An odd scenario... (Deer Isle, Penobscot: transplants, house, neighborhood)

[K-Luv]

...or at least a different take on a concept.

Ok, I know that a person will not be considered a Mainer unless they were born in Maine, and even in some cases a person may not be considered a Mainer unless they are 2nd or 3rd generation (maybe more?), but what about in this situation:

What if a family from out of state owned vacation or seasonal property in Maine, and this property has been in the family for generations.

Would this family be considered honorary Mainers or would they still be considered 'from away'?

For the sake of argument, all members of this family were born out of state but the property in Maine gets used on a regular basis by members of this family and have been for the generations that this property has been in the family name.

[Acadianlion]

Off hand, I would say that the only true Mainers are probably Penobscot of Passamaquoddy or a member of one of the other native American tribes.

Everyone else is an immigrant.

Except maybe the moose. I think the Moose are the only TRUE Mainers. Everyone else is probably an imposter.

[deerislesmile]

Nope. If they have never actually lived in Maine (ie- lived in the "camp" for 12 consecutive months, used it for a legal address, etc) I would not say they even come close to being a Mainer. My parents spend 2 months in Florida every year... doesn't make them Floridians.

[Casper1212]

So, even those of us who are not from Maine, but feel that we have discovered one of the best places on earth to live will never be allowed to consider ourselves Mainers just because we weren't born here? It's not exactly a whole new kind of discrimination, but it still smacks of bias to me.

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by deerislesmile

Nope. If they have never actually lived in Maine (ie- lived in the "camp" for 12 consecutive months, used it for a legal address, etc) I would not say they even come close to being a Mainer. My parents spend 2 months in Florida every year... doesn't make them Floridians.

Well, I guess not. What I am thinking is that if the family spent some portion of the year in Where Ever, ME. just as their relatives and ancestors did for a few generations (at the same location) than the locals would (or should) know this family fairly well. Or at least half-way decently.

Obviously they would not be Mainers by any stretch of the law, which is why I suggested honorary Mainers, suggesting that while even though they do not live there they (the generations of family) are still a regular, albeit periodic, fixture in the local scenery.

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by Casper1212

So, even those of us who are not from Maine, but feel that we have discovered one of the best places on earth to live will never be allowed to consider ourselves Mainers just because we weren't born here? It's not exactly a whole new kind of discrimination, but it still smacks of bias to me.

Yeah, that is how it goes. The reality is, though, that this is mainly a concept of rural America as a whole and not something that is isolated to Maine, but since Maine is a good sized state that is predominantly rural that 'attitude' sticks out a little bit more.

[dmyankee]

Tim Sample once said, "Just because your cat has kittens in the oven, doesn't make 'em biscuits."

or something to that effect, speaking of of transplants.

[American girl]

Originally Posted by K-Luv

...or at least a different take on a concept.

What if a family from out of state owned vacation or seasonal property in Maine, and this property has been in the family for generations.

.

If the camp were in Nova Scotia would the family be Canadians?

[Connecticut Pam]

Originally Posted by K-Luv

...or at least a different take on a concept.
Ok, I know that a person will not be considered a Mainer unless they were born in Maine, and even in some cases a person may not be considered a Mainer unless they are 2nd or 3rd generation (maybe more?), but what about in this situation:
What if a family from out of state owned vacation or seasonal property in Maine, and this property has been in the family for generations. Would this family be considered honorary Mainers or would they still be considered 'from away'? For the sake of argument, all members of this family were born out of state but the property in Maine gets used on a regular basis by members of this family and have been for the generations that this property has been in the family name.

Now, this is coming from someone who only lived in Maine for 12 years but is still considered a "Mainer" at heart by very dear friends who still live there and have lived there their whole entire lives. Mainers are ot as "into their own" as you would think. I found them very accepting and willing to acclimate me when I first moved up there. I was a tried and true city girl totally out of my element living in a town of 300 people and they were all very helpful..curious about me but helpful and I miss them all very much.

Unless you live there year round, you would be classified as "summer folks" OR "Seasonal Folks"; doesn't mean that they wouldn't be nice to you or accepting of you. Should you decide to retire there and become permanent residents your "status" will change. In the meantime, enjoy the property and the nice folks up there...I did and still do although it is long distance now.

[deerislesmile]

Originally Posted by K-Luv

Well, I guess not. What I am thinking is that if the family spent some portion of the year in Where Ever, ME. just as their relatives and ancestors did for a few generations (at the same location) than the locals would (or should) know this family fairly well. Or at least half-way decently.

Obviously they would not be Mainers by any stretch of the law, which is why I suggested honorary Mainers, suggesting that while even though they do not live there they (the generations of family) are still a regular, albeit periodic, fixture in the local scenery.

Where I live (on Deer Isle) we have a LOT of seasonal homes that have been owned by the same families for generations. It's very seldom that the people who come and stay in those homes actually socialize with the "locals" to the level of being a regular fixture to the locals themselves. More often, they socialize with other summer residents (here, it's usually at the Country Club or Yacht Club) or just keep to themselves. The locals that they do "know" always seem to be the same people- the worker bees such as the electrician, the plumber, the lobster dealer, the women who open and clean the summer homes... in short, utilitarian relationships. I'm not saying this is always the case, but I find it's the case more often than not. I think that the regular summer visitors tend to think of themselves as being a part of the local community, but the local community doesn't always see it that way! And it is understandable- they have always come to their Maine home, it's very much a tradition to them, and they are familiar with the roads and the businesses and activities here, and so feel that they are connected to the physical location, and by extension the local community. But I wouldn't say that makes them Mainers, even honorary Mainers.

Just up the street from my parents is a summer home owned by Frank. Frank is from Massachusetts and has owned that property near my parents house as long as I can remember (35+ years). He comes up whenever he gets the chance throughout the summer, and though not close friends, knows most of the people in the neighborhood (well, the ones that have been there for a while..lol), and is appreciated because he is a nice man, and a good neighbor (and he always let all of us kids go on his property to use his beach and play on his big grassy lawn..a really nice guy!). However, Frank is not a Mainer. He is a man from Massachusetts who owns a summer home in Maine.