I grew up in Maine but left with the Military many years ago but while visiting one year I had picked out several items after getting gas at a local corner store where I knew no one. When I got to the counter to pay, I realized I'd left my wallet at camp, about 10 miles away, I explained to the woman at the counter who was very understanding and prepared to head back for my wallet to pay for the gas I'd already pumped when she asked me why I wasn't taking the items I'd picked up inside as well! There are still many roadside stands selling items on the honor system around that area, which is heartwarming.
I retired in 2021 and moved from southern California to northern Maine. I grew up in Wisconsin so the winters were quite mild to me. While I knew coming in that the population density was low I wasn’t fully prepared for the lack of choices. Basically, if Amazon doesn’t have it you won’t find it. And the quickest you’ll get a delivery from Amazon is four days. Even compared to California, Maine is expensive. One thing I wasn’t prepared for was the lack of medical care. After three years I still couldn’t find a dentist, I had to go to Canada for a Vet. Last February I had a stroke and they had to air lift me to Bangor for treatment. There is no neurological care in northern Maine. I ended up moving back to Southern California last summer. One thing about living in an area with 20 million people is no matter what you want, there are at least three places you can buy it within ten miles. There are five vets within four miles of my house and I can get same day delivery from Amazon. I used to complain about the lack of weather in Southern California, 70 degrees and sunny. I’m over that now.
maine is not expensive compared to California when you compare apples to apples. there are homes in maine off the water a bit for $400/sq ft. that's literally about 20-25% of the cost of a home along the California coast, not oceanfront, and the one in Maine would have 2-4x as much land.
@@Formerlywarmer compared to the northern midwest states, they are. the coldest places in the world are INLAND. oceans are "warm" in winter. this is why the middle of north america and the middle of Russia are so brutal in winter.
I am from Maine born and raised. Sadly people coming from other states buying property has increased prices to the point many Mainers can not afford to buy a home. I love my state and want to live no where else bit it isn't an idyllic setting, a Rockwell painting, a vacation everyday. It is a wonderful place to live and I am proud to be a Mainer. And yet saddened by the increasing costs
Increasing costs is a world-wide thing. I'm in Texas and the $80K house that I bought in 1995 is worth around $325K nowadays. My property taxes certainly show that. The price of real-estate most every place in the US has been shooting up.
I moved to Maine in 2017 I was forced out of my life in Arkansas after I lost my wife. Family trouble was the reason I had to get out. Best thing ever happened to me. I met a wonderful woman she was with me until she went to heaven I miss her so much. I'm 68 now and not looking for anyone. It's not easy to live all alone but I'm making it. The only problem I have is I can't find a good fishing place but I may have found one but I'll have to wait until spring to check it out. Oh I forgot to say I live in northern Maine.
@@oldmanjimh3165 living by your self sucks or I think it does. Wish I had another good woman in my life but no thank you it's to hard when they die it rip's out your heart.
@@angryamerican2544 I am from TN and have live in Northern Maine for 14 years. The first 2 years feels rough, but after you get use to it. The most recent winters have been extremely mild and no matter what the roads are great. Studded snow tires are AMAZING.
We lived in Bath during the 2 1/2 tours my dad spent in Vietnam. Both my older brother and uncle worked at (BIW) Bath Iron Works back in the 1060's. Our family owned a farm up in Bristol, it stayed in our family for 194 years, before being sold in 1973.
I love living in Maine it’s nice and quiet just the place for someone like me who spent 20 years in the Marine Corps I really like not being around a lot of people and close to the outdoors
@@HomesteadHere if it were me i would stay away from the coastal counties and check out central and northern Maine.. much more affordable without the progressive policies of Portland and such, it is what you make it to be
@@roberttrussell8766 I agree, Vietnam Veteran here, I sit on my deck from March to October having my morning coffee, looking at nothing but trees. The rest of the winter I sit at my kitchen table looking out the sliding glass doors looking at nothing but trees and snow while having my morning coffee. I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. This is my sanctuary this is where I’ve found my peace.
Sadly, my favorite time of year now, in southern Maine, is November thru April because I don't have to deal with the Grid lock traffic of York, Wells, & Ogunquit to get somewhere. If you enjoy crowds, long lines, & no parking spots then come to Southern Maine - May thru October. Don't get me wrong, it's still a beautiful location but very congested now in the warm months.
I’m very fortunate my May birthday is right before tourist season. I get a lovely weekend of fresh lobster and blueberry pies, beautiful coastal scenery, and relaxing sea breezes, and am home again before the tourists descend.
I was born and raised in Washington Co. Maine, very small town (Princeton). I joined the Navy in '89 and since 1994 have lived in Virginia, I make it a point to visit home at least once a year.
Well done video, thank you so much. Very articulate and well spoken. Great job. I grew up going to Maine through my teens and early 20s love the state of Maine.
i always have a hot pot of coffee brewing, you are welcome to stop by anytime.. you could shoot a deer, catch a few fish within a few yards of my house and have a nice meal with homegrown apple pie for desert.. you are welcome to stop by and restock supplies..the next time your hiking... i am about 10 miles from the trail here... good luck to ya...
Your video is very nice. I live in Winter Harbor; the REAL Maine starts Downeast. That other stuff down south? That’s a suburb of Boston. P.S. For those who think they “live in Maine” because you’re here for the summer: If you are not here in February, then, when here you’re a TOURIST.
The state needs a lot of updating. Huge parts of it are dead zones to cellphones. A lot of places have to use satellite internet because they can't get access to the higher speed internet. People are afraid to use green electricity and choose to stay victimized by traditional electric companies higher costs. Taxes in Main put it way at the top end of the highest taxed states in America and yet we don't have the cities or population to back that up. People have to work 2 or 3 jobs just to afford the basics to say nothing about paying bills. We have a homeless problem that is more than the state can handle because we don't have enough places for them to have shelter. So we often find homeless people frozen to death in the winter. Maine is a beautiful state, but the Republican state representatives really hold it back from lining up with current needs and that's been an ongoing problem for decades.
@@jlomesou you must live a very miserable existence if all you can find is fault with everything and figuring everyone agrees with you..that is obvious by your UA-cam channel... try making something a little positive instead of spreading the leftist doom and gloom you seem to thrive on... you have been infected with TDS or something..most of what you commented here is totally false and i haven't seen a news story about anyone freezing to death for quite some time so that is not something we see "often" smh.. people like you is why Trump got elected and why the Democrat party is in the toilet... Merry freakin Christmas....wow
I buried my wife and brother-in-law in Maine a year ago this past June. Laurel Hill in Saco. Their family's plot is there. My parents retired to Camden. The snooty locals never knew dear old dad was and is a legend in foreign espionage in the clandestine services. Few men have been so brave. Mom and dad are now in the Arlington National Cemetery. His grandfather left Maine and went West after the Civil War. Stopped at the Pacific. Before that, the family moved to Maine after the Revolution for land, given to them for their service as Continental soldiers. Both my wife and I trace back to the Mayflower: my side also Jamestown, Virginia. My sister is a retired Maine public school teacher up in Bangor. You'll know her or know of her if i write her name here. And I won't. Her sons are well established. One in Southern Maine. With my wife gone, I'm looking around. Maybe move to my wife's grave in Saco. I spent many a summer in Ocean Park with my wife and children. All the children now adults taking their children to Maine for the summertime and meeting family. I live in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia for now. Merry Christmas.
@joepass1883 It is much more than this. But I'll spare you. Lol! I have second and third cousins up and down the Maine Coast. My wife has them all over Southern Maine and Massachusetts. Merry Christmas.
What surprised me the most moving from Utah was how many places close down in the fall, how cold it gets, how dark it gets, how often the power goes out, how long most people commute, and everything about Wells, septic systems, and heating oil, wood stoves, camps.... So basically everything
What surprised me most about my time in Utah as a New Englander was the sand storms, the dry counties, how dry it is, the overall lack of water anywhere, the horrendous air quality and it's lack of affordable housing. So basically everything. See how that works?!
@@zr2ee1 Yep! The little things add up. If you’re into nature and small town vibes, it’s worth it. But it grinds my gears when out of staters say how we have it so easy up here
@@zr2ee1 Yeah, nothing like thawing out a frozen pipe or two at 4 in the morning before getting off to work, usually driving an hour on slick snowy, icy roads, in total darkness. Only to drive back home in total darkness to find another frozen pipe.😟
I live near Old Orchard Beach. On Labor Day it's like someone throws a switch and turns off tourist season. On Labor Day weekend the streets and the beach are jammed with tourists, and parking is at a premium. Tuesday most of the storefronts are closed, and many board up for the winter. Places like car museums, amusement parks, and restaurants close seasonally. Pine Point road between Route 1 and Old Orchard Beach is home to two big ice cream stands, two RV camping resorts, and two large seafood restaurants. They're all shuttered for the season as I write this. The main drag in Old Orchard is a ghost town aside from a few holdouts (like Lisa's Pizza) who get enough business from locals.
OMG! Your third shot is driving south into Ogunquit! I lived in the blue house on the right for a couple summers and had my first legal drink across the road (US1) at The Old Village Inn on the left. Great to see it pop up here! My family arrived to the Wells area around 1650. Stayed for nine generations. I'm the thirteenth, and we left Maine a century ago. Family name is Jellison. Visiting this summer. Can't wait! EDIT: And the third from LAST shot is Perkin's Cove. I worked just to the right at Barnacle Billy's and walked down that gangplank on the left so many times. Thx again!
