Northern VA to Portland ME and possible commute to Brunswick?!? (South Portland: movers, condo)

[waterlovers]

Hi all.

After months of lurking on this site, we have a better grip on our time line on our move to the greater Portland area. We know a bit about Maine as our family has a summer place in Acton on Great East Lake. That said, we have not spent more than a full week on the ground and it is time for us to get serious with our research and start asking questions.

Here is a bit about us:

Young (30s) married couple with a 1-yr-old. Hubby is a project manager/GIS/water quality/biologist. I am a sign language interpreter/government EEO counselor. We currently live in hectic stressful and expensive Northern VA (outside the beltway).

What we are looking for and the related questions:

Two jobs - I am looking for a govn't job. Possibly in the Brunswick area. Hubby is looking at a transfer with his current company or other opportunities around Portland.
Q - Would the commute from Portland to Brunswick 5-days a week be unrealistic?

A house - We are looking for a single family home with a yard.
Q - Can you recommend communities of single family homes with a high concentration of young, active families?

TIA

Marisa

[WhoFanMe]

Hello Marisa,

Welcome to the forum. On the surface, the Brunswick-Portland commute is a short 20 minute drive, but you have to figure out how far each stop (home and work) is from Interstate 295, which could add considerable time to your commute. However Brunswick to Great East Lake seems like a long drive. Perhaps you could both find work in the Portland area and live in the western suburbs, closer to Acton. As for single family homes, there are large concentrations of them in all communites in the Greater Portland area. I'm not sure of your budget, but with the exception of the Portland peninsula, you should have no trouble finding homes with yards. Congratulations on parenthood, we have an almost 18 month old and you'll find Maine is a great place to be.

[exscrantonian]

I lived in Washington DC for 13 years before moving up here. You are in for a real culture shock. When folks get annoyed about the Casco Bay bridge being backed up, I usually chuckle. What you might be waiting for 15 minutes? Brunswick can be a hike. You might want to try something half way between Portland and Brunswick. Good luck

[island mermaid]

Originally Posted by exscrantonian

I lived in Washington DC for 13 years before moving up here. You are in for a real culture shock. When folks get annoyed about the Casco Bay bridge being backed up, I usually chuckle. What you might be waiting for 15 minutes? Brunswick can be a hike. You might want to try something half way between Portland and Brunswick. Good luck

LOL - a hike? Brunswick to Portland? hehe! 20-30 minutes tops. From the on ramp in Brunswick to Tookeys is 20 minutes, on a BAD day! exscrantonian, the speed limit is 65 mph now! Take it up a notch.

[waterlovers]

Thanks for the responses.

Culture Shock - I am originally from Ashland MA and hubby is from Buffalo NY. The shock after DC life is exactly what we are looking for. Grin!

Commute - We are both used to a 30 min to 1 hour commute - IN TRAFFIC. We would still like to consider housing on the northern side of Portland. The other option we have considered is selecting a place half way between Portland and Portsmouth. Portsmouth govn't jobs are plentiful and hubby really will need to work out of the Portland office. Is there a half way point that would work for us between Portland and Portsmouth? Of course - a Maine town is our preference. Thoughts?

exscrantonian - 13 years, huh? How has it been? Any words of wisdom as we try to make this happen?

Marisa

[elston]

Saco or Kennebunk (not Kennebunkport) would be towns that I would consider if I needed to be twix Portland and Portsmouth. I believe Portland would be the hub for your non-work related life...as the commute to Portsmouth would be longer.

Good Luck.

[waterlovers]

Elston - do I remember correctly that you moved from Silver Spring? How was the move? Any words of advice?

[elston]

No, waterlovers, we moved from southern California. The selling of the house out there was agonizing....the packing was a lot of work.....the movers were good but expensive....the cross country-trip was really fun even with the dogs....and closing and moving in and getting settled.....has been pure joy!

Advise? Do It! Don't agonize...it will all work out.

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by waterlovers

Hi all.
Here is a bit about us:

Young (30s) married couple with a 1-yr-old. Hubby is a project manager/GIS/water quality/biologist. I am a sign language interpreter/government EEO counselor. We currently live in hectic stressful and expensive Northern VA (outside the beltway).

What we are looking for and the related questions:

Two jobs - I am looking for a govn't job. Possibly in the Brunswick area. Hubby is looking at a transfer with his current company or other opportunities around Portland.
Q - Would the commute from Portland to Brunswick 5-days a week be unrealistic?

Since Brunswick and Portsmouth for a possible location of government jobs I am thinking that maybe you work for the Navy?

Anyways, the commute from Portland to Brunswick is totally doable and would be considered a fairly easy commute as traffic congestion would be almost none existent (although considered a nightmare by Maine standards).

Not sure who your husband works for, but the Portland Water District would be a really good place to work. My GF did some archiving for them and everyone that works there really loves their jobs (which seems kind of rare for a government position).

Originally Posted by waterlovers

A house - We are looking for a single family home with a yard.
Q - Can you recommend communities of single family homes with a high concentration of young, active families?

Hmmm, young active families? That is almost an oxymoron around here. Almost. The only places that immediately come to mind would be South Portland and maybe the area around USM (the Portland campus) for a home with a yard, however, the vast majority of the young people (active or otherwise) live on the peninsula, but good luck finding a home with a yard, let alone a single family home (if it is not a condo or at least a duplex it will be a mansion). The rest of the city (North Portland?) seems to be pretty much an older crowd but along with the USM area and South Portland is basically the only place for single family homes.

Have you looked into living in Brunswick? Brunswick offers everything that Portland offers but on a (slightly) smaller scale. It is also in a more beautiful area and is not as blighted as Portland is.

[elston]

We are definately not a "young active family" but we live in a very nice subdivision in Gorham and most of our neighbors (about 24 houses) would be considered young active families with young children; most of the houses have over an acre of land and beyond the immediate yards there are lots of woods and fields. The school system is supposed to be good...the kids I have met are well behaved and well mannered. There seem to be a lot of similar neighborhoods in the area.

This is a college town.....so during the school year there is some of the vitality of youth, and some of the benefits of the college....e.g. concerts.
Portland is only about 20-25 mins away.

I don't have any idea about the drive to Brunswick. I think the communities of Cumberland and Topsham might be closer. I am sure someone who knows the area better will offer suggestions.

Maine is a rural state....tho many would disagree...even Portland is a very small city. I don't know what sort of activities you are used to or are looking for...but life does exist here...and for young families with kids....there are many other young families with kids....they must be doing something for activities. I think you will find folks similar to yourselves.