BEST Maine town to grow old in (Portland, Lewiston: live, shops)

[RiverBird]

Originally Posted by slyfox2

So are you moving to MA or ME? n We don't hate people from MA, they are our life blood in tourism. We just feel sorry for them, since instead of living is a place with the motto of "As life should be!", they live in a place with the motto of "As Life Shouldn't be!".

As native Mass-ers, we just became grandparents for the first time - of twins. This has deterred our plans to move to Maine. We appreciate much about Mass. but would much rather be in your state. That is why I started this thread. We are not spring chickens, but are in our mid-60s. Do not need jobs, and love to volunteer. Also into organic gardening and all things artistic. Although the pull is to stay here, the pull is equal to get back up to Maine asap and look around for a retirement cottage. Any ideas welcome.

[RiverBird]

As a retiree, what I would want in a small town:

- some kind of medical facility and doctors that take Medicare
- a natural foods store and farmers market
- a store like Reny's, my favorite
- good public library
- clean park
- access to the riverfront
- nearby affordable assisted living and nursing home
- in-town (neighborhoods) with easy access to rural but not on rural back roads (old age)

Any Maine town score 8 out of 8? Did I say affordable? (i.e., not Cape E)

[AustinB]

Originally Posted by newenglandgirl

As a retiree, what I would want in a small town:

- some kind of medical facility and doctors that take Medicare
- a natural foods store and farmers market
- a store like Reny's, my favorite
- good public library
- clean park
- access to the riverfront
- nearby affordable assisted living and nursing home
- in-town (neighborhoods) with easy access to rural but not on rural back roads (old age)

Any Maine town score 8 out of 8? Did I say affordable? (i.e., not Cape E)

Ellsworth

[flycessna]

Originally Posted by newenglandgirl

As native Mass-ers, we just became grandparents for the first time - of twins. This has deterred our plans to move to Maine. We appreciate much about Mass. but would much rather be in your state. That is why I started this thread. We are not spring chickens, but are in our mid-60s. Do not need jobs, and love to volunteer. Also into organic gardening and all things artistic. Although the pull is to stay here, the pull is equal to get back up to Maine asap and look around for a retirement cottage. Any ideas welcome.

You should probably really do some serious research and narrow down a geographic area... South/west/east/north.. Maine is a large state by NE standards. if you have family in Mass then maybe try keeping it with in 3 hrs,,

I haven't kept up with the thread but one place you might find interesting is Bridgton. its smack dab in the middle of the lakes region. I believe you can still find affordable housing (cottage) in the area and the area still has amenities. police/Ambulance/hospital ect.. is driving distance to Portland and North Conway NH.. And I find it to be a very nice area along with fryburg.. oh and there is a renys in town

[timthegreat]

Some of my co-workers are close to retirement age and the most important thing to them when moving to the home they retire in is distance to a GOOD HOSPITAL. You dont want to be out in the boonies just because it is cheaper and die of something that you might have lived if you had lived closer to a major hospital. I'd look at all the towns within 20 minutes of Portland for this reason.

[RiverBird]

Originally Posted by flycessna

You should probably really do some serious research and narrow down a geographic area... South/west/east/north.. Maine is a large state by NE standards. if you have family in Mass then maybe try keeping it with in 3 hrs,,

I haven't kept up with the thread but one place you might find interesting is Bridgton. its smack dab in the middle of the lakes region. I believe you can still find affordable housing (cottage) in the area and the area still has amenities. police/Ambulance/hospital ect.. is driving distance to Portland and North Conway NH.. And I find it to be a very nice area along with fryburg.. oh and there is a renys in town

Thanks ~

[RiverBird]

Originally Posted by AustinB

Ellsworth

And thanks to you as well _

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by timthegreat

Some of my co-workers are close to retirement age and the most important thing to them when moving to the home they retire in is distance to a GOOD HOSPITAL. You dont want to be out in the boonies just because it is cheaper and die of something that you might have lived if you had lived closer to a major hospital. I'd look at all the towns within 20 minutes of Portland for this reason.

Maine has 22 hospitals

American Hospital Directory - Individual Hospital Statistics for Maine

Ranked in order of size [major hospitals to tiny], here are the 'top' 50%:
Maine Medical Center Portland
Eastern Maine Medical Center Bangor
Central Maine Medical Center Lewiston
MaineGeneral Medical Center - Thayer Campus Waterville
Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center Lewiston
Mercy Hospital Portland
Penobscot Bay Medical Center Rockport
The Aroostook Medical Center Presque Isle
Goodall Hospital Sanford
Southern Maine Medical Center Biddeford
Saint Joseph Hospital Bangor



Your rule of 20-minutes would then apply to: Portland, Bangor, Lewiston, Waterville, Rockport, Presque Isle , Sanford, and Biddeford. in that order.

[mensaguy]

Miles Memorial Hospital is in Damariscotta. Miles Memorial Hospital - Welcome That puts Pemaquid, Boothbay, Newcastle, Damariscotta, and Waldoboro within 20 minutes, Wiscasset too, if the traffic is moving on Rt. 1.

[RiverBird]

Anyone here currently living in Bath?