Pros and Cons of Maine (Portland, Bangor: crime, to buy, school)

[Rhapsodie2014]

Originally Posted by Submariner

I am fairly new to Maine. I lived a many other places before deciding to settle in Maine.

Pros:
most of Maine is rural with lots of elbow room,
very little traffic
the culture / attitude of people here is very laid back and community focused,
some wicked nice scenery,
lots of wildlife,
winter and summer activities,
lack of infrastructure which goes hand-in-hand with low tax revenue [which I like],
no venomous snakes or spiders.
summer is nice and not too hot, ...

There is a strong and growing sub-culture in Maine of sustainable / organical / agriculture and lifestyle choices, that I have not seen anywhere else. It is just barely starting in other states, but it has been here since the 70's. Ask any Mainer about the Common Ground Fair, they may not like it, but they all know of it.

I am on a small pension. I have lived in places where with my small pension a person would be border-line homeless. Instead of a one-room flop in a ghetto over-looking gang turf; in Maine I can afford a massive house, on 100+ acres of land.



Cons:
I will have to think about that one. Hold on, . . . .

ugh, I had one but when I thought about it, it was really a Pro.

Well...what about employment possibilities...or to put another way "lack of jobs".....but if there was an abundance of employment possibilities....that would mean a lot of industry....a lot of buildings...more and more people...that is just what we are trying to get away from......

For me, I am hoping to get a job in health care field (this field goes anywhere).....which might enable me to survive in ME..............oh yes, aren't property taxes excessively high....or is that just around Portland??

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by Rhapsodie2014

Well ... what about employment possibilities ... or to put another way "lack of jobs"

Maine has a depressed economy, it has been this way for many decades.

... if there was an abundance of employment possibilities ... that would mean a lot of industry ... a lot of buildings ... more and more people ... that is just what we are trying to get away from ...

'Progress' and 'growth' both require more municipal services and higher taxes. Can not have urban growth without higher taxes.

... For me, I am hoping to get a job in health care field (this field goes anywhere) ... which might enable me to survive in ME ... oh yes, aren't property taxes excessively high ... or is that just around Portland??

Property taxes are set by township. Some towns appear to have 'high' mil-rates, while other towns have lower rates. The town to my West has taxes 2X my town's taxes. The town to my South is at 3X, ... It varies by town.

My property taxes have dropped for two years in a row. My township has a very low level of municipal services.

Cities require a lot more municipal services. Big crowds of unemployed people tend to have more crime, so the good folk want more police presence, etc. Busy urban commuters demand nicer roads, street lights, and more road salt. It is my understanding that Portland does have fairly high taxes.



This is the fourth home that I have owned. This is by far the lowest I have ever paid for property taxes, This is also the largest [and nicest] property I have ever owned.

In Maine I can afford a massive house, on a large parcel with river frontage.



Recent BDN news articles were showing US Census data about how young adults flee from Maine, and retirees migrate to Maine.

The idea is that Maine has very few jobs and no high paying jobs. A young person needs to go elsewhere to earn $100k/year.

Then as they approach retirement, they realize that they live in a loud high crime cesspool and they can't support themselves on their pension. So they seek places like Maine to retire.

Young people tend to leave, older people tend to move here.



It is a great place to raise children [if you can support them]. Our children enjoyed it here. The local high school has a rifle marksmanship team. How out-of-place is that compared to most cities in the nation?





I wish you luck finding a job in health care field.

[Rhapsodie2014]

Thank you for all that info......I have much research to do.....

[mainebrokerman]

Originally Posted by Rhapsodie2014

Well...what about employment possibilities...or to put another way "lack of jobs".....but if there was an abundance of employment possibilities....that would mean a lot of industry....a lot of buildings...more and more people...that is just what we are trying to get away from......

For me, I am hoping to get a job in health care field (this field goes anywhere).....which might enable me to survive in ME..............oh yes, aren't property taxes excessively high....or is that just around Portland??

the health care field, is one of the more solid fields of employment, in maine

excessively high taxes?? it depends on the particular town/city


i live on the water and my taxes are 1180 yr...is that excessively high??



trying to get away from buildings and people??
maine is 93% trees, the most forested state- you can drive 5 minutes from just about any point in maine and be "out in the country"

[Rhapsodie2014]

Originally Posted by mainebrokerman

the health care field, is one of the more solid fields of employment, in maine

excessively high taxes?? it depends on the particular town/city


i live on the water and my taxes are 1180 yr...is that excessively high??



trying to get away from buildings and people??
maine is 93% trees, the most forested state- you can drive 5 minutes from just about any point in maine and be "out in the country"

Thank you for reply......I will just take a lot of time to explore....unstead of just settling on MA due to familiarity ( and maybe the fact that I will have easier time finding work).