I've been conducting an informal poll for years. So far, everyone who loves living in Maine likes to participate in some sort of outdoor activity in the Winter. Everyone who hates living in Maine doesn't participate in any outdoor activity in the Winter. I'm sure there are exceptions, but this is definitely a big factor for most people.
This is actually the secret. I’ve lived all along the east coast but settled in ME because everything I love to do outside is best when it’s cold or frozen.
For your poll then, I'm not a native Mainer, but I love the winters. Have a camera and get our when I can to shoot Maine's winter scenery. If I had a truck or a snow mobile, I'd be out even more.
I love Maine. I visit every year in mid September to hike and enjoy the Downeast coastline. Usually stay in Hancock county. Breathtaking scenery. Lovely. Nice video.
I love the description of PORTLAND - it holds the balance between the biggest city some people can imagine living in and the smallest city others can imagine living in.
Great informative video. My son moved to Maine about 7 years ago after grad school to do social work in Portland.... he absolutely loves it and all the outdoors things to do. The problem is that it is quite expensive to live on a social worker's salary and half his income is going to rent....hard to get ahead but I'm sure that is the way it is for many young people with how expensive everything still is right now. Our family has vacationed in Maine for 25 years and love Southern Maine....thought we may retire there in a few years but honestly it is more expensive than a comparable home in Connecticut right now from what I've seen or people are overpricing fixer uppers that need complete remodels.... crazy times.
I grew up in Northern Maine. Many in my town relied on tourism. In the summer it was tourists visiting Baxter state park and Mt. Katahdin. In the winter we were flooded with snowmobilers. Any hotel parking lots in the are were always packed with trucks and snowmobile trailers.
Ahh the good old days. Kingsfield Maine was beautiful and the Deer Farm Camp Ground was really worth the Visit . I use to go camping there every month. Bar harbor was always busy in the spring summer and fall but when winter hit then it was a ghost town lol
Went to college in Washington County, Maine up the coast an hour north of Bar Harbor. Really enjoyed it. Quiet, peaceful and stunning scenery. Yes, things are far apart but if you're happy where you live theres not much reason to leave.
Maine has a lot to offer. That said, Maine is one of the highest tax states in the country. Job opportunities aren’t great and York County has all but lost that Maine charm everyone is looking to experience. If you are looking for those quaint seaside fishing villages and such you’ll need to go north of mid coast and that is changing fast as well. If you want to experience old Maine, go to the county. Oh and if you’re from Mass, Connecticut or RI, stay home…….
No place that gets that cold for that long deserves to be expensive too. The state has to take a haircut based on the cold. It's fairly valueless for that reason.
@@BillySBCI guess it depends on what you think is "cold". It's definitely no Alaska or Canada. But yes, either too hot or too cold save for a few weeks in the spring and fall.
Relocated from Boston to Sanford roughly 25 years ago. Best decision my wife and I ever made. But as you mentioned, it did take some time to slow our pace and learn how things work up here. We met incredible people, became part of the community it's home for us and we love it here.
@@jimburdin eh partly I kid, but I will say joking aside living in the south east it can't be easy having Canada on one side and New York/Massachusetts on the other, the baddies kind of have you surrounded so to speak.
I think an important issue that wasn’t mentioned is the lack of healthcare. If you have a lot of medical needs especially specialists, then Maine is a really bad place to live. It takes months or even longer to get into see Drs when you aren’t an established patient. As a poorer state with few large employers, there’s no pricing power to lure more medical professionals to the state. I think I read recently that ME is short by a few thousand practitioners for the given population demand.
I had a neighbor that was having problems and went to the hospital they could not find what was bothering him and he told them he is not making this up and they set him up for an appointment to cut him open and look around to see is they can see what is bothering him. They split him open gutted him like a fish and found nothing. He then went to another hospital and they told him he had a bladder infection. A week worth of pills and he was fine well all but the bill he got for cutting him open lmao.
I live in Maine and go to New Hampshire for my medical needs . Not only are there not many doctors, but most of them are incompetent. I almost died a few times from their incompetent care
A lot of folks in Maine go down to Boston for anything complex. But that’s not feasible for lower income folks, which, unfortunately, is most of the Maine population. Lack of good healthcare is problem in much of rural America.
@@M1911jln LMAO in Maine you are treating like a Lab Rat they do different test and give you different meds to see how they will work on you and if it is any good they try it on others as well to see what happens.
This problem of few doctors is created by a "go away flatlander" attitude, A lack of medical schools in the state, and high taxes. (There is one DO med school) With a recipe of few homegrown doctors, high cost of living, long commutes, and an in friendliness to people from away, it is no surprise that doctors are hard to come by, especially north of Augusta.
Great video. I couldn't imagine living in any other state. I was thinking of selling my old farmhouse for something more "modern" and more affordable, but I can't do it. I live in an area that is basically a perfect area to grow up just a minute walk from the Saco River in Bar Mills (Buxton). I grew up here, and moved out when I after HS, and came back to the same home after my mom passed away. The cost of living is very high here but it's worth every penny.
We had our family farm in Bristol Mills Maine fror 194 years, it was sold in 1973. We lived just across the street from the Bristol dam swimming hole. Dad having made a career in the military we traveled alot, I really liked Arizona and Texas, then I retired here in central Florida. We vacationed in Maine back in 2019, then up into Nova Scotia. Natural beauty up that way, you just have to be OK with the long winters there !
Cost of living was given short shrift here. Maine has 4th-highest taxes in US, and ranks No. 1 for property tax burden. I can't understand how this wasn't mentioned. I am a Mainer, BTW
There is no way Maine is #1 for property tax burden. You are out of your damn mind. States like New Jersey and Illinois have property taxes double what Mainers pay. Maine isn't even in the Top 10 (Maine is rated #34 by Rocket Mortgage which is basically places us in the middle of the states). I also live here.
i disagree.. taxes are much higher obviously in southern Maine with the policies of Massachusetts, NY and Ct, taking over...where i live we have some towns that the only permit required to build is a plumbing permit for your septic system...no building permit, no electrical permit, no code enforcement officer breathing down your neck telling you that those walls need to be made out of a 2x6 instead of a 2x4...and run on an honor system that says after your build is finished you need to go to the town office and let them know so they can come out and appraise and tax you accordingly... my taxes at our place are 800 a year... some towns like college towns have extremely high taxes, Farmington for example, some tax bills are 5K or more..if you live within your means, life here is very affordable
I moved from Massachusetts to the coast of southern New Hampshire to get away from things I did not like. Sadly, the yuck has now relocated and I have to move north again after twenty years. Maine and New Hampshire are becoming Massachusetts.
About 10 years before we retired, we started "shopping" where in Maine we wanted to live. We used all our vacations and long weekends to visit new places. We came during all seasons, including MUD and CONSTRUCTION. Our choices when the time came were very different from when we started out. Aging --and hoping for continued aging--changes one's perspective.
you mean living in MA, not ME, Southern Maine is not Maine, it's a suburb of Massachusetts. If you are planning to move there, by all means do, but please leave Maine to Maine, MA has ruined Southern Maine, we drawn the line at the Bath bridge! LOL
Exactly, And sadly MA corruption has followed, which is why Southern Maine has gone to sh!t, it's a liberal hell hole. And those regions are controlling all the voting
Maine used to be MA. I would like to move to ME. Have friend in Wayne, Maine. How is the Augusta area? I actually was stationed at Loring AFB. 88-92 We deployed for Gulf War. B52 and KC 135. But yup would like to move from Natick.. to ME.
@@alexgramm5170 Wayne is wicked nice w/nice lake. Chelsea is pretty close to Disgusta and OK (my daughter has a house there...)as well if you feel you have to be close to Disgusta.We live in Mid Coast on a peninsula, very peaceful...
@@jpdouglas8004 Thanks.. Disgusta.. lmao.. tells me something.. ha!! My high school buddy has home and land in Wayne.. nice to see your endorsement. I have looked (on line) at some acres there. Androscoggin Lake... yes... nice. I like peaceful... :)
The last half century has transformed the old Maine into a mishmash of struggling working classes and out of staters with the serious bank account it takes to buy the astronomical priced real estate. For example, Portland in the 70s and 80s was a gritty developing port city similar to Portsmouth NH. Now, it takes megabucks to buy there. However, the more down East you go and the more inland the cheaper things get. 75% of the population lives within 25 miles of the coast due to milder weather and economic conditions.
Real-estate is awful here now. My wife's family has been here since the 1700's and we have a small house we built 35yrs ago. Now there are multiple multi-million dollar houses on either side of us that are only occupied 3 months a year. Property taxes will probably force us out so someone else from Mass. can biuld a "summer place".
Winters a beautiful but brutal. As a consequences the roads are in poor shape. I found the people warm and friendly. A bit of a quirk, be prepared to be asked tons of questions when you first meet. It is a state for outdoor living, hiking in the warm months and show-shoeing and skiiing the cold moths. And fishing all year long.
Speaking as someone who used to be a summer resident in Maine but then retired in Maine for year round living the most important drawback I have found is the completely inadequate medical care accessibility. Most hospitals are community hospitals and don't have specialists on staff. You may have to drive 1-11/2 hours to get to a specialist and most likely will have to wait 2-3 months or more to get an appt. Even getting a PCP can take 3-6 months. And this is in southwestern Maine. If you or someone in your family has chronic health problems do your research about availability of care you need before making a decision to move to Maine.
