The way life is! - 4/3/2020

I've been in Maine of and on my whole life. Maine folks for the most part are not very complicated. The drug epidemic has gotten better I think. If you enjoy shopping I hope you don't mind shopping online because that's about all your gonna get around here. Jobs are few and far between and when you get one the pay is minimal. I've worked at the same job for 19 years never gotten a raise or bonus or even a vacation. No overtime & I only get paid minimum wage. And this is in the healthcare industry. How messed up is that! Good luck when it comes to finding a Good Doctor or mental health professional. The last time I attempted to go the Dr cancelled on me the first 4 times I scheduled it was 8 months before I got in to see her and by then I was so discouraged I gave up and didn't go. all that negative asside Maine is absolutely stunning words can't do justice in the fall. I've lived on the coast and In very rural Maine and I could say positive and negative things about both. But can't we all about everywhere really. Fact is you have to make up your own mind on the subject really. Maine life isn't for everyone. Either way it's a great place to come visit. And you might just find yourself wanting to stay. Good luck!

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winters - 2/19/2015

We are on this site to exit Maine in the winter. It is a beautiful and expensive (taxes) state. We plan to stay here most of the year, as 3 of the seasons are beautiful. It is relatively safe here (safe neighborhoods and mostly safe wildlife/bugs) and we have ocean, lakes and Mountains to enjoy. I do not suggest moving here until you rent for a winter- they are cold, there is a snow storm every week and it is expensive ( plowing/shoveling, roof raking, car damage, canceled school/missing work, heating). Also- upstate is cheap BUT there is nothing to do up North unless you are an outdoors enthusiast or a hunter, and there is minimal work unless you are in Health care or can get a factory job. Also - there is a different breed of person up north , not always welcoming with non-natives. Prices are enticing up north, but visit first or you will regret it

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JOBS/WEATHER - 2/8/2014

Unless you want to live around Portland Maine or maybe BIW, not much work in Maine, except min wage...Weather from Sept thru May, you freeze your butt off, put kids in long johns for Halloween..From Bangor on up, LOTS of snow by the footage..beautiful lakes though.Lived in maine most of my life. I left 10 yrs ago,I don't feel ppl are real friendly on the average.Taxes are AWFUL on small ranches, just amagine a big house of maybe 1800 sg ft.Heating fuel> bring your wallet...The summer is NICE from June to end of Aug.Thats all.....Save your self some time and money folks, you wont stay long...unless its just a getta way for you in the summer.....Taxes are terrible....Wait till you register your car or buy a home. Its a POOR STATE and I have know idea what Augusta>capital is thinking...

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Please help " be honest" - 5/19/2013

Hi! This is my replay to " THINK TWINCE" as well as everyone else that has write on here. My name is Sam and Im a 25 year old women who is single , no kids and no pets! I went to Portland for vacation and I feel in love . Since then I've been planning and saving and doing so much research in moving to Portland , BUT reading what you guys have says I am little scared that this might be a mistake and maybe I should save " Portland" as my vacation spot ... Please be honest with me!

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Please help " be honest" - 5/19/2013

Hi! This is my replay to " THINK TWINCE" as well as everyone else that has write on here. My name is Sam and Im a 25 year old women who is single , no kids and no pets! I went to Portland for vacation and I feel in love . Since then I've been planning and saving and doing so much research in moving to Portland , BUT reading what you guys have says I am little scared that this might be a mistake and maybe I should save " Portland" as my vacation spot ... Please be honest with me!

