Quote:
Originally Posted by thisiswater
We currently live in metro-west MA and are trying to find a retirement house/cottage/camp we can rent out for the next few years before moving there ourselves. We're accustomed to all the bells and whistles of urban life, so I'm thinking about culture shock and realize that Portland would be the place we'd need to go for our "fix."
That said, we've come upon a terrific small camp for sale on China Lake. We've only spent time in coastal towns in Maine so I'm trying to get a grip on what life in China would be like. Seems like Augusta and Waterville are the closest towns. Info about them greatly appreciated, too.
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To get back to the actual question asked ....
My wife and I moved to China, ME from Northern Virginia (about 30 miles south of DC, in the thick of suburbia) last October. We, too, were used to all the bells and whistles of living someplace with plenty of options re: lots of grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, professional sports, shows, museums, etc., etc.
Life here is very different. However, life here is also better.
No traffic jams. We go to Waterville and Augusta fairly regularly, and it's amazing to me how many miles we can travel without hitting a traffic light. Both are, to me, fairly typical cities in the northeast - they've seen better days, but they also have plenty to offer.
Little crime. Slower pace. Great people.
We know our neighbors.
It's quiet ... although when the summer people arrive, I know that will change.
When the sun goes down, it's dark! I love looking at the night sky and seeing SO many stars.
Our house is waterfront, on China Lake. We moved in too late in the year last fall to get out on the water, so we're really looking forward to doing so this year ... often!
My wife and I went to a town meeting a couple of weeks ago, and it was fantastic. There are so many people working to make this town a great place to live. We already think it's a great place to live, or we wouldn't have moved here.
Oh - I almost forgot. Right down the road from us ... "a stone's throw from rt. 202" ... is the China Dinah. We've been there several times - they serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner 6 days a week (closed on Mondays) and we've been happy with the food.
But we're also located (in South China) near route 3, and that's the road to take to Belfast, Searsport, Ellsworth, and even Mount Desert Island. We can also take 32 and 17, and it's not that far to Camden, Rockport, Rockland, etc. Now that we're coming out of winter, we'll be heading to the coast more often. As you know, having spent some time along Maine's coast, there's lots to do there as well as plenty of good restaurants.
Hope this helps!
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(* no- not us- but honestly- I have never seen so many sets of twins until coming to Maine-...) So- no idea where that came from. 
