Relocating to Maine

[Three Wolves In Snow]

Originally Posted by AK_2_ME

Hello! I am a retired military member who is currently in Alaska. I love Alaska but would like to travel more and flying 4 hrs just to get to Seattle takes a lot of pleasure out of adventures. We have been scouring the lower 48 for an "Alaskan lite" locale and Maine seems to fit the bill. We have visited and truly enjoyed the friendliness and down to earth mentality we encountered. We are thinking and hour outside of Portland/Augusta would be ideal, if employment opportunities presented themselves than further north would be wonderfu, but I would imagine civil engineering jobs will be scarce outside of the major cities. Been lurking so I'd figured I'd introduce myself.

The 2 states I prefer out of them all are Maine and Alaska.

Alaska is the most beautiful place I've ever seen.

Maine is also very nice, it just doesn't have those amazing mountains. That is the only downside when it comes to the views.

AK is, as you well know, more expensive. Groceries in Maine were higher in price than the several other places I've lived (except Seattle), but definitely not like AK.

However, depending on where you live in AK, some things can be cheaper than in Maine. (Example: GCI used to be cheaper than garbage Time Warner, and offered better speeds.)

The people in Maine are ridiculously friendly. When I was there, still exploring, I'd go to a gas station for directions (GPS was popular, but not like today), and instead of a grunt and shrugged shoulders, everyone who worked at the station would get involved. They didn't just tell me how to get there, they would tell me the history, some of the longtime families who lived there, other interesting things to do while I'm going that way, etc. Gosh, I miss that so much.

One time, driving to work, I knew I probably wasn't going to make it safely up the hills in the snow. I didn't carry a cellphone at the time, so I stopped at a gas station and asked if it would be possible to use their phone to call work. This was about the halfway point of my looooong commute. The lady handed me her personal cell phone and started 'mothering' me.

When I first moved there, I went to a local gas station just down the road from my house to borrow their phone book. (My internet was still not up.) When they found out that I had just moved there, they told me to take that phone book home, and bring it back when I was done.

My dog got out of the yard one time. I searched all over for her. A neighbor down the road advised me to try the police station. I did, and sure enough, she was there. I went down there, dreading how much it was going to cost. I got there, not only was she not locked up somewhere in a cage, (she was hanging out with the cops, being spoiled, enjoying the hell out of herself, learning no lessons at all), but when I inquired what I had to pay, I was informed that the Chief said no charge. They understood, it happens.

Where do you find that kind of people? I have lived in many states, and while I've encountered people here and there like that, almost every single interaction I had in Maine was like the above stories.

What they lack in mountains, they make up 10 fold in their unbelievable friendliness and just being downright nice!

There are some differences in scenery, and each area of our country has its own culture, but I think you would be happiest in Maine coming from AK.

[Tiredofnyclife]

I wonder how many ex-NYers live in Maine. You can probably guess that's where I am from based on my name.
And yes, I want to move out of here based on the same reasons you gave.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by Tiredofnyclife

I wonder how many ex-NYers live in Maine. You can probably guess that's where I am from based on my name.
And yes, I want to move out of here based on the same reasons you gave.

In my township, I am aware of three families who came here from California.

I have made a number of friends with people who came here from the Carolinas.

I had to check with my Dw, we do know one family that came to Maine from NY.

[WhoFanMe]

Originally Posted by Tiredofnyclife

I wonder how many ex-NYers live in Maine. You can probably guess that's where I am from based on my name.
And yes, I want to move out of here based on the same reasons you gave.

I did in 1979.

[AK_2_ME]

Thanks for the feedback. We are looking at the Appleton area currently. Do most folks use blizzacks or studded tires in the winter? Also how often so you have to plug your cars in?

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by AK_2_ME

Thanks for the feedback. We are looking at the Appleton area currently. Do most folks use blizzacks or studded tires in the winter? Also how often so you have to plug your cars in?

I know people who are happy with Blizzacks. The township where I live is low-laying, our road follows along a river, moisture rises up off the river and when the ground is cold that moisture freezes on the pavement forming 'black ice', Blizzaks do not cut it on black ice, we gotta have studds.

My tractor is on a charger. I only plugin the block heater an hour before I need the tractor.

My cars do not have block heaters.

It only gets down to -20F in my area. We do not need block heaters for gasoline vehicles here in our township.

My car is a plug-in hybrid I plug it in every day to recharge itself from our household solar power system [summer and winter].

[dubthang]

Originally Posted by AK_2_ME

Thanks for the feedback. We are looking at the Appleton area currently. Do most folks use blizzacks or studded tires in the winter? Also how often so you have to plug your cars in?

My truck uses Yokohama I/T's for the winter. They are studless snows. They have been fine on everything from pure ice to deep snow. I'll eventually switch back to a studded tire because I want something that is 35" and has bigger lugs for less travelled (not plowed) roads. Studless tires are not available in that size or style.