The Outdoors and Rural Maine (tax, live, to move)

[contented]

i have to agree with NMLM and now keep a wary eye, especially on our legislators, about anything pertaining to conservation or preservation and the laws they pass pertaining to it.

recently, they passed then rescinded what came to be known as the "bird bill". for the native mainers lucky enough to hang on to their coastal land, the bill effectively, through setback requirements, robbed them of most of the value of their family holdings. it was rammed through the legislature by a member of the legislature who sat on the board of the statewide audubon society in his private life.

another of their most recent blunders was the "vernal pool" bill, which created onerous setbacks from a vernal pool. but guess who they exempted from the bill?.............all the land owned by the large paper companies so they would'nt have to wrassle with the paper company lawyers to get the bill passed. almost as though paper company salamanders were less valuable than small property owner salamanders....................jus saying

[sr1234]

The reason I am asking is that I am planning to relocate out of a large city. I am leaning towards one area in my state, but Maine is a possibility.

I want to live as self-sufficient (urban homesteading) a lifestyle as possible, so I am looking for rural areas. An area that provides outdoor activities is the number one priority on my list. I love kayaking and fishing, so I need to be near a body of water. I prefer small towns because I am pretty sick of big city living. Harsh winters and snow are no problem. A place with a good sense of community. The one problem I may have is that my beliefs tend to lean conservative, and it seems like New England is now a land of liberals.

By conservation, I mean protecting land from urban sprawl and overdevelopment. I believe that there should be a balance between recreational use and environmental protection for public land. If organizations are going to put a stop to public use of the forests, then Maine won't be the place for me.

[fxtrader]

Originally Posted by Kracer

"So Miss Vito you can't answer the question?"
"No, the question is impossible to answer".

Sort of sums it up.

Perhaps rephrase your questions. As they are presented, they make me turn my head to the side in a manner not unlike what my dog does when I ask him where he's been.

Where did you see the ads about Maine?


Good luck.

Maine is advertising on public transportation in and around NYC for one. There are several different posters all with outdoor settings. My favorite is a close up of a bull moose.

[broadbill]

Originally Posted by sr1234

The one problem I may have is that my beliefs tend to lean conservative, and it seems like New England is now a land of liberals.

yup....NE is liberal HQ now! Darn near everyone up this way is one of them godless, socialist, endangered species-hugging, alternative energy loving, obama worshipping, commie, pinko, hanging-over-the-end leftist, liberals!!!

[end sarcasm]now I hope that wasn't a serious comment....it was? oh....

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by broadbill

yup....NE is liberal HQ now! Darn near everyone up this way is one of them godless, socialist, endangered species-hugging, alternative energy loving, obama worshipping, commie, pinko, hanging-over-the-end leftist, liberals!!!

[end sarcasm]now I hope that wasn't a serious comment....it was? oh....

Not everyone!

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by fxtrader

Maine is advertising on public transportation in and around NYC for one. There are several different posters all with outdoor settings. My favorite is a close up of a bull moose.

From the rear.

[AustinB]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

People in rural Maine live and work in the outdoors. Whether born here or long time residents we all have the choice of living somewhere else. This is where we choose to live our lives. Most wouldn't have it any other way. We want to protect what we have and what we have is freedom. The guy with land next to mine is having some wood cut. He needs the money and he's harvesting the crop he owns. Some would equate that to cannibalism or a horrific act.

We love the woods and waters. One reason the environmental industry likes it so much is that we who own it have cared for it for the last 400 years or so. We are the most heavily forested state in the nation. Yet, environmentalists will tell you we are losing our forests. They lie. The fact is that since 1940, Maine has gained an average of 77,000 acres a year of forest. That is more than three townships a year. In a regular six mile square town there are 23,040 acres. I think we are all interested in protecting and conserving what we have. My neighbor has and that's why he is able to derive some income from his land.

Despite the fine record of Maine people being fine stewards of the land we all enjoy, just this year we lost 19 townships of land in Washington County. You see, Augusta passed a new Maine Forest Practices Act several years ago. Since that time every single paper mill in Maine has sold its land. Large foundations and multinational corporations bought it. Domtar wanted to buy the paper mill in Woodland, but before they would buy it they wanted the land gone. GP sold the land to Hancock Trust, a division of Yale University. You see, Hancock Trust is one of those radical environmental organizations who ultimately want rural cleansing. Neither your grandson nor mine will ever have a hunting camp in those 19 townships of land. We have lost that economic opportunity.

When somebody brings up the subject of conservation or preservation it's time to get very specific with that person. The meanings of those words have been perverted in the last few decades. If you have been around that long be very careful about voting for or agreeing with someone until you know exactly what you are agreeing to.

Sooo true!!!

[AustinB]

Originally Posted by sr1234

The reason I am asking is that I am planning to relocate out of a large city. I am leaning towards one area in my state, but Maine is a possibility.

I want to live as self-sufficient (urban homesteading) a lifestyle as possible, so I am looking for rural areas. An area that provides outdoor activities is the number one priority on my list. I love kayaking and fishing, so I need to be near a body of water. I prefer small towns because I am pretty sick of big city living. Harsh winters and snow are no problem. A place with a good sense of community. The one problem I may have is that my beliefs tend to lean conservative, and it seems like New England is now a land of liberals.

By conservation, I mean protecting land from urban sprawl and overdevelopment. I believe that there should be a balance between recreational use and environmental protection for public land. If organizations are going to put a stop to public use of the forests, then Maine won't be the place for me.

You are to be commended for most of you comments. Maine is mostly rual, but there are some cities. Not every one here is a flaming liberal.

The only rub I have is that you may wish to have some additional zoning.... I prefer to do as I wish with the property I pay taxes on.

[Kracer]

Every state had its roots in the outdoors. Look at what happened elsewhere to see what will happen to Maine. Maine has a larger buffer of undeveloped territory and a lingering population of outdoor oriented folks. It will be one of the last hold outs in the northeast.

Lot of dramatic changes in Maine in recent times hint at future possibilities. Hopefully Maine will retain it's original outdoor orientation long into the future. That however will attrach more people.

Keep in mind rural and wild are subjectively defined. What you think is wilderness I may consider the suburbs. So you may comfortably vote for a law or bill that affects the outdoors that I may consider the end of the world as we know it. Consider the Allagash Wilderness and north Woods controversies.

Standing here in time and predicting the future is a guessing game as God only knows what economic, political, legal and social changes are in store that may impact large population migrations. Projections are only valid if everything remains constant and that is not the case in today's world or in yesterday's world. Voter numbers will determine the final direction barring political shenanigans motivated by personal gain.

God bless Maine and long may it retain its natural beauty and personal freedoms. I'm counting on it, please don't let me down. Favorite quote, "we don't inherit the earth from our ancenstors we borrow it from our children".

[dmyankee]

Come on up to Piscataquis County. The only County in New England to vote red in the presidential election.

Charles Fitzgerald and his minions are up to their shenanigans again. They just tried to sue the State over the Allagash access. The 'naturalist" crowd just doesn't get it, again!