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Consider The Whole Package Maine Offers. - 4/13/2013

If you like bumper to bumper traffic, you won't be happy in Maine. If you don't make eye contact where you live now and are always, always aware of crime, protecting your loved one, Maine is not going to be the same day to day living. If you like the idea of not having a mortgage at all, being debt free or carrying a very small loan amount on low cost property, Maine is something you can warm up to. The cost of property and car insurance in the 4th lowest crime state is low too. So when you consider what is important in quality of life, the rural state of Maine with four season outdoor drop dead gorgeous beauty wins hands down. Everything. What is important in life is family, relationships, feeling safe, content, and that you matter in a small Maine town. You do. Because everyone is more connected, works together for the greater good. It is home made, down to Earth. Common sense and basic values, beliefs still apply. Everything is not wishy washy, spun, insincere. Look Maine over. Look her all over up and down, inside and out and find what you are missing where you live now if it is a concrete jungle. Noisy, expensive and just something is missing. Get to Maine, don't keep her waiting. Start living, enjoying life the way it was meant to be.

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Maine's Economy as of 2010 - 10/3/2010

Someone once told me that..."Maine is a state with two income levels...the rich and poor" For the most part, I agree with him. Out of state people, the rich folks, tend to live along Maine's coastline; the poor everywhere else. However, they are a few lucky souls who do manage to the reach medium income level and they are usually in Healthcare, small businesses, or some other field, but I am not sure exactly their numbers; maybe somewhere between the two extremes?

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las vegas nv - 8/15/2010

Their is always a lot to do. living in las vegas is very fast paced and sometimes stressful

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Response to Don't stay too long - 8/10/2010

As a Mainer most of my life I'm 54, I have to agree and am taken by the accuracy of your observations of Portland,Maine. Yes, it has a beautiful harbor, and area coastline. But the natives aren't friendly, and even for us residents its hard to get to know your neighbor. Most people up here say "hi" then keep to themselves. Its the Maine way, independent. I moved two hours up the coast a few years back and even I was considered an "outsider." My accent didn't even help, nor that I was a third generation Mainer. As far as the diversity of color in Portland, you saw the newly arrived Somalian population. Their presence has altered the streetscape of Portland dramatically. After many issues since their transplanted move from Georgia, I've come to the belief that too much diversity in a small city isn't successful, a balance needs to be made. With so many cultures now in this city of about 70,000 much gets lost in the translation. A larger city can handle the numbers. A local elementary school has 100 different dialects to address. The jobs are primarily seasonal low paying ones. Lots of waterfront Old Port waitress and kitchen help. Or retail work. None of it really pays the bills. Maine is a heavy tax state, and they are always looking for ways to add even more taxes. Now they want to tax our soda, and junk purchases. They have instituted a salt water fishing license, this use to be free and they are chasing every dog owner who hasn't registered their mutt. My vet warned of this at the recent visit for a rabies shot. The state now requires their office to submit names of owners so local enforcement will knock on your door with a sizable fine. he said "I'm not joking, clients have called me sharing this." So remember there is a reason Maine is called, "Vacationland" thats the way they want it and of course the wealthy retiree's with deep pockets so they can continue to discourage any business that would offer tax revenue from setting up shop here.

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Considering.... - 7/28/2010

Maine is a pleasant enough state although I've grown tired of the long winters after so many years. Its summer now and am loving the 90 degree heat& humidity. It makes me aware of just how much of the year I "put up" with the less desirable season of snow, cold, and ice. Taxes are a big deal in this state as it discourages any form of small business growth therefore relying on its citizens and tourists to support the big government this state has become. The state slogan "the way life should be" really applies to the wealthy visitors or transplant out of state retiree's and not the average resident who can barely afford to live here. Simply put our cost of living is very high. Portland is a great city,not too big or small with a variety of venues to satisfy most tastes, from restaurants, arts, beautiful ocean views. Crime is growing as we have become a suburb of Boston. Much ethnic diversity is ever present in the area as well with as many as 100 different languages spoken at a local elementary Portland school. Real estate prices have tanked as most of the country's with waterfront still commanding a high $$$. Our proximity to New Hampshire and the White Mountains for hiking are a plus as well as their beaches and zero sales tax for shoppers.