I lived in Maine most of my life and the best thing I ever did was moved out of State. yes if you have little kids and living up north in Maine is nice but if you have kids 15 and up they will hate you for living there because there is nothing for them to do. Most teens even before 18 pack up and move with or with out their parents permission. For the most part there are no jobs so there is no one making any money. Heating oil cost me over 2000 a month and that was over 20 years ago. The most exciting thing to do in Maine is to fool around and make babies or get in to trouble or all three at the same time. The Job market is gone there is hardly any jobs worth doing in Maine and if you are looking to get ahead in Maine forget it because most have no intentions of paying more money knowing there are so many people looking for work and would be willing to work for less pay just to have a job . The Taxes are way to high in Maine and the more north you go the more they try to find ways of charging you for something. Example if you have a lawn sale you have to pay your town money to sell things you own to make money. Want a Garage sale sure no problem pay the town for a permit. Want to put up a portable carport they will still tax you on that because you have to strap the carport down in the ground so the wind don't blow it away. I have not been to Maine in 20 years but I am guessing the reason there are still a lot of people in Maine is because they are letting people from other Countries move in there and they will pay their rent buy them food get them a car or truck but the people that were born in Maine go with out and end up living on the streets.
Dang, you nailed it. Nothing to do except sit at the kitchen table drinking your hot cocoa before jumping back in bed. Better hope your spouse is equally obsessed.
@@CaptainPaddys The real truth is every State has it's problems and every state has its own corruption some a lot more then others. But I was born in Maine lived there many years and I would say go visit but never go to live . When I moved out of Maine I was spending almost 2500 just in heating oil A month. My Light bill was over 200 a month. Cops pull you over in Maine more so if you are from out of State and make up a reason why they pulled you over no it was not true they lied and cops are told to lie. Then the cops will say have you been drinking or have you been smoking weed. When you say no they say well I smell it and then say they have the right to search. I don't play their game I tell them when they say they smell it I say that is funny because when you pulled me over I smelled pig crap and the smell got stronger as you got out of the car but it made my eyes water as you walked up to me. Maine also has a lot of lets just say people from other Countries now and they are treated like Gods. They have nice rents or nice homes they get 3 X the food a real Mainer gets. They get a nice car nice truck or van and have all their bills paid for plus about 3000 a month spending money. Yet the true Mainer's that were born in Maine lived their all their lives get kicked out of their homes for the out siders to move in. They are not willing to tell you just how many Homeless Mainers really are living on the streets . The real reason they don't want people to know about how many Homeless people are going with out food shelter and heat is because to many will start asking questions on why are so many people from Other Countries getting everything and the Mainers are getting nothing.
How the hell are you spending $2000 a month on heating oil? I live in Aroostook county and I don't even spend that much a year. Buy some freaking insulation, that's insane.
I grew up in Topsham, ME and now I live in MA. I love the peace and smaller feel of Maine for vacations but there are some drawbacks to be aware of.. (1) the majority of the people lack diverse experiences (2) not many ambitious people (people are okay just doing okay) (3) not many career options for some paths (why i didn’t go back after college)
I grew up in lynn mass and moved to central maine 14 years ago. Id never move back to mass, maine is up and coming, the population and diversity has increased so much in the last 4 years. Infrastructure has improved and new chain restaurants and stores opening up. I got a great deal on my house and will never regret it. I also have a great job at a telecommunications cmpany located in Oakland maine. Great benetifts and plenty of room to grow.
Southern Maine and the coast seem really nice. Unfortunately, that's not the part where I grew up, and I could never afford to go there. I'm from Bangor. Moved away almost 20 years ago and my biggest regret is that I didn't leave a decade earlier. No jobs. High rent. High cost of living. Total car dependency. Little to do outside of drinking & petty crime. Awful place to be a teenager, especially a teenager who isn't interested in making smoking weed their whole personality, drinking skunky beer, and/or having a kid before you can vote. When my folks pass, I don't think I'll ever return. I love 'em, and I love seeing them, but I'm usually depressed for weeks after I visit. Like, if I'm feeling too good about life, I just have to talk to folks I know in Maine, and I'll be back to being bummed about everything. The last time I was up there, I had dinner with my childhood best friend. Every single story he told me was sad and involved someone our age (40s) he knew who had died (drugs, murder, drunk driving, etc.). Literally a week later, he too died. Anyway. I'm sure Southern Maine is nice. But folks thinking about moving to Maine should definitely do their research (and have a really big nest egg), that's for danged sure.
Should change that to a huge nest egg. I went to college in Bangor and yes my regret is also I wish I had moved out before I even went to college . Yes most people were killed by PO people or by car crashes like OUI or hitting a Moose. When I was in College a girl just 18 was out drinking at a party and walking back to the dorm she sat down to rest or go pee and never got back up she froze to death. That was in the 80's
I'm hoping to get a decent piece of wooded property in Maine in the next 5 years on which I will be building an off-grid cabin. I was born in Maine, grew up in RI, but have spent my life hoping to finally retire in my homeland.
I can tell you from personal experience, living in Bangor, the city does not plow the roads for at least 36 hours after any snowfall so I’d be prepared and have a four-wheel-drive vehicle😮
Interesting. I live near Calais and the road crews here are the BEST I've ever experienced ANYWHERE else in the country. They're out before the worst of the snow hits, laying down salt stuff, work through the nights, and have the roads in very nice condition within 24 hours; maybe not 100% clears of snow and ice, but clean enough to have no problems. I almost never see a car off the road or accidents due to snow and ice, which is quite common in places that get a lot less snow and ice.
@@jerfacekilla Because there are few locations with bright city lights you become more aware of the shorter daylight hours of the fall/winter periods of declining sunshine. Less than 9 hours around Christmas time. That's 15 hours of "darkness" per day. Kinda nice if you ask me.
27 years ago you moved there after most of the jobs packed up and moved out of the Country to pay a lot less for the workers. Crow Rope moved to Mexico Carlton wool packed there business up and movers out so on A lot of people lost jobs because of the companies moving out of Maine. I lived in Maine all my life and moved out a little over 20 years ago.
I was born in Portsmouth NH. I moved to Maine and went to high school there in Elliot. My parents still live in southern Maine. There are no good-paying jobs. People have no pride in their homes and let them go. People are very lazy. You can have a trailer with junked cars on one piece of land next to a neighbor with a $600k house. People are cheap to the point it's very difficult to run a business. The southern beaches are overwhelmed with tourists during the summer and locals get pushed out. Illegal drugs are so bad in Maine. My nephew was given a fentanyl pill he thought was a pain reliever 2 years ago and he died in Maine. Portland Maine is a dump. Maine is full of liberals in the south and conservatives in the north. Maine sucks. I ran to Texas the first chance I could after my time in the Marines. Everything in Maine is built wrong too. Radon is a huge problem in basements, wells are also full of hard water, and septic tanks are common with your front lawn being a poop leach field. Maine is full of deadbeats who milk the government for welfare. The only good places in Maine are the Far North where land is cheap and there are no twisted people to bother you. Living in Maine and going to high school there in the early 1990s was the worst experience in my life besides my time fighting in a war later in life. I was just in Maine last week to visit my parents for Christmas. They live in a nice area of Berwick but live in an HOA community that is hell. Maine has not changed in 50 years and in another 50 years, time will be the same dump with small-minded people. I have offered a free house to my parents to move to Texas and I'm waiting for them to sell the Maine house.
I saw your thumbnail/ title and I had to watch.I moved to Southern Maine in 1994, started out in Wells but moved a half hour north. I also have a UA-cam channel. Nice job with the video and good luck with the channel.
Pay extra extra attention to the notes on Cost of Living and transportation. Then consider how small town life on an island can be much more intense than on the mainland. Also true: Islanders pull together to help each other in ways the rest of us can't begin to appreciate!
You did leave out one thing about living in Maine, particularly outside of the south. I live at the edge of downeast Maine (Mount Desert Island) and I can assure you that it pretty much takes an entire lifetime to be considered a local. I have been here for almost 26 years and have finally achieved the status of "year round summer person". That is despite having my own plow truck and a Subaru. The father downeast you go the more pronounced that effect is. Yes the cost of living in Maine can be a bit high. A nice waterfront cottage here on MDI is going to set you back millions. However, away from the coast I wouldn't call northern Maine a high cost of living place. That is particularly true in northern Penobscot, Piscataquis and 100% of Aroostook counties. Heck in most of Aroostook County (aka - The County), $250K will buy you the nicest house in town. The only high cost part of living up there is your oil bill in winter.
lived in Bar Harbor for 5 years. The taxes are now more than Massachusetts for a small ranch home. Its nice, but if you want something done you better do it yourself. The natives once hired tend to disappear for a week or 2. They all think they are "hard workers'...try your nonsense anywhere else and you would be jobless...
If you want to become a true Mainer you will have to learn how drive below the speed limit in the left lane on the highway, with your turn signal on. Especially if you drive down to Massachusetts.
it is, mainly because progressive Democrats have invaded the legislature...i live in a red county and life is good..our sheriff doesn't put up with unconstitutional legislation that our lovely governor pushes for... the downside is, that type of majority has infested the populated areas of southern Maine and influences the rest of us
Maine is becoming Massachusetts. Libs tend to migrate after destroying one state with their warped sense of elitism and politics. New Hampshire also dealing with this.
so, i'm a new englander born and raised , living in kentucky , i would think about comeing home , how much would 2 acres cost on the N H side way up north ? in the woods, on a dirt road / i'm not looking for a place to hunt or ride a four wheeler , or snowmobile , just ------- quiet ,
When I first moved to Maine in ‘06 my new coworker (a REAL Mainer) said he was “gonna go out tonight and get me a BMW!” “You’re buying a new car?” I asked. “Hah! No.” He said with a surly look on his face. “A Big Maine Woman!”
it might seem unfathomable to some, but growing up in Maine and not knowing anything else but what life is like here, i still love the winters and winter sports is one way to dispel the feelings of dread when it comes to the onset of winter... we couldn't wait for snow to come so we could snowmobile and ski, and our school gave us a half a day off on Friday to go to ski school and free ski ...if you live in southern Maine you are robbing yourself of the true Maine experience.. the cost of living for me is far cheaper than folks in that part of the state are dealing with, and my wife and I live comfortably on our meager SS benefits, have all we need, and have raised our families in a very safe, and fruitful environment...living in the southern part of Maine is really not much different than living in Massacusetts... so if you are considering moving to Maine, if it were me, i would keep on motoring right past Cumberland and Androscoggin counties and head north... much easier and safer here...