[edwina levine]

you already have been given the positives. the realities should be pointed out. theu do locals are very hostile towards outsiders both passive/agrressive styles. a severe shortage of medical professionals. long waits for specialists, long travel times to get to them and little choice if yoour u dont like your doctor. mid coast area housing prices are stratospheric. Slumlords proliferate, especially in Rockland where rents are high and housing standards really low. state does nothing to enforce the luke warm landlord/tenants act. also be aware of shoddy building practices and rip offs by contractors again with no help from the state. contractors are not required to be licensed here. these are just a few areas to be wary of. maine culture has been weakened by cultures of those coming into the state who bring their wariness and mistrust from whence they came. not a perfect place after all. some times the beauty of the state is not enough of a reason to live here.

[slyfox2]

Originally Posted by edwina levine

you already have been given the positives. the realities should be pointed out. theu do locals are very hostile towards outsiders both passive/agrressive styles. a severe shortage of medical professionals. long waits for specialists, long travel times to get to them and little choice if yoour u dont like your doctor. mid coast area housing prices are stratospheric. Slumlords proliferate, especially in Rockland where rents are high and housing standards really low. state does nothing to enforce the luke warm landlord/tenants act. also be aware of shoddy building practices and rip offs by contractors again with no help from the state. contractors are not required to be licensed here. these are just a few areas to be wary of. maine culture has been weakened by cultures of those coming into the state who bring their wariness and mistrust from whence they came. not a perfect place after all. some times the beauty of the state is not enough of a reason to live here.

Sounds like you never lived anywhere but Maine.

All these things can be used to describe many places in the USA. Also many of the things you mentioned don't exist in the area of Maine that I live.

Sounds like an axe to grind. Hope you're getting it suitably sharp.

[elston]

Originally Posted by CoastalMaineiac

Most of the pros, in my opinion, are related to the general culture and attitude of the people here (and I'm a bit biased as a native). We are very live and let live here, especially in the rural parts of the state. If you break down on the side of the road, people will actually stop and offer to help. You don't see that in many places.

Up in Aroostook County, they still have farm stands where they use the honor system (get your veggies, put your money in the box, even make change out of the box, all on your own). They can still do that in places up here, because the honest still far outnumber the dishonest.

In Saco Maine....(Southern Maine) there is a farm up the street that just converted from dairy to vegetable farming. They have a farm stand on the road side that is also "honor system". In Gorham Maine......the farmer up the road from me bagged composted cow manure and put it out on a flat bed truck .... with a canister for payment....Honor System. He did quite a good business...and people must have been "honorable" because he kept selling on the honor system.

[mainebrokerman]

Originally Posted by edwina levine

you already have been given the positives. the realities should be pointed out. theu do locals are very hostile towards outsiders both passive/agrressive styles. a severe shortage of medical professionals. long waits for specialists, long travel times to get to them and little choice if yoour u dont like your doctor. mid coast area housing prices are stratospheric. Slumlords proliferate, especially in Rockland where rents are high and housing standards really low. state does nothing to enforce the luke warm landlord/tenants act. also be aware of shoddy building practices and rip offs by contractors again with no help from the state. contractors are not required to be licensed here. these are just a few areas to be wary of. maine culture has been weakened by cultures of those coming into the state who bring their wariness and mistrust from whence they came. not a perfect place after all. some times the beauty of the state is not enough of a reason to live here.

im not sure if this is a reflection of our educational system, or approving medical use marijuana, or just a dumb-ass,,, none of this is true..

[parducci]

Originally Posted by mainebrokerman

Live and let live attitudes

mostly rural,,

low crime

great scenery

little traffic

plenty of wildlife..

quiet

great native foods...blueberries, corn, apples , lobsters, potatoes

sold me. I'm packing my bags now. See you in a bit.