Does this area have what I'm looking for? (Bangor, Old Town: home, casino)

[webweaver]

Hello! I am originally from MA, but have spent most of my life in the south. I'm really interested in getting back to the north, the "good" apples, maple trees, black dirt......... Can you tell me if there is much going on for the 50-60's crowd? Fla boasts all the events, communities, etc., but it is so hot and expensive. Just wondered what kind of reception a single person would get in a small town like Hampden or one of the outlying areas. Have had enough in the mid-south of couch potatoes, no communities, neighbors, etc. Want to go back to neighbors, friends, etc. Maybe that is gone now? Thanks for any information you can provide.

[Zymer]

What kind of 'events' and 'communities' are you looking for? You'll need to give a bit more information.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by webweaver

Hello! I am originally from MA, but have spent most of my life in the south. I'm really interested in getting back to the north, the "good" apples, maple trees, black dirt......... Can you tell me if there is much going on for the 50-60's crowd? Fla boasts all the events, communities, etc., but it is so hot and expensive. Just wondered what kind of reception a single person would get in a small town like Hampden or one of the outlying areas. Have had enough in the mid-south of couch potatoes, no communities, neighbors, etc. Want to go back to neighbors, friends, etc. Maybe that is gone now? Thanks for any information you can provide.

Most towns have a few annual parades for various holidays.

Near us is Old Town, their city park is alongside the Penobscot River. They schedule a dozen riverfront events every year. They have an American Legion, a VFW, an Elks, a Masonic lodge, KofC, Rotary, there is a 4H group, Habitat for Humanity, there is a permaculture group, all of the churches generally have various events through out the month.

I live 20 miles North of Bangor, so I am more aware of things on this side of Bangor. However I am a beekeeper and our beekeeping group tends to have some fo their events in Hampden.

Your personal social involvement is really decided by you.

I know Masons who might attend a function once a year. I know other masons who attend their own lodge twice a month, plus any cook-outs, and they will visit other lodges once or twice a month. Then they get involved with Eastern Star so that will include one night a month. Then the Demolay, and the Jobs Daughters, and maybe Rainbow girls. As they move up into the Scottish Rite and York Rite bodies, those are more events each month. Along with the Shriners. It can be easy to so fill a calendar that they might only have 3 or 4 days a month 'free'.

One of our neighbors is into horse 'trail-riding' her family is busy most weekends with those events.

We have neighbors who are active in gun clubs and they compete in 100 yard and 200 yard steel target shooting. Those clubs are pretty active.

We have dipped our toes into the waters of a couple local churches, their calendars are fairly full.

I do a lot with the regional Organic Certifier, they help small farms to get started. My wife manages a Farmer's Market in Bangor and she is starting up a new Farmer's Market in Alton in 2017.

For whatever you are interested in, there is likely a group of people who get together to have events. But if you want to sit at home and feed logs into your woodstove, that is also possible. You can decide to stay at home, or you can decide to get out.

[LoLo4444]

Just wanted to add some input...I live in Central Florida and my husband and I plan on moving to the greater Bangor area next summer, so I've been doing a lot of research over the past year after our last visit.


Maine in general seems to have a lot of festivals all over the state, but Bangor hosts The American Folk Festival every year in August: The American Folk Festival on the Bangor Waterfront and they also host the Maine Harvest Festival in November: maineharvestfestival They also have Waterfront Concerts all summer long which appear to be quite popular. Bangor also has a Casino.


I've browsed a few church websites and I've noticed some of the bigger ones host several events and dinners and that seem open to non-members. There is also gentleman on this forum (Northern Maine Land Man) that is part of the Quad County Snowmobile Club and they host several breakfast and dinner fundraisers throughout the year (he has a thread or two explaining them in detail). It's something I plan on checking out once we move up there (and I have never in my life been on a snowmobile)! There's another member on this forum (chiles400) who frequently posts amazing photos of his nature walks with his dog, they go out and about year round, I believe he lives in Bangor.


I agree with Submariner, entertainment and activities really depend on your interests. My husband and I fell in love with Maine because we love the great outdoors. We love hiking, biking, and kayaking. When we move up there we hope to take up other outdoor activities as well. We are interested in Penobscot County because if you want the city, you have Bangor, but not too far from Bangor you can have peace and quiet in more rural parts of the county. I've heard positive things about Hampden and it's on my short list for towns to live in.


My husband is from Connecticut, but has lived in Portsmouth, NH, Boston, and in Hancock County, Maine (specifically Southwest Harbor and Ellsworth). He doesn't like Florida and of all the places he's lived, Maine was his absolute favorite. I understand what you mean about the heat. Orlando has a lot going on, but the heat keeps me indoors April-November.

[webweaver]

Thank you for all the information. I have family near Orlando also. Sounds like there is alot going for that area in Maine. If I get there, hope we run into each other. I also enjoy hiking, etc. Thank you much for sharing your "research"!

[LoLo4444]

You're very welcome! Stick to these threads, I have learned so much about Maine since I joined!

[lapeen2]

Originally Posted by webweaver

Hello! I am originally from MA, but have spent most of my life in the south. I'm really interested in getting back to the north, the "good" apples, maple trees, black dirt......... Can you tell me if there is much going on for the 50-60's crowd? Fla boasts all the events, communities, etc., but it is so hot and expensive. Just wondered what kind of reception a single person would get in a small town like Hampden or one of the outlying areas. Have had enough in the mid-south of couch potatoes, no communities, neighbors, etc. Want to go back to neighbors, friends, etc. Maybe that is gone now? Thanks for any information you can provide.

I lived in Hampden most of my life and now live in Winterport (Hampden adjacent). I would not consider it social and neighborly except possibly if you live in one of the pricey housing developments. The community here is very child-focused, so there is a lot of stuff centered around kids and parents, so those are the people that get to know each other and organize things. People mostly keep to themselves and know their neighbors just enough for a wave, or quick 'how 'bout that weather?' I think a single 50-60s person would have a hard time finding a social circle unless you really put in effort and had some specific hobbies or things you enjoy doing.