Ayuh. Been theah. It's been a while (Freeport High Class of '63). 20 years in the USAF and another 40 in northern Virginia between then and now. Still get back at least once a year and am amazed at how much change there has been. Probably shouldn't be, but I am. 😁 Oddly enough, I still think of it as "home".
That’s pretty much how I felt when I moved back to Maine a few years ago, most people made it a point to make us feel as unwelcome as possible, it was impossible to find anyone to do any work on our house or yard, etc. I can’t tell you how many contractors I called (including the ones recommended by neighbors and friends) who never even returned my calls (I kept my phone number from another state. I still love Maine, but we moved out after a few years, and I’ll never reconvince my partner to move back there.
I visited the Bangor area years ago and loved it. It was right around the start of deer season so it was starting to get cold but it was a beautiful area. If I had the money I would move there in a heartbeat. Snow and cold don’t bother me, and as long as I’ve got coffee, hot chocolate, hot apple cider and a fireplace I would be good to go. I need to win the lottery.
I had a chance to move up to Maine, a job offer near the finger Lakes region. But another offer had come in earlier from Washington state so I moved there instead. Sometimes I wonder what it would’ve been like in Maine.
Having lived in Washington, I can tell you from experience with both states that, despite Maine's high costs of living, you are poorer economically for having lived in Washington. Don't get me wrong; I love Washington and Maine both. Maine's more humid in the summer and colder in the winter. Washington, at least the West side, is wetter and not necessarily greener because of it. Washington is filled with ex-Californians. Maine is filled (at least the Southern 1/2 of the state) is filled with ex-Massachusset, ex-everything that's liberal (which is the same problem with Washington.) I don't have to worry about a volcanoe exploding here in Maine. Both have Bigfoot (🤣), both have trout and salmon, both have black bears, Maine has more moose.
Unless you are very well off and have a specific reason, don't do Maine. The rugged beauty and outdoor possibilities are a trap. You will struggle financially if you are working class. Incredible energy and resources are wasted fighting Winter. The length and depth of darkness and cold eats you. The first warm day in Spring the black flies emerge. When we gardened we had to wear head nets. The growing season barely lets a tomato ripen. All water(lakes, streams, ocean) is frigid. Backroads heave into buckled suspension ruining minefields. Every penny of local taxes goes to roads and schools, nothing else. The inland cities are a dilapidated drug infused hell scape. I lived in Maine from 1981 to 2004 near Bangor on 40 wooded, hillside acres.
I grew up in Bangor. We had a huge prolific garden, I remember sitting on the porch snapping green beans and I’d eat radishes straight from the garden. Plenty of ripe tomatoes too! We had a camp on Pushaw lake (only $10,000 back in the 70’s) We had our first swim around Easter one year, cold never stopped us. It actually warmed up rather nicely, we spend all day in the lake. We skated on it in the winter. Cross country skiing and snowmobiling was fantastic!!
I must say, as a swimmer, I would NOT be jumping in any body of water in Maine - way too cold. My lap pool keeps it perfectly - 77-78F, so I don't like it warm. But mid-60's? NO.
@@leighleigh3624 those were the good days huh? the familiarity of your post is uncanny.. very much how life was here in Strong... life was slower, so much more going on then... if you chose to...my parents also had a camp on Porter Lake, and it was jump in the lake before work, and jump back in when we got back...winters were snowmobiling with my parents, family and their friends.. half a day off from school on fridays to go to ski school at Sugarloaf, driving home from playing basketball in a foot of snow..lol i wouldn't trade any of it for anything... Merry Christmas to you and yours...
That was entertaining. I grew up in Maine, from age 12 - like 23. Lived all over Maine. I can vouch for everything said here, but some things were kinda glossed over a bit. You have to have a car in Maine. If you don't, you're SOL. Winters aren't kinda long, they're 6 months long and it gets cold, cold like you can't even imagine. I've experienced 40+ below zero nights in Maine. Population, spot on, it's low. You could go a year and only talk to the same five or six people depending on where you live. Portland Maine, the largest "city" is a town. You can walk across the whole thing and see pretty much everything in about 40-45 minutes, I even know some secret spots, like where the witch's tomb is located. Mainers are weird, I know, I grew up there and I'm effing weird. Aesthetically, Maine is gorgeous, but if you're young and looking for opportunities, Maine is a tough place to get a start. Lastly, the state, meaning the bureaucracy, sucks. From the DMV to the town hall to the taxes and anything to do with courts for anything so much as a parking ticket it's a huge pain. Would I move back or live in Maine again? Sure, but only if I was retired and had a solid chunk of capital to support myself in a house with solar power and backup generators. Otherwise, no. Moving to Maine, you may as well move to Canada, the woods of Canada, by a lake.
I live in a village of 2K and the town up the road is 67K. Maine sounds perfect. I'm not crazy about the snow, but it is so beautiful and it would be a great fit for me. Thank you for this video
i live up in jackman, i own the property i grew up on. there are a few homes owned from those from away. and of course we get the campers, atvers and hunters, but snowmobiling is the big thing for this area, the businesses count on it.
I lived in a coastal MA town about 25 mins from Kittery for 9 years. I’m from Boston but moved to Essex co and lived there for a while. Definitely a big change, lovely place, but I moved back to the Boston area and feel like I’m back home.
Left a small town in Connecticut in 1980, moved to a small town in Maine. The changes have been sad, to say the least. I knew Maine was going to change but it looks like mass, CT, and New York came here, changed it and now it’s different, homeless veterans, new free housing for new arrivals, no relief for property taxes for seniors and 100% disabled veterans. But this is who we’ve become. But I’m not moving just yet, nor anytime soon. It’s still Maine, just different.
@ I was stationed in Charleston South Carolina from 1970 to 1972 (well when I wasn’t deployed) parts of the area were like walking in the movie Gone With the Wind. I know time doesn’t stand still, but sometimes I wish it would just slow down;)
I've been there several times. My aunt married a maniac. Like Hawaiians, they want you to come and spend money but are scared to death that you will move there and take up resources. Beautiful state, but few people can deal with the winter weather and summer mosquitos.
My Dad was stationed at Dow in 1960(yeah, the blizzard of 60 was waiting for us). My sister and I grew up in Bangor and Carmel. Used to go to Loring AFB from time to time. I live in TN now and I like ME but I'm not moving back. Some of my friends growing up were Penobscot Indians. Loved them like brothers, great folks. I have a 1 call sign in honor of my Dad''s time there. Growing up in ME as a kid is different from living there as an adult. Paying the taxes and dealing with all the stuff that being a parent entails is far different than experiencing it as a kid. I'm glad for those good memories but y'all don't have to worry about me coming back to live there.
I am leaving Portland in a few weeks after four years of being back. I am from Maine and Minnesota. The costs of living in Portland and Southern Maine are stratospheric now. It used to be affordable. Local jobs just don’t pay enough. If you are moving to Maine, you will need a high-paying job, likely remote, and to be okay with high costs of living and high taxes. Maine is a special place. It has so much natural beauty and lovely clean air. The coastline and the mountains are enchanting. But New Yorkers and Bostonians have moved in with big money and the locals have been priced out, at least in Portland proper. It’s so sad. I’ll always be back to visit my family, but I had higher hopes of being able to make things work here.
I’m from New England, my dads parents had a summer place in Belgrade and I absolutely love that town. I’ve always loved Maine, I’ve highly considered off grid living in Central Maine. I’ve always loved and enjoyed being in Maine and enjoying that lesser hustle and bustle, let alone me being from Mass and 30 miles away from Boston, it’s always a retreat to get away from Boston and Providence with all of the massholes around my area in Southeastern Massachusetts
I live in Virginia but I'm in OOB visiting my recently widowed 92 year old mother for Christmas. My great-great-...-grandfather bought this house ~1870. I am cold. Morning just ended and it is already dark. HELP! At least some good restaurants manage to stay open but I am cold.
Bugs. Huge mosquitos, black flies and ticks. I spent a lot of time just across the bordering Durham and Portsmouth. Cute and quaint but oh the mosquitoes.
I wish FL was like this. The tourists are coming year round now which is an unwelcome addition and there are thousands of transplants moving in or buying property. Maine doesn't sound so bad.
I lived in NH my property tax’s just went up $1000.00 more a year I’m thinking about selling my house and move to a better state that won’t ripped off home owner.
@@blairmartin4705 lol, I live in Texas and we have some of the highest real estate taxes in America. You have no idea how good you have it under Democrats. My Houston home's property taxes for 2024 are $23,772.62.
@ yeah but I bet you have a beautiful home up here in Maine. You’re lucky to have a piece of shit falling down Tax to the hill, which is like 10 grand for a shitty two bedroom house.
