Silly Question About Maine

[BoundtofindME]

Originally Posted by MeganAK

Thanks for all the posts. I guess it is a hard thing to explain. I think that most of the 'fear' has to do with being in Alaska for so long. Currently I am in a roadless town that can only be accessed by plane. But even when I was in the Anchorage area, I had this same 'fear'. Alaska has such a limited road system and limited access that it feels quite empty. That is why we began our search in Northern Maine. We want to have some of that same feel with better road system and better access, but still be 'out there'. I know we won't fund anywhere else like Alaska in terms of its openness and expanses of wilderness, but we want to live somewhere that has a similar feel. Who knows if we will find it, but we'll probably head farther North if we end up in Maine! Thanks for all the thoughts- they are great ones. Alaska, too, has changed, and it is probably difficult to get used to that anywhere you live and love.

Check out Seboomook, Maine (pop. 45). It's located in Somerset County in the North Woods up above Moosehead Lake. Access in Winter is via snowmobile. I know someone that has a place there, but I have never personally been. There is a place not too far from there that you can stay in while you check out the area, and here's the link to it: Historic Pittston Farm - Maine Outpost for Hunting, Fishing, Boating, Hiking, and More!

[MeganAK]

Originally Posted by Acadianlion

I am sure that you know the definition of claustrophobia?

It's an Alaskan in Texas.

Hehe, that;s good! My husband's family is from Texas.

[Elcarim]

Originally Posted by Acadianlion

I am sure that you know the definition of claustrophobia?

It's an Alaskan in Texas.

I can second that emotion!

[ogre]

Tough to answer this question because no one can know for sure what you are feeling inside. One question I have is where you lived in New Hampshire, and what gave you the feeling of being close to the big cities.

As LRFox pointed out, some of this is a matter of perspective, depending on where you're from in Alaska. I believe I remember you. If I'm not mistaken, some months ago (maybe last summer?) you had a thread on here asking about Maine. My recollection is that at present you live in Nome. If I'm recalling this correctly, then of course you are used to being far away from large population centers. I also believe I recall that you visited Maine when you had your earlier thread going, and liked what you saw, though you flew into Boston and were a little overwhelmed by actually being right in a big city rather than having one a hundred miles or more down the road.

I can't know what you are feeling, so I can't know how much just the idea of being anywhere near a big city bothers you. I can say that you are probably right to think more of northern Maine when considering Maine. Northern Maine is much less populated than the southern part of the state. I think that in northern Maine you could find many little towns that fit the description you provided, that of being away from big cities, with nothing but open countryside around you, but being able to get to civilization, so to speak, via road rather than having air travel be the only option.

Re acid rain: I don't know that acid rain is much of a problem these days. Unfortunately, anywhere in the eastern U.S. there will be state Fish and Game advisories to limit consumption of locally caught fish to some max. number of servings per month, due to mercury contamination. This seems to be somewhat of a problem everywhere, but more in the east than the rest of the country, and especially in the Northeast, because we're downwind of the big industrial centers in the Midwest, PA, western NY, etc. On the other hand, this same problem seems to exist worldwide for saltwater fish, so you may be familiar with the issue in AK as well.

All in all, I think that northern Maine is a place you should look at closely, based on the info you've provided. It's much less populated up there than in the southern part of the state. No place is perfect for everyone, though, so best of luck finding your best place. It's very possible that this could be in northern Maine, so give that area a close look. Take care.

[Newdaawn]

Mainebrokerman

I can't imagine why anyone would go through Boston on their way to Rhode Island. We traveled for years back home to our town 18 miles from Providence and never went once through Boston. There is Rt 128 which is outside the city and of course 295. I would never have considered going through Boston.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by Newdaawn

Mainebrokerman

I can't imagine why anyone would go through Boston on their way to Rhode Island. We traveled for years back home to our town 18 miles from Providence and never went once through Boston. There is Rt 128 which is outside the city and of course 295. I would never have considered going through Boston.

Don't forget 495 (is that what you meant by 295 which is a smaller beltway around Providence?).

I take 93 through Boston at rush hour to get to Fall River because as crazy as it sounds, it tends to save me time since traffic is bad on just about every highway around Boston at certain times. Off-peak hours? I would never go through the city as 128 flows a little better.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

"Unfortunately, anywhere in the eastern U.S. there will be state Fish and Game advisories to limit consumption of locally caught fish to some max."

Mercury is a naturally occurring metal that exists in granite and other kinds of rock. It has been around forever. Nobody worried about it until technicians learned how to measure parts per billion and parts per trillion. They have spooked average citizens.

I used to ride by the mines in the town of Asbestos, Quebec. They pushed asbestos around with bulldozers as it was mined. There is another material that has been given bad publicity. There is one form of asbestos that is harmful are two kinds that are beneficial. We don't hear much about the good kinds because industry can't compete in the media with multimillion dollar advocacy groups with agendas.

Don't be buffaloed by cautions about eating Maine trout. Nobody has ever been harmed by them and again, there are people with agendas who don't want you to eat trout.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

"Unfortunately, anywhere in the eastern U.S. there will be state Fish and Game advisories to limit consumption of locally caught fish to some max."

Mercury is a naturally occurring metal that exists in granite and other kinds of rock. It has been around forever. Nobody worried about it until technicians learned how to measure parts per billion and parts per trillion. They have spooked average citizens.

I used to ride by the mines in the town of Asbestos, Quebec. They pushed asbestos around with bulldozers as it was mined. There is another material that has been given bad publicity. There is one form of asbestos that is harmful are two kinds that are beneficial. We don't hear much about the good kinds because industry can't compete in the media with multimillion dollar advocacy groups with agendas.

Don't be buffaloed by cautions about eating Maine trout. Nobody has ever been harmed by them and again, there are people with agendas who don't want you to eat trout.

Good point

[Chandler85]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

"Unfortunately, anywhere in the eastern U.S. there will be state Fish and Game advisories to limit consumption of locally caught fish to some max."

Mercury is a naturally occurring metal that exists in granite and other kinds of rock. It has been around forever. Nobody worried about it until technicians learned how to measure parts per billion and parts per trillion. They have spooked average citizens.

I used to ride by the mines in the town of Asbestos, Quebec. They pushed asbestos around with bulldozers as it was mined. There is another material that has been given bad publicity. There is one form of asbestos that is harmful are two kinds that are beneficial. We don't hear much about the good kinds because industry can't compete in the media with multimillion dollar advocacy groups with agendas.

Don't be buffaloed by cautions about eating Maine trout. Nobody has ever been harmed by them and again, there are people with agendas who don't want you to eat trout.

Nicely Said!