Retire to Oregon Coast or Maine Coast?

[Zymer]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

Just stick to front-wheel drive vehicles and you will be fine. I do so a lot of folks who drive the 4WDs and pickups and every time they come out of a driveway onto the roads, they do tend to fish-tail and spin around. Applying torque at the rear of a vehicles is just the wrong place to apply it, if there is ice on the road.

I've driven RWD, FWD, 4WD, 6WD and 10WD, and I've got to say that FWD is the worst of the lot...for someone that knows how to drive. If you lose traction with FWD, braking or accelerating, you're screwed no matter which way you slice it. If you lose traction with RWD you can at least slew the tail end around so that you don't hit something head on.

[Submariner]

On ice sliding around there is nothing that you can do. It does not matter what kind of vehicle you drive.

However even if you only occasionally get a little grip from your tires, FWD can save you.

When your sliding and positioned sideways, torque from a RWD will push you off the road. It simply can not be controlled.

FWD even when you are sliding, you can still keep the wheels pointed in the desired direction, and by applying torque, whenever they finally do grip, then you once again have control of your vehicle.

A small patch of ice with RWD, who knows where it will send you.

A small patch of ice with FWD and you are right back in control.

[Osprey2]

I have been in Oregon only 4 yrs, but had a place on the Maine coast for over 20. My preference is Maine, unless weather is a big issue. ME is can be harsh in the winter. I love the seasons and October is my favorite month there. There is nothing I have seen anywhere in the US that comes close to the charm of the ME coast. I wouldn't be surprised if there was more actual coastline to ME than California - there are thousands of islands, lovely harbors, sounds, charming villages. The OR coast, which I have not explored a great deal, seems boringly uniform, lacking charm, loaded with tacky houses and fast food joints, and almost always interrupted by the highway. ME's convoluted coastline makes it impossible for the road to always parallel the coast. However pay attention to ME taxes! Certain place (e.g. Camden, ME) have very high local coastal property taxes.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by Osprey2

I have been in Oregon only 4 yrs, but had a place on the Maine coast for over 20. My preference is Maine, unless weather is a big issue. ME is can be harsh in the winter. I love the seasons and October is my favorite month there. There is nothing I have seen anywhere in the US that comes close to the charm of the ME coast. I wouldn't be surprised if there was more actual coastline to ME than California - there are thousands of islands, lovely harbors, sounds, charming villages. The OR coast, which I have not explored a great deal, seems boringly uniform, lacking charm, loaded with tacky houses and fast food joints, and almost always interrupted by the highway. ME's convoluted coastline makes it impossible for the road to always parallel the coast. However pay attention to ME taxes! Certain place (e.g. Camden, ME) have very high local coastal property taxes.

Good observations

[anotherplebe]

Originally Posted by Osprey2

I have been in Oregon only 4 yrs, but had a place on the Maine coast for over 20. My preference is Maine, unless weather is a big issue. ME is can be harsh in the winter. I love the seasons and October is my favorite month there. There is nothing I have seen anywhere in the US that comes close to the charm of the ME coast. I wouldn't be surprised if there was more actual coastline to ME than California - there are thousands of islands, lovely harbors, sounds, charming villages. The OR coast, which I have not explored a great deal, seems boringly uniform, lacking charm, loaded with tacky houses and fast food joints, and almost always interrupted by the highway. ME's convoluted coastline makes it impossible for the road to always parallel the coast. However pay attention to ME taxes! Certain place (e.g. Camden, ME) have very high local coastal property taxes.

I would chose Oregon over maine hands down... better weather, beaches, more open space and on and on.

I'm curious Osprey... Why did you comment on a two year old thread, it's not like the original poster is going to see it... like I said, just curious.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by anotherplebe

I would chose Oregon over maine hands down ... better weather, beaches, more open space and on and on.

While shopping for a retirement home, I did spend a few weeks in Oregon looking around.

Oregon is a very nice place.

However Maine has much more 'charm'; and more coastline, and more islands, and more harbors, and certainly far more lakes, ponds and rivers.

There are the occasional townships that do have high taxes in Maine. Fortunately such is a rarity.

We prefer the lower cost-of-living that Maine offers, along with the lower population density.