@@blairmartin4705property taxes are set by the local government, not the state and in northern Maine they are republicans. In California, because of prop 13 the max my property taxes could go up was 1% and it was usually less than that. In Caribou Maine, over three years my property taxes went up 40%. Without an industry tax base the only way to pay for anything was property taxes.
Great place to live if you value quiet ,safe beautiful rural environment. Taxes are very high and it’s really cold off season. Southern maine is also nice with its ocean proximity
@@sheeralim8020 nobody from Maine wants to go to Massachusetts. Maybe to watch a Red Sox game or as a child a field trip to the Boston Museum of science but other than that no freaking way.
First off welcome. 2nd rd. Signs are non existent in smaller towns people steal them crazy I know. You will get lost. Not to worry you won’t end up in the Brox. And we don’t all talk fd up.
Love the cold. I can't stand being hot. I have been here for 45 years. The only thing I can't stand is the job market. Winter time I usually take out the trash in a tee and shorts. A lot of us are really rugged people.
I'll just stay in the south and eat shrimp and crabs. There are way too many Yankees in Maine for my taste. Probably why you don't see southerners moving up there.
I've lived in Maine full time and seasonally over the last 25 years. Mainers aren't the friendliest bunch overall and as they tell you if you're "from away" you'll never be a Mainer. Additionally Maine in winter is my favorite time due to ease of movement and no tourists. By far one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.
I visited Maine for most of my childhood. What I remember most was the more North you go, the more people you see sitting at the end of the driveway waving at traffic.
1. Highest energy costs in the country 2. High taxes 3. General high cost on everything, especially cable & internet 4. Low wages & lack of jobs 5. Very poor healthcare & hard to find 6. Mainers are not friendly, but they do like your $$$$ 7. Weather!
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I grew up in Maine but left with the Military many years ago but while visiting one year I had picked out several items after getting gas at a local corner store where I knew no one. When I got to the counter to pay, I realized I'd left my wallet at camp, about 10 miles away, I explained to the woman at the counter who was very understanding and prepared to head back for my wallet to pay for the gas I'd already pumped when she asked me why I wasn't taking the items I'd picked up inside as well! There are still many roadside stands selling items on the honor system around that area, which is heartwarming.
That first sentence is tough to read, Fred...
I retired in 2021 and moved from southern California to northern Maine. I grew up in Wisconsin so the winters were quite mild to me. While I knew coming in that the population density was low I wasn’t fully prepared for the lack of choices. Basically, if Amazon doesn’t have it you won’t find it. And the quickest you’ll get a delivery from Amazon is four days. Even compared to California, Maine is expensive. One thing I wasn’t prepared for was the lack of medical care. After three years I still couldn’t find a dentist, I had to go to Canada for a Vet. Last February I had a stroke and they had to air lift me to Bangor for treatment. There is no neurological care in northern Maine. I ended up moving back to Southern California last summer. One thing about living in an area with 20 million people is no matter what you want, there are at least three places you can buy it within ten miles. There are five vets within four miles of my house and I can get same day delivery from Amazon. I used to complain about the lack of weather in Southern California, 70 degrees and sunny. I’m over that now.
Main winters are mild? I highly doubt that
Amazon four days? I never have that. I ordered something today 12-19 and I will have my stuff in the Amazon locker the next day.
maine is not expensive compared to California when you compare apples to apples. there are homes in maine off the water a bit for $400/sq ft. that's literally about 20-25% of the cost of a home along the California coast, not oceanfront, and the one in Maine would have 2-4x as much land.
@@Formerlywarmer compared to the northern midwest states, they are. the coldest places in the world are INLAND. oceans are "warm" in winter. this is why the middle of north america and the middle of Russia are so brutal in winter.
@@FormerlywarmerIt depends on the year. Some winters are bad and others are more mild.
I am from Maine born and raised. Sadly people coming from other states buying property has increased prices to the point many Mainers can not afford to buy a home. I love my state and want to live no where else bit it isn't an idyllic setting, a Rockwell painting, a vacation everyday. It is a wonderful place to live and I am proud to be a Mainer.
And yet saddened by the increasing costs
Increasing costs is a world-wide thing.
I'm in Texas and the $80K house that I bought in 1995 is worth around $325K nowadays. My property taxes certainly show that.
The price of real-estate most every place in the US has been shooting up.
Thats everywhere
@@richardpetty9159 I am in Los Angeles.. $325K would be a huge bargain. Homes in my area average $850K to 1.1 million.
Me too...I can't live in the cities.
@@richardpetty9159 325k is so affordable. I'm in NH and we are 500-850k
I moved to Maine in 2017 I was forced out of my life in Arkansas after I lost my wife. Family trouble was the reason I had to get out. Best thing ever happened to me. I met a wonderful woman she was with me until she went to heaven I miss her so much. I'm 68 now and not looking for anyone. It's not easy to live all alone but I'm making it. The only problem I have is I can't find a good fishing place but I may have found one but I'll have to wait until spring to check it out. Oh I forgot to say I live in northern Maine.
@kennethcolbert2921 you want to catch fish up north. Square lake. Is the best
Living in N Maine also I wish I could find a good woman but content living alone.
@@oldmanjimh3165 living by your self sucks or I think it does. Wish I had another good woman in my life but no thank you it's to hard when they die it rip's out your heart.
Bless you buddy.
I was on a Ship that was getting Overhauled at the Bath Iron Works , the brief Summers are nice , but the Winters are Brutal and Long !
You got to be a true New Englander to live in Maine
@@angryamerican2544 I am from TN and have live in Northern Maine for 14 years. The first 2 years feels rough, but after you get use to it. The most recent winters have been extremely mild and no matter what the roads are great. Studded snow tires are AMAZING.
We lived in Bath during the 2 1/2 tours my dad spent in Vietnam. Both my older brother and uncle worked at (BIW) Bath Iron Works back in the 1060's. Our family owned a farm up in Bristol, it stayed in our family for 194 years, before being sold in 1973.
I love living in Maine it’s nice and quiet just the place for someone like me who spent 20 years in the Marine Corps I really like not being around a lot of people and close to the outdoors
Same with us my husband is ex military and need the peace and quiet
We’re looking for property in maine for when my husband retires in a few years. Navy and wanting peace & quiet
@@HomesteadHere if it were me i would stay away from the coastal counties and check out central and northern Maine.. much more affordable without the progressive policies of Portland and such, it is what you make it to be
So true.
@@roberttrussell8766 I agree, Vietnam Veteran here, I sit on my deck from March to October having my morning coffee, looking at nothing but trees. The rest of the winter I sit at my kitchen table looking out the sliding glass doors looking at nothing but trees and snow while having my morning coffee. I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. This is my sanctuary this is where I’ve found my peace.
Sadly, my favorite time of year now, in southern Maine, is November thru April because I don't have to deal with the Grid lock traffic of York, Wells, & Ogunquit to get somewhere. If you enjoy crowds, long lines, & no parking spots then come to Southern Maine - May thru October. Don't get me wrong, it's still a beautiful location but very congested now in the warm months.
I’m very fortunate my May birthday is right before tourist season. I get a lovely weekend of fresh lobster and blueberry pies, beautiful coastal scenery, and relaxing sea breezes, and am home again before the tourists descend.
Not planning on moving to Maine, but I enjoyed learning more about the area. Nice presentation.
I was born and raised in Washington Co. Maine, very small town (Princeton). I joined the Navy in '89 and since 1994 have lived in Virginia, I make it a point to visit home at least once a year.
Uh oh you must be in VA Beach or Norfolk, not a good representation of Virginia 😂
@@mattneil1449 lol, Suffolk
Well done video, thank you so much. Very articulate and well spoken. Great job. I grew up going to Maine through my teens and early 20s love the state of Maine.
This former AT hiker loves Maine, its my favourite state... I dream about it all the time, so many fond memories.
Downunda - Melbourne Australia
i always have a hot pot of coffee brewing, you are welcome to stop by anytime.. you could shoot a deer, catch a few fish within a few yards of my house and have a nice meal with homegrown apple pie for desert.. you are welcome to stop by and restock supplies..the next time your hiking... i am about 10 miles from the trail here... good luck to ya...
There’s a huge expat community up here in the Northeast - I’m sure you can easily find a bunch of couches and spare beds to crash on. 😉
Your video is very nice.
I live in Winter Harbor; the REAL Maine starts Downeast.
That other stuff down south? That’s a suburb of Boston.
P.S. For those who think they “live in Maine” because you’re here for the summer: If you are not here in February, then, when here you’re a TOURIST.
the real Maine is miles inland from any coastal areas...
Who pays year round property taxes that send your kids to school so play nice .
The state needs a lot of updating. Huge parts of it are dead zones to cellphones. A lot of places have to use satellite internet because they can't get access to the higher speed internet. People are afraid to use green electricity and choose to stay victimized by traditional electric companies higher costs. Taxes in Main put it way at the top end of the highest taxed states in America and yet we don't have the cities or population to back that up. People have to work 2 or 3 jobs just to afford the basics to say nothing about paying bills. We have a homeless problem that is more than the state can handle because we don't have enough places for them to have shelter. So we often find homeless people frozen to death in the winter. Maine is a beautiful state, but the Republican state representatives really hold it back from lining up with current needs and that's been an ongoing problem for decades.