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The Way Life Should Be - 7/24/2010

Maine is Beautiful

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The Way Life Should Be - 7/9/2010

Our State Motto is "Maine -The way life should be" and it is most of the time. However traffic is getting just awful in many popular spots - give yourself extra time of you are coming for a visit! Great place to visit for beaches, hiking, scenic places, historic places, and most outdoor sports (although I hear our waves are a little small for surfers!)Unfortunately for those thinking about moving here - pay is low and cost of living is high. State government spending is out of control. You might want to think twice or wait a few years to see if it gets better. COme visit for camping or skiing and I don't think you'll regret it!

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Climate - 2/14/2010

Cold in the winter. Great spring, summer and fall.

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Lots of Outdoor activities - 12/28/2009

Maine is pretty quiet the farther north you go. The larger cities are located in the southern tip of the state near the NH border or withing 40 or so miles of the ocean. The rest is basically wilderness. The entire state is very sparsley populated

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Wonderful Trade Off - 12/28/2009

Although Maine is not noted for being at the cultural center of the Northeast, only a couple of professional theaters and very few museums and such, it clearly makes up for that in its Recreational opportunities. The beaches and coast line in the summer, Mountain sports all year round and of course our numerous culinary delights!

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Beware of falling in love during the summer! - 12/9/2009

The winter is SIX MONTHS LONG! In some areas, everything closes up for the season. People stay in their homes. Lots of people get depressed. If you don't have a strong network of people, don't move here. It is very isolating.

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Maine - 7/21/2009

I was born & raised in Maine. My husband as well. We have lived here, married, for the past 17 years. Maine is a beautiful state, with 5 seasons. Mud season, being the fifth. Housing seems reasonable, a 3 bedroom home, in a town, should cost 140,000 approx.Crime is low, as many people do not lock their cars, etc. Many retired people here, until winter, which seems to last from December to April. Not much to do here, most cities are at least a 30-45 minute drive away. And only Portland & Bangor have a mall in the entire state. You cannot seem to get a job that pays more than 11 dollars an hour. Hard to make a living. Property taxes are high. Most stores close down Columbus day and open again Memorial Day. But, on the flip side, you can ususally get lobsters pretty reasonable...not at arestaurant though!

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Writers and Artists - 5/5/2009

Maine is for writers and artists. Foggy beaches, vivid mountains, and room to get lost and found. Independent. Unique. Rugged. Forgiving.

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The way life should be? Not too sure - 4/27/2009

Maine is the way life should be, or that's the motto at least. If you want to live in a beautiful wide open place that still has some small scale things to do, raise a family, or start a business then this is a great place. If you are young, looking to network, looking for quality jobs, looking for opportunity or your the kind of person who likes to stay busy doing things that matter, this is not the place for you. Maine has some great area's, most of them are in Southern Maine. Unless you want to live a sort of isolistic life I would discourage central or northern Maine.

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Racism. - 11/28/2008

Maine has a big problem and its called RACISM if you have not noticed almost all of maine is 99% White or so called white and alot of the asians and hispanics are scared to register because they are afraid they will either be attacked or be gotten by their own neighbors... how do i know this? I myself have witnessed the harassment of a young woman who died and they did absolutely nothing to help her because she was married to a KKK male who left the KLAN And her race is Puerto Rican... how the hell do you expect to live somewhere where they do not even consider you to being a human being just because of their fascist ways and of your race? I could not believe when i heard the in BREWSTER , ME an officer who raped a child in a different county came to work in Brewster, and because he is white he did not get his badge or gun taken away from him. I'm making a point here that maine requires you to be white, if you want to enjoy a town / state without the RACISM just go to CANADA, they seem to be more accepting and more open minded to all races and fashions. be advised that all of maine is the same... if there is a black, spanish, asian there, i believe they are not safe or even respected and are definitely judged because of their races.. I lived in Maine for a long time and moved because of the stupidity and all the racism i heard and saw, it does look quite peaceful but trust me it is not... either you will have a racist officer on your ass or your own neighbor will be the biggest asshole you will come across... I am white myself but very much so opened minded... and not a racist...

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