived. Here, though, they are like breathing in God's perfume for a few days in spring. It is nothing short of stunning to spend those few days walking around here.

The spring surprised me. In a very good way.

[rossco17]

As my family is moving to Maine next weekend, i enjoyed reading these replies and look forward to reading more.

[K-Luv]

--Demographics; there seems to be a large amount of 18 to 25 year olds and a good number of 40 to 50 year olds, but I seem to rarely (i.e. never) meet thirtysomethings and an elderly sighting is rare (unless they are tourists). No, I am not saying that 51 is elderly, that was just a ballpark figure.

--I've already discussed the COL in other threads. Sheesh!

--This city is larger then it seems. While Portland itself is pretty small, the five or so surrounding towns that make up the Greater Portland Area is rather large (but still small in comparison to other major cities in other states).

[elston]

Gen's post is so beautiful to read....a wonderful tribute to the progression of Spring in our neck of the woods! My sons tell me to be prepared that some years Spring seems to last only a week and then its slam bam into summer. It seems like Spring started in March and is still unfolding; although the blooming of my zinnia's sorta says, "Summer". Zinnia's just look like summer. (But it was only 56 degrees on my deck this morning....that's spring weather.

[elston]

Post Move To Maine; Adjustment Surprises

I have been here for about 3 months now......I think the only surprise has been how easy the adjustment has been; I really feel as if I "came home" rather than "relocated". My life is very home and family centered.....and that has all fallen into place without a hitch...we love our house, the kids stop by to visit...but not everyday...my DP is enjoying the change too....the hard part was all about selling the house in California....that was much much harder on me than I had anticipated....once that was accomplished....it has all been easy!

Surprises? I keep finding plants (weeds and grasses....that I had forgotten....timothy growing along the road side......milk weed.....yellow clover....purple vetch.....black berry vines....yesterday I transplanted a little purple flowered weed from the road side to my place*.....it is the plants that tell me I am home!

*I don't know its name it is a low growing plant that spreads and has a bluish purple flower clump about an inch of the ground....it looks like "bugle weed" but its not that.....maybe its called "creeping charlie"(?) I recognize it but don't know it by name. I guess I will google creeping charlie and see.

LOL it is creeping charlie and they hate hate hate it.... Controlling Creeping Charlie

[moughie]

Originally Posted by elston

Post Move To Maine; Adjustment Surprises
Surprises? I keep finding plants (weeds and grasses....that I had forgotten... but don't know it by name. I guess I will google creeping charlie and see.

I was always amazed by the wild chamomille growing all our our yard. It smelled so good and soothing always after being stepped on

[moughie]

Originally Posted by genmomto5

Whitman was from New England and he penned "When lilacs last in the dooryard bloomed". I have always loved lilacs anywhere I have lived. Here, though, they are like breathing in God's perfume for a few days in spring.

Such a beautiful observation! Wonderful choice of words I can almost smell those lovely lilacs....

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by waterlovers

Please share what surprised you after the move.

Cheese.

Seriously. Everywhere else we lived, you went to the dairy aisle in the store, and you had a variety of cheeses. Cheddar in sharp, medium, and mild, then mozzarella, Monterrey Jack, swiss, and maybe a few others. To get the gourmet stuff you went to the gourment aisle.

In Maine, you go to the dairy aisle in the story, and there are three dozen types of cheddar, then more cheddar, then some more cheddar, then American. If you're lucky, there might be a little mozzarella or Monterrey Jack, if you really, really look hard.

To find things like Swiss, Monterrey Jack, most of the mozzarrella, you have to search over in the deli.