@@jlomesou you must live a very miserable existence if all you can find is fault with everything and figuring everyone agrees with you..that is obvious by your UA-cam channel... try making something a little positive instead of spreading the leftist doom and gloom you seem to thrive on... you have been infected with TDS or something..most of what you commented here is totally false and i haven't seen a news story about anyone freezing to death for quite some time so that is not something we see "often" smh.. people like you is why Trump got elected and why the Democrat party is in the toilet... Merry freakin Christmas....wow
@@jlomesoustarlink gives you internet everywhere now
I buried my wife and brother-in-law in Maine a year ago this past June. Laurel Hill in Saco. Their family's plot is there. My parents retired to Camden. The snooty locals never knew dear old dad was and is a legend in foreign espionage in the clandestine services. Few men have been so brave. Mom and dad are now in the Arlington National Cemetery. His grandfather left Maine and went West after the Civil War. Stopped at the Pacific. Before that, the family moved to Maine after the Revolution for land, given to them for their service as Continental soldiers. Both my wife and I trace back to the Mayflower: my side also Jamestown, Virginia. My sister is a retired Maine public school teacher up in Bangor. You'll know her or know of her if i write her name here. And I won't. Her sons are well established. One in Southern Maine. With my wife gone, I'm looking around. Maybe move to my wife's grave in Saco. I spent many a summer in Ocean Park with my wife and children. All the children now adults taking their children to Maine for the summertime and meeting family. I live in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia for now. Merry Christmas.
Thanks for your life story.
@joepass1883 It is much more than this. But I'll spare you. Lol! I have second and third cousins up and down the Maine Coast. My wife has them all over Southern Maine and Massachusetts. Merry Christmas.
Interesting. in Camden there are quite a few retired government officials whose careers were centered on national protection
Camden doesn't have many snooty locals so it could be you.
@RS-np2bk LOL! Could be. Merry Christmas!
What surprised me the most moving from Utah was how many places close down in the fall, how cold it gets, how dark it gets, how often the power goes out, how long most people commute, and everything about Wells, septic systems, and heating oil, wood stoves, camps.... So basically everything
What surprised me most about my time in Utah as a New Englander was the sand storms, the dry counties, how dry it is, the overall lack of water anywhere, the horrendous air quality and it's lack of affordable housing. So basically everything. See how that works?!
“But this 3 season cabin 4 hours from the grocery store is so cheap, why is Maine so cheap compared to Missouri?”-Everyone who didn’t research
@ridewithme3428 first winter with nothing but a wood stove and the pipes freeze......"ooooohhhhh....I get it"
@@zr2ee1 Yep! The little things add up. If you’re into nature and small town vibes, it’s worth it. But it grinds my gears when out of staters say how we have it so easy up here
@@zr2ee1 Yeah, nothing like thawing out a frozen pipe or two at 4 in the morning before getting off to work, usually driving an hour on slick snowy, icy roads, in total darkness. Only to drive back home in total darkness to find another frozen pipe.😟
I live near Old Orchard Beach. On Labor Day it's like someone throws a switch and turns off tourist season. On Labor Day weekend the streets and the beach are jammed with tourists, and parking is at a premium. Tuesday most of the storefronts are closed, and many board up for the winter. Places like car museums, amusement parks, and restaurants close seasonally. Pine Point road between Route 1 and Old Orchard Beach is home to two big ice cream stands, two RV camping resorts, and two large seafood restaurants. They're all shuttered for the season as I write this. The main drag in Old Orchard is a ghost town aside from a few holdouts (like Lisa's Pizza) who get enough business from locals.
The best time to visit OOB...After Labor day! I'm in Waterboro. Only a half hour away. I stay away from there till then.
Old Orchard Beach! Went there when I was 20 years old. Beautiful girls, but they all speak French and I don't.
OMG! Your third shot is driving south into Ogunquit! I lived in the blue house on the right for a couple summers and had my first legal drink across the road (US1) at The Old Village Inn on the left. Great to see it pop up here!
My family arrived to the Wells area around 1650. Stayed for nine generations. I'm the thirteenth, and we left Maine a century ago. Family name is Jellison.
Visiting this summer. Can't wait!
EDIT: And the third from LAST shot is Perkin's Cove. I worked just to the right at Barnacle Billy's and walked down that gangplank on the left so many times.
Thx again!
I've been conducting an informal poll for years. So far, everyone who loves living in Maine likes to participate in some sort of outdoor activity in the Winter. Everyone who hates living in Maine doesn't participate in any outdoor activity in the Winter. I'm sure there are exceptions, but this is definitely a big factor for most people.
This is actually the secret. I’ve lived all along the east coast but settled in ME because everything I love to do outside is best when it’s cold or frozen.
For your poll then, I'm not a native Mainer, but I love the winters. Have a camera and get our when I can to shoot Maine's winter scenery. If I had a truck or a snow mobile, I'd be out even more.
I love Maine. I visit every year in mid September to hike and enjoy the Downeast coastline. Usually stay in Hancock county. Breathtaking scenery. Lovely. Nice video.
I love the description of PORTLAND - it holds the balance between the biggest city some people can imagine living in and the smallest city others can imagine living in.
Portland is a cesspool
Great informative video. My son moved to Maine about 7 years ago after grad school to do social work in Portland.... he absolutely loves it and all the outdoors things to do. The problem is that it is quite expensive to live on a social worker's salary and half his income is going to rent....hard to get ahead but I'm sure that is the way it is for many young people with how expensive everything still is right now. Our family has vacationed in Maine for 25 years and love Southern Maine....thought we may retire there in a few years but honestly it is more expensive than a comparable home in Connecticut right now from what I've seen or people are overpricing fixer uppers that need complete remodels.... crazy times.
I grew up in Northern Maine. Many in my town relied on tourism. In the summer it was tourists visiting Baxter state park and Mt. Katahdin. In the winter we were flooded with snowmobilers. Any hotel parking lots in the are were always packed with trucks and snowmobile trailers.
Ahh the good old days. Kingsfield Maine was beautiful and the Deer Farm Camp Ground was really worth the Visit . I use to go camping there every month. Bar harbor was always busy in the spring summer and fall but when winter hit then it was a ghost town lol
Basic common sense is what you reiterated. Good, solid guidance to be followed no matter where one chooses to live. Well done.
I remember driving through Maine once and having to pay a toll every few miles. It really sucked. We don't have that problem out west.
Just hop onta 295, bub!
@@blackpillfitness9136 I'll keep that in mind should I ever travel east again.
It’s $4 for the main toll on 95
Went to college in Washington County, Maine up the coast an hour north of Bar Harbor. Really enjoyed it. Quiet, peaceful and stunning scenery. Yes, things are far apart but if you're happy where you live theres not much reason to leave.
I'm in Washington County and LOVE the lack of people. There's even less tourists over here.
My son’s grandparents have a 200 year old home in Alfred, absolutely beautiful and so peaceful there.
I agree. It is a lovely place
So....your parents?
@@timthetiny7538 their mothers'
Maine has a lot to offer. That said, Maine is one of the highest tax states in the country. Job opportunities aren’t great and York County has all but lost that Maine charm everyone is looking to experience. If you are looking for those quaint seaside fishing villages and such you’ll need to go north of mid coast and that is changing fast as well. If you want to experience old Maine, go to the county. Oh and if you’re from Mass, Connecticut or RI, stay home…….
Maine has fucked up weather. Fucked up hunting laws. BASICALLY FUCKED UP. EVERYTHING. And that’s why we said. hell NO
No place that gets that cold for that long deserves to be expensive too. The state has to take a haircut based on the cold. It's fairly valueless for that reason.
You left out NY, and NJ.
@@BillySBCI guess it depends on what you think is "cold". It's definitely no Alaska or Canada. But yes, either too hot or too cold save for a few weeks in the spring and fall.
Well said. We had that problem in VT with COVID. A ton of Joey's from the mentioned states plus NY and NJ. They wrecked VT!
Relocated from Boston to Sanford roughly 25 years ago. Best decision my wife and I ever made. But as you mentioned, it did take some time to slow our pace and learn how things work up here. We met incredible people, became part of the community it's home for us and we love it here.
You are indeed a rarity !
Us too! We’re in wells!
Mainers hate Out of Staters!
and Maine Hates people from 3rd World moving in and I love that about Maine
really? i just assumed all the dang demon clowns had them wound up tight or something, lol.
not all of us
@@jimburdin eh partly I kid, but I will say joking aside living in the south east it can't be easy having Canada on one side and New York/Massachusetts on the other, the baddies kind of have you surrounded so to speak.
The garbage government is bringing in invaders by the tens of millions better get used to it bro.
Born in Maine at the end of the great depression and still living in Maine. Everything south of US Rte 2 in maine is Massachusetts nowadays.
I think an important issue that wasn’t mentioned is the lack of healthcare. If you have a lot of medical needs especially specialists, then Maine is a really bad place to live. It takes months or even longer to get into see Drs when you aren’t an established patient. As a poorer state with few large employers, there’s no pricing power to lure more medical professionals to the state. I think I read recently that ME is short by a few thousand practitioners for the given population demand.
I had a neighbor that was having problems and went to the hospital they could not find what was bothering him and he told them he is not making this up and they set him up for an appointment to cut him open and look around to see is they can see what is bothering him. They split him open gutted him like a fish and found nothing. He then went to another hospital and they told him he had a bladder infection. A week worth of pills and he was fine well all but the bill he got for cutting him open lmao.
I live in Maine and go to New Hampshire for my medical needs . Not only are there not many doctors, but most of them are incompetent. I almost died a few times from their incompetent care
A lot of folks in Maine go down to Boston for anything complex. But that’s not feasible for lower income folks, which, unfortunately, is most of the Maine population. Lack of good healthcare is problem in much of rural America.
@@M1911jln LMAO in Maine you are treating like a Lab Rat they do different test and give you different meds to see how they will work on you and if it is any good they try it on others as well to see what happens.
