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Hello! I am posting from California. I am planning a move to the NE. I spent my childhood on the East Coast, a school year in Quebec and really feel an affinity to the North East. I also have a love for the french language. I was delighted to learn that there is an Acadian culture in Northern Maine. I would love to live in an french/english language area! I am a special ed. teacher (mild-moderate) and a single mother of a school age child. I have seen that there have been job openings for spec. ed. in that region in the past (though not as many it seemed as reg. ed?) and the posts I read were fairly unanimous that North Maine people are open to "incomers". I suppose I am posting to see if I can get input from other single women/mothers who moved to Northern Maine and if they felt it was a region they could successfully navigate on their own. Specifically, I know how even in this mild climate I have difficulty doing all my own rototilling, barn upkeep, etc, and chopping wood would be beyond me! (Or so it seems-who knows I haven't tried yet!) Is it difficult to find high schoolers looking to earn extra money or local handypersons at reasonable rates. (think school teacher) I hope to slowly establish a (yes the dreaded word) "hobby" farm with bunnies, sheep, horses etc. and offer therapeutic riding for special needs children. Also, if anyone has moved there with children, was it difficult for them to make friends. And yes, I understand it is a very individual process, but in general are children receptive to newcomers? I'd really appreciate any and all input. Take care and thank you in advance for your replies!
You are at least one full year before you can even serious think about moving to Maine. Your goals are admirable, and they might work in California, but it is doubtful that they will work well in Aroostook County unless you have a very large endowment that can finance it all.
Some basic facts about which you may not be aware:
Maine is larger than all five other New England States.
There are around 1.2 million people living in Maine and the majority live in the southwest corner closest to New Hampshire.
The largest city in Maine has about ONE FIFTH the population of the city of San Francisco.
Aroostook County is the largest county in Maine. It is larger in area than any one other New England state. It is the largest county east of the Mississippi River and has ONE TENTH the population of San Francisco, with around 75,000 people.
Yes, there is need for teachers here and teachers with your specialty are needed as well. But look at the public school system for your employment opportunity in Aroostook County (and elsewhere in Maine, for that matter).
Many people write to this list to ask about moving to Maine, and there are a great many who would like to move her from California in particular so it sometimes seems. It is imperative that you understand from the outset that Maine is in no way at all like California, yet many of the same situations and social circumstances exist here as in California, only in Maine there are many fewer resources to deal with them.
Plan your trip to Maine soon. Plan it so that you will be visiting Aroostook County in February. You will see it as it really is then, and be in a much better position to seriously contemplate whether or not the vision you seek is in fact a reality.
Thank you for the pragmatic reply. I agree. I am in no hurry and plan to continue to visit in various seasons first. Including the blackflies/mud! I may realistically look into living near town in a more populated area of Maine first. And once I am retired, acclimated, child out of school-ed I can look into moving up north and just focus on the animals/property/camp for children with special needs! I can then fulfill my life long dream and drive a dog sled into town rather then drive. I suppose I could always drive up north on weekends and practice my french! I have only visited the most northern part of Maine- it's obviously time to visit the whole state. My desert dwelling mother -whom I am dragging along for most of the year (she refused to stay in winter) is lobbying for Brunswick or Yarmouth areas. I plan to contact the garden, Icelandic horse/sheep communities to get specific ideas as well!
Californians do seem drawn to the NE. I think it is the romantic ideal of the entire Walden Pond dream. I found it very telling when I read one biography that said his sister brought him food and clean clothing the entire time he was there! One women I know spent our college years dreaming of VT. She married a native VT'er, moved there and after three years moved back to CA due to feeling isolated, cold and out of "place".
"I can look into moving up north and just focus on the animals/property/camp for children with special needs! I can then fulfill my life long dream and drive a dog sled into town rather then drive."
My wife was a special education teacher, then director. She retired in June. She lived your dream. I was the first registered Maine guide ever to guide with a sled dog team. She also raced sled dogs.
I think special ed is under-appreciated and widely misunderstood. You can make huge contributions to some kids. The goal needs to be to bring the kids up to grade level and dismiss them from services if possible. Too many people in the system in Maine see the program as a cash cow and seek to keep kids in the system as long as possible.
The French culture is very strong in northern Maine, as you know. The closeness to Canada is one of the things that attracted us here, as you can experience TOTAL French culture within a short drive. (Quebec City itself is an easy day trip).
There are three good sized towns in northen Maine, if that matters to you (Caribou and Presque Isle). Plus several other ones just across the border (Edmunston has 20,000 people). There are also a number of "small towns".
Honestly, I have to say that northern Maine is absolutely QUINTESSENTIAL New England. It's like being in "the old days". So much of that has been lost in other New England states, and even parts of Maine. Not so, here.
As for "making it", a sense of community is VERY strong here and neighbors help neighbors. Unless some one is a jerk, they'll get all the help they want.
Last edited by maineguy8888; 10-07-2008 at 12:07 PM..
Reason: added something
Hello! I am posting from California. I am planning a move to the NE. ...
Greetings.
I am from California.
I grew up between Modesto and Merced, and I attended college in Fresno. My siblings and most of my close relatives all live in the San Joaquin Valley.
Where are you living in California?
California is a fairly large state. It has large densely populated cities, and it has it's Central Valley which is primarily Ag. It has tall mountains [I have hiked on Whitney], wonderful forests, and deserts too.
How would you feel about living within Yosemite park? Maybe near Tioga pass? Or White wolf?
Have you ever traveled through Lake County? or Mendocino County?
I ask these questions, as it would help to open a dialog comparing these areas of California to the regions of Maine.
May God bless you.
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I suppose I could always drive up north on weekends and practice my french! I have only visited the most northern part of Maine- it's obviously time to visit the whole state. My desert dwelling mother -whom I am dragging along for most of the year (she refused to stay in winter) is lobbying for Brunswick or Yarmouth areas. I plan to contact the garden, Icelandic horse/sheep communities to get specific ideas as well! 
northern Maine
