How's northern Maine for a 22 yr old? (Bangor: real estate, layoffs)

[dogcrazy]

Good morning everyone!I've posted on here previously about moving to Maine but i wanted some opinions about life in northern Maine for someone my age.Possibly the Bangor area with high hopes to get a job working at the Bangor Humane Society.I was in touch with them a couple of months ago and they are not hiring right now but they said i more than qualify and to keep checking back with them.I LOVE animals and have my own little Noahs ark I know northern Maine has a lot of countryside and thats what i want.I don't want my neighbors on top of me.I like privacy.I do want to be close to stores though and not have to drive 50 miles to go shopping.I've read on previous threads that alot of people go to Bangor to do their shopping.Okay im done rambling now.As always,any info is so appreciated!

[BoundtofindME]

Originally Posted by dogcrazy

Good morning everyone!I've posted on here previously about moving to Maine but i wanted some opinions about life in northern Maine for someone my age.Possibly the Bangor area with high hopes to get a job working at the Bangor Humane Society.I was in touch with them a couple of months ago and they are not hiring right now but they said i more than qualify and to keep checking back with them.I LOVE animals and have my own little Noahs ark I know northern Maine has a lot of countryside and thats what i want.I don't want my neighbors on top of me.I like privacy.I do want to be close to stores though and not have to drive 50 miles to go shopping.I've read on previous threads that alot of people go to Bangor to do their shopping.Okay im done rambling now.As always,any info is so appreciated!

Here's a link to at least 65 animal shelters here in Maine. You may already know about this, but if not: Maine Animal Shelters - Pet Rescue & Adoption in Maine

[dogcrazy]

Thank you so much for that!

[veggieck]

We are considering leaving the rat race of NJ and moving to Maine. Having lived in many areas throughout the US, thanks to a military career, I know that some cities/towns are more welcoming to newcomers than others. How do the people of Bangor feel about newcomers? I've researched the taxes in Maine... what a deal compared to NJ!!! Real estate also looks fairly reasonable. Any tips or words of adivce????

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by veggieck

We are considering leaving the rat race of NJ and moving to Maine. Having lived in many areas throughout the US, thanks to a military career, I know that some cities/towns are more welcoming to newcomers than others. How do the people of Bangor feel about newcomers? I've researched the taxes in Maine... what a deal compared to NJ!!! Real estate also looks fairly reasonable. Any tips or words of adivce????

As a military retiree, I enjoy living in Maine.

This is near heaven!

'Welcoming'? I can't really say, I guess. having made so many moves, I guess that I got used to being new on the block. Maine seems to carry a rep for being stand-offish. I can not say that I have seen it though.

There are many great 'deal's here.

enjoy!

[Taxed in Maine]

Bangor is a beautiful area, and there are many really nice places to live.

But it is not NORTHERN Maine.

[Acadianlion]

Originally Posted by dogcrazy

Good morning everyone!I've posted on here previously about moving to Maine but i wanted some opinions about life in northern Maine for someone my age.Possibly the Bangor area with high hopes to get a job working at the Bangor Humane Society.I was in touch with them a couple of months ago and they are not hiring right now but they said i more than qualify and to keep checking back with them.I LOVE animals and have my own little Noahs ark I know northern Maine has a lot of countryside and thats what i want.I don't want my neighbors on top of me.I like privacy.I do want to be close to stores though and not have to drive 50 miles to go shopping.I've read on previous threads that alot of people go to Bangor to do their shopping.Okay im done rambling now.As always,any info is so appreciated!

You are a twenty two year old person. The United States is primarily an urban culture. I feel strongly that you should go and live in an urban environment for a few years and to learn about living and working with people in a city or urban environment so that you can then decide whether or not living in "mainstream" America is truly for you.

Maine is a small state in terms of population. There are many very small towns spaced about and opportunities are limited due to our small economic base. This is NOT representative of the rest of this country, and before you can make a truly informed decision about where it is best for you to be, you must have experienced the way American really is.

If you truly love working with animals, there is plenty of opportunity to work in shelters, animal hospitals or animal rescue organizations in the major population areas of the country. Go there, work there, be a part of THAT kind of community environment. Grow there and when you have spent some time seeing what all of that is about, then you might want to try something far more rural, or small in comparison.

This is the same advice that I gave to both of my children while they were in college. It was the best advice that I could have given to them. My daughter is working her way back to Maine, and once her children have grown past high school, she may well move back. But what she has found so far is that the advantages to her children are greater where she is than were she to try to move back to Maine.

Your experience may differ, but you need to have that experience. At twenty-two, you don't have the experience yet, to move to such a small economy and opportunity as Maine can offer.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by Acadianlion

You are a twenty two year old person. The United States is primarily an urban culture. I feel strongly that you should go and live in an urban environment for a few years and to learn about living and working with people in a city or urban environment so that you can then decide whether or not living in "mainstream" America is truly for you.

Maine is a small state in terms of population. There are many very small towns spaced about and opportunities are limited due to our small economic base. This is NOT representative of the rest of this country, and before you can make a truly informed decision about where it is best for you to be, you must have experienced the way American really is.

If you truly love working with animals, there is plenty of opportunity to work in shelters, animal hospitals or animal rescue organizations in the major population areas of the country. Go there, work there, be a part of THAT kind of community environment. Grow there and when you have spent some time seeing what all of that is about, then you might want to try something far more rural, or small in comparison.

This is the same advice that I gave to both of my children while they were in college. It was the best advice that I could have given to them. My daughter is working her way back to Maine, and once her children have grown past high school, she may well move back. But what she has found so far is that the advantages to her children are greater where she is than were she to try to move back to Maine.

Your experience may differ, but you need to have that experience. At twenty-two, you don't have the experience yet, to move to such a small economy and opportunity as Maine can offer.

I tend to agree with Acadionlion here. My Daughter is living in Vermont and my son plans to work in the Boston area when he finishes college. There is just very little oppurtunity in Maine now. I know more people out of work this winter than working. My wife's best friend found out her husband was losing his construction job this Friday. He said his company has laid off all but two workers and he's been there over 10 years. This is the first time they have EVER laid off anyone.
I know at least six carpenters, two tilers, several painters, a carpet man, an apprentice plumber, and several construction laborers who have lost their jobs this year. Usually layoffs in that industry are temporary. These people are all convinced they won't have work next summer either.

[Nor'Eastah]

Originally Posted by Maineah

I know more people out of work this winter than working...These people are all convinced they won't have work next summer either.

Yes, this is the sad reality of this economy. Folks argue about whether it will improve by mid-year. I don't think so. I see us deepening into a very harsh recession/depression. If you are young, you will more likely find work in the cities.

For everyone else, though, Maine may present a unique opportunity. Northern Maine (I agree - not Bangor!) is a land that time forgot. I'm learning more and more that northern Mainers are accustomed to hardships and make do for themselves.

However it's no place to be, if you have little life experience.

[veggieck]

We're looking for a better lifestyle than that of NJ. Where is the best Maine location for skiing, hiking, and snowmobiling but not too far from shopping, restaurants, hospitals, etc.? What are the differences between northern Maine and southern Maine?