This problem of few doctors is created by a "go away flatlander" attitude, A lack of medical schools in the state, and high taxes. (There is one DO med school)
With a recipe of few homegrown doctors, high cost of living, long commutes, and an in friendliness to people from away, it is no surprise that doctors are hard to come by, especially north of Augusta.
Great video. I couldn't imagine living in any other state. I was thinking of selling my old farmhouse for something more "modern" and more affordable, but I can't do it. I live in an area that is basically a perfect area to grow up just a minute walk from the Saco River in Bar Mills (Buxton). I grew up here, and moved out when I after HS, and came back to the same home after my mom passed away. The cost of living is very high here but it's worth every penny.
We had our family farm in Bristol Mills Maine fror 194 years, it was sold in 1973. We lived just across the street from the Bristol dam swimming hole. Dad having made a career in the military we traveled alot, I really liked Arizona and Texas, then I retired here in central Florida. We vacationed in Maine back in 2019, then up into Nova Scotia. Natural beauty up that way, you just have to be OK with the long winters there !
Cost of living was given short shrift here. Maine has 4th-highest taxes in US,
and ranks No. 1 for property tax burden. I can't understand how this wasn't
mentioned. I am a Mainer, BTW
There is no way Maine is #1 for property tax burden. You are out of your damn mind. States like New Jersey and Illinois have property taxes double what Mainers pay. Maine isn't even in the Top 10 (Maine is rated #34 by Rocket Mortgage which is basically places us in the middle of the states). I also live here.
i disagree.. taxes are much higher obviously in southern Maine with the policies of Massachusetts, NY and Ct, taking over...where i live we have some towns that the only permit required to build is a plumbing permit for your septic system...no building permit, no electrical permit, no code enforcement officer breathing down your neck telling you that those walls need to be made out of a 2x6 instead of a 2x4...and run on an honor system that says after your build is finished you need to go to the town office and let them know so they can come out and appraise and tax you accordingly... my taxes at our place are 800 a year... some towns like college towns have extremely high taxes, Farmington for example, some tax bills are 5K or more..if you live within your means, life here is very affordable
Important part here….. southern Maine. Northern Massachusetts.
We're really not at that level of sucking quite yet. But we're gettin there, deah!
I moved from Massachusetts to the coast of southern New Hampshire to get away from things I did not like. Sadly, the yuck has now relocated and I have to move north again after twenty years. Maine and New Hampshire are becoming Massachusetts.
@@kerrylewis2581 unfortunately all of the northeast is like that now…time to south… anywhere but FL. 🤔
... and Northern Maine = Canada. I love Northern Maine.
About 10 years before we retired, we started "shopping" where in Maine we wanted to live. We used all our vacations and long weekends to visit new places. We came during all seasons, including MUD and CONSTRUCTION. Our choices when the time came were very different from when we started out. Aging --and hoping for continued aging--changes one's perspective.
I was surprised at the number of mosquitoes at dusk in the woods in the summer. Other than that, it was amazing there. Such beautiful coastline.
you mean living in MA, not ME, Southern Maine is not Maine, it's a suburb of Massachusetts. If you are planning to move there, by all means do, but please leave Maine to Maine, MA has ruined Southern Maine, we drawn the line at the Bath bridge! LOL
Exactly,
And sadly MA corruption has followed, which is why Southern Maine has gone to sh!t, it's a liberal hell hole.
And those regions are controlling all the voting
Maine used to be MA. I would like to move to ME. Have friend in Wayne, Maine. How is the Augusta area?
I actually was stationed at Loring AFB. 88-92 We deployed for Gulf War. B52 and KC 135.
But yup would like to move from Natick.. to ME.
@@alexgramm5170 Wayne is wicked nice w/nice lake. Chelsea is pretty close to Disgusta and OK (my daughter has a house there...)as well if you feel you have to be close to Disgusta.We live in Mid Coast on a peninsula, very peaceful...
@@jpdouglas8004 Thanks.. Disgusta.. lmao.. tells me something.. ha!!
My high school buddy has home and land in Wayne.. nice to see your endorsement. I have looked (on line) at some acres there. Androscoggin Lake... yes... nice. I like peaceful... :)
Good to know lol
The last half century has transformed the old Maine into a mishmash of struggling working classes and out of staters with the serious bank account it takes to buy the astronomical priced real estate. For example, Portland in the 70s and 80s was a gritty developing port city similar to Portsmouth NH. Now, it takes megabucks to buy there. However, the more down East you go and the more inland the cheaper things get. 75% of the population lives within 25 miles of the coast due to milder weather and economic conditions.
Real-estate is awful here now. My wife's family has been here since the 1700's and we have a small house we built 35yrs ago. Now there are multiple multi-million dollar houses on either side of us that are only occupied 3 months a year. Property taxes will probably force us out so someone else from Mass. can biuld a "summer place".
Winters a beautiful but brutal. As a consequences the roads are in poor shape. I found the people warm and friendly. A bit of a quirk, be prepared to be asked tons of questions when you first meet. It is a state for outdoor living, hiking in the warm months and show-shoeing and skiiing the cold moths. And fishing all year long.
Speaking as someone who used to be a summer resident in Maine but then retired in Maine for year round living the most important drawback I have found is the completely inadequate medical care accessibility. Most hospitals are community hospitals and don't have specialists on staff. You may have to drive 1-11/2 hours to get to a specialist and most likely will have to wait 2-3 months or more to get an appt. Even getting a PCP can take 3-6 months. And this is in southwestern Maine. If you or someone in your family has chronic health problems do your research about availability of care you need before making a decision to move to Maine.
I lived in Maine most of my life and the best thing I ever did was moved out of State. yes if you have little kids and living up north in Maine is nice but if you have kids 15 and up they will hate you for living there because there is nothing for them to do. Most teens even before 18 pack up and move with or with out their parents permission. For the most part there are no jobs so there is no one making any money. Heating oil cost me over 2000 a month and that was over 20 years ago. The most exciting thing to do in Maine is to fool around and make babies or get in to trouble or all three at the same time. The Job market is gone there is hardly any jobs worth doing in Maine and if you are looking to get ahead in Maine forget it because most have no intentions of paying more money knowing there are so many people looking for work and would be willing to work for less pay just to have a job . The Taxes are way to high in Maine and the more north you go the more they try to find ways of charging you for something. Example if you have a lawn sale you have to pay your town money to sell things you own to make money. Want a Garage sale sure no problem pay the town for a permit. Want to put up a portable carport they will still tax you on that because you have to strap the carport down in the ground so the wind don't blow it away. I have not been to Maine in 20 years but I am guessing the reason there are still a lot of people in Maine is because they are letting people from other Countries move in there and they will pay their rent buy them food get them a car or truck but the people that were born in Maine go with out and end up living on the streets.
Dang, you nailed it. Nothing to do except sit at the kitchen table drinking your hot cocoa before jumping back in bed. Better hope your spouse is equally obsessed.
That’s the Janet Mills method.
Not interested in Maine but this is the kind of testimonial I love. Real people real facts. Thank you for your knowledge.
@@CaptainPaddys The real truth is every State has it's problems and every state has its own corruption some a lot more then others. But I was born in Maine lived there many years and I would say go visit but never go to live . When I moved out of Maine I was spending almost 2500 just in heating oil A month. My Light bill was over 200 a month. Cops pull you over in Maine more so if you are from out of State and make up a reason why they pulled you over no it was not true they lied and cops are told to lie. Then the cops will say have you been drinking or have you been smoking weed. When you say no they say well I smell it and then say they have the right to search. I don't play their game I tell them when they say they smell it I say that is funny because when you pulled me over I smelled pig crap and the smell got stronger as you got out of the car but it made my eyes water as you walked up to me.
Maine also has a lot of lets just say people from other Countries now and they are treated like Gods. They have nice rents or nice homes they get 3 X the food a real Mainer gets. They get a nice car nice truck or van and have all their bills paid for plus about 3000 a month spending money. Yet the true Mainer's that were born in Maine lived their all their lives get kicked out of their homes for the out siders to move in. They are not willing to tell you just how many Homeless Mainers really are living on the streets . The real reason they don't want people to know about how many Homeless people are going with out food shelter and heat is because to many will start asking questions on why are so many people from Other Countries getting everything and the Mainers are getting nothing.
How the hell are you spending $2000 a month on heating oil? I live in Aroostook county and I don't even spend that much a year. Buy some freaking insulation, that's insane.
I grew up in Topsham, ME and now I live in MA. I love the peace and smaller feel of Maine for vacations but there are some drawbacks to be aware of.. (1) the majority of the people lack diverse experiences (2) not many ambitious people (people are okay just doing okay) (3) not many career options for some paths (why i didn’t go back after college)
I’m from RI and MA. Own a nice property in ME now. But I miss RI and MA a lot.
You forgot to mention the black flys. Seriously the black flys.
and ticks
Absolutely! They are to Maine what mosquitoes are to the South.
I grew up in lynn mass and moved to central maine 14 years ago. Id never move back to mass, maine is up and coming, the population and diversity has increased so much in the last 4 years. Infrastructure has improved and new chain restaurants and stores opening up. I got a great deal on my house and will never regret it. I also have a great job at a telecommunications cmpany located in Oakland maine. Great benetifts and plenty of room to grow.
I read a post from a Mainer who complained about people moving there from Massachusetts. He called them massholes. 😆
That’s an expressive I’ve heard in upstate NY too 😂❤
He isnt wrong
Yes we do
Massholes from Taxachussetts...pretty common saying in NH.😂
@@rustickguy8594not nice!!
