Big dog and I want to start over in Portland, ME (rentals, how much)

[BanteringBear]

Hi all. I have been considering relocating to Portland, Maine from the west coast. I have known a few people who have grown up there and love it. It will be a big move should I do it. My main concerns are: I have a big dog and so I need to find a rental house which will accept us. I want to live in more of a rural setting (I'm a gardener) and wonder how much rents are, and how plentiful my options will be. Also, what are wages like in the area? I don't have a college degree (though have 3 years of college) but have many skills. My long term goal is to open a small, specialty business. In the interim, I need to find anything. I wouldn't mind working in the kitchen of a fun restaurant as I love to cook. Are people friendly in the area? Are there many dating opportunities for a single guy in his mid 30's? Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading!

[lovemaine]

I would check craigslist for rentals. I've checked myself and quite a few places do allow pets. You may also want to check with a realtor in the area you're interested in. They may have a lead for you. We live in NC right now and cannot wait for the day we move to Maine! As far as work, I found that sending resumes to businesses directly seems to work well. My hubby got a lot of responses that way. (How we ended up in NC for now is another story.) Best of luck!