Southern Maine and the coast seem really nice. Unfortunately, that's not the part where I grew up, and I could never afford to go there. I'm from Bangor. Moved away almost 20 years ago and my biggest regret is that I didn't leave a decade earlier. No jobs. High rent. High cost of living. Total car dependency. Little to do outside of drinking & petty crime. Awful place to be a teenager, especially a teenager who isn't interested in making smoking weed their whole personality, drinking skunky beer, and/or having a kid before you can vote. When my folks pass, I don't think I'll ever return. I love 'em, and I love seeing them, but I'm usually depressed for weeks after I visit. Like, if I'm feeling too good about life, I just have to talk to folks I know in Maine, and I'll be back to being bummed about everything. The last time I was up there, I had dinner with my childhood best friend. Every single story he told me was sad and involved someone our age (40s) he knew who had died (drugs, murder, drunk driving, etc.). Literally a week later, he too died.
Anyway. I'm sure Southern Maine is nice. But folks thinking about moving to Maine should definitely do their research (and have a really big nest egg), that's for danged sure.
Should change that to a huge nest egg. I went to college in Bangor and yes my regret is also I wish I had moved out before I even went to college . Yes most people were killed by PO people or by car crashes like OUI or hitting a Moose. When I was in College a girl just 18 was out drinking at a party and walking back to the dorm she sat down to rest or go pee and never got back up she froze to death. That was in the 80's
"Car dependency" aka, being an adult!
Total shit hole 😂!Agreed!
you guys do a good job of keeping out ethnic people from 3rd world countries I love that about Maine
Damariscotta does not roll up the sidewalks for the winter like a lot of other towns. It's year round, yes less people but still viable.
Freeport is better.
Christmas Eve 2024 and Bangor, Maine high is 20 and low of 2.
I'm hoping to get a decent piece of wooded property in Maine in the next 5 years on which I will be building an off-grid cabin. I was born in Maine, grew up in RI, but have spent my life hoping to finally retire in my homeland.
Check out the New Vineyard mountains in New Vineyard and Industry. Remote camps are always for sale.
I got 9.4 gorgeous acres outside Cherryfield for sale... on Zillow... 700 ft of frontage off Highway 1...
Love Rhode Island. ❤
I can tell you from personal experience, living in Bangor, the city does not plow the roads for at least 36 hours after any snowfall so I’d be prepared and have a four-wheel-drive vehicle😮
Interesting. I live near Calais and the road crews here are the BEST I've ever experienced ANYWHERE else in the country. They're out before the worst of the snow hits, laying down salt stuff, work through the nights, and have the roads in very nice condition within 24 hours; maybe not 100% clears of snow and ice, but clean enough to have no problems. I almost never see a car off the road or accidents due to snow and ice, which is quite common in places that get a lot less snow and ice.
@@geraldrhodes4114 I lived there for over 6 months through the winter, they did not plow and I was forced to drive a 2wd vehicle while visiting.
@@mitche5007 Sorry to hear it.
Maine....
High taxes....
High prices....
South of Bangor is like Mass...
only on the coast...
Like MA? I wish!
Sucky weather, bugs, cold, dark, whats not to like
"dark"? Explain that one pls
Florida is a “I hate myself “ destination as well.
@@jerfacekillaI thought you made a funny joke, pretending to be offended by the word "dark," but I clicked on your profile, you weren't joking 😂😂😂
@@jerfacekilla Because there are few locations with bright city lights you become more aware of the shorter daylight hours of the fall/winter periods of declining sunshine. Less than 9 hours around Christmas time. That's 15 hours of "darkness" per day. Kinda nice if you ask me.
Vampires n big foot😂
I lived there for 27 years, starting at age 18. It twirled down the shitter ever since.
27 years ago you moved there after most of the jobs packed up and moved out of the Country to pay a lot less for the workers. Crow Rope moved to Mexico Carlton wool packed there business up and movers out so on A lot of people lost jobs because of the companies moving out of Maine. I lived in Maine all my life and moved out a little over 20 years ago.
Add bass shoe to that list
So it went down hill when you moved to Maine.
@@georgb4440 I haven't seen where anyone said they moved to Maine. Are you just assuming ?
Everywhere things have gone downhill
Awesome information- straight up to the point.❤
Great video. You didn't use the word Mass-holes even once.
That's why I'm showing up. She's trying to sell Maine, I'm wishing the Mass-holes would stay tf away.
She didn't say flatlander's either 🤣
Mainiac
or flat lander
or it would have been an awesome video.
I was born in Portsmouth NH. I moved to Maine and went to high school there in Elliot. My parents still live in southern Maine. There are no good-paying jobs. People have no pride in their homes and let them go. People are very lazy. You can have a trailer with junked cars on one piece of land next to a neighbor with a $600k house. People are cheap to the point it's very difficult to run a business. The southern beaches are overwhelmed with tourists during the summer and locals get pushed out. Illegal drugs are so bad in Maine. My nephew was given a fentanyl pill he thought was a pain reliever 2 years ago and he died in Maine. Portland Maine is a dump. Maine is full of liberals in the south and conservatives in the north. Maine sucks. I ran to Texas the first chance I could after my time in the Marines. Everything in Maine is built wrong too. Radon is a huge problem in basements, wells are also full of hard water, and septic tanks are common with your front lawn being a poop leach field. Maine is full of deadbeats who milk the government for welfare. The only good places in Maine are the Far North where land is cheap and there are no twisted people to bother you. Living in Maine and going to high school there in the early 1990s was the worst experience in my life besides my time fighting in a war later in life. I was just in Maine last week to visit my parents for Christmas. They live in a nice area of Berwick but live in an HOA community that is hell. Maine has not changed in 50 years and in another 50 years, time will be the same dump with small-minded people. I have offered a free house to my parents to move to Texas and I'm waiting for them to sell the Maine house.
I saw your thumbnail/ title and I had to watch.I moved to Southern Maine in 1994, started out in Wells but moved a half hour north. I also have a UA-cam channel. Nice job with the video and good luck with the channel.
Looking to retire to one of Maine's islands. I have quite a bit of time before actually retiring, but starting to look to buy now.
Pay extra extra attention to the notes on Cost of Living and transportation. Then consider how small town life on an island can be much more intense than on the mainland. Also true: Islanders pull together to help each other in ways the rest of us can't begin to appreciate!
You probably won’t last
@@TheREALLibertyOrDeath Me? Living happily ever after in Maine since 1995.
Check out Islesboro
@@zuzupetal1827 was just looking there actually!
You did leave out one thing about living in Maine, particularly outside of the south. I live at the edge of downeast Maine (Mount Desert Island) and I can assure you that it pretty much takes an entire lifetime to be considered a local. I have been here for almost 26 years and have finally achieved the status of "year round summer person". That is despite having my own plow truck and a Subaru. The father downeast you go the more pronounced that effect is.
Yes the cost of living in Maine can be a bit high. A nice waterfront cottage here on MDI is going to set you back millions. However, away from the coast I wouldn't call northern Maine a high cost of living place. That is particularly true in northern Penobscot, Piscataquis and 100% of Aroostook counties. Heck in most of Aroostook County (aka - The County), $250K will buy you the nicest house in town. The only high cost part of living up there is your oil bill in winter.
@@todddunn945 Got a friend from Hghschl in Wayne.. I was at Loring AFB way back... COLD!! on the flightline... been thinking of moving.
@@alexgramm5170 Yes indeed it gets fresh up in the County in winter. Then it is hot and humid in summer.
lived in Bar Harbor for 5 years. The taxes are now more than Massachusetts for a small ranch home. Its nice, but if you want something done you better do it yourself. The natives once hired tend to disappear for a week or 2. They all think they are "hard workers'...try your nonsense anywhere else and you would be jobless...
If you want to become a true Mainer you will have to learn how drive below the speed limit in the left lane on the highway, with your turn signal on. Especially if you drive down to Massachusetts.
Don’t forget to mention that the Maine State Government is the worst…
it is, mainly because progressive Democrats have invaded the legislature...i live in a red county and life is good..our sheriff doesn't put up with unconstitutional legislation that our lovely governor pushes for... the downside is, that type of majority has infested the populated areas of southern Maine and influences the rest of us
@@jimburdin
🎯
They have Marxist Rank Choice voting.
Maine is becoming Massachusetts. Libs tend to migrate after destroying one state with their warped sense of elitism and politics. New Hampshire also dealing with this.
@@oldtimefreedom The leftist woke have done the same to o Vermont.The State Legislature is controlled by nut jobs.
so, i'm a new englander born and raised , living in kentucky , i would think about comeing home , how much would 2 acres cost on the N H side way up north ? in the woods, on a dirt road / i'm not looking for a place to hunt or ride a four wheeler , or snowmobile , just ------- quiet ,
When I first moved to Maine in ‘06 my new coworker (a REAL Mainer) said he was “gonna go out tonight and get me a BMW!” “You’re buying a new car?” I asked. “Hah! No.” He said with a surly look on his face. “A Big Maine Woman!”
Heard they were big enough to eat hay!
@buddysmooth9798 The boys're strugglin heah!
it might seem unfathomable to some, but growing up in Maine and not knowing anything else but what life is like here, i still love the winters and winter sports is one way to dispel the feelings of dread when it comes to the onset of winter... we couldn't wait for snow to come so we could snowmobile and ski, and our school gave us a half a day off on Friday to go to ski school and free ski ...if you live in southern Maine you are robbing yourself of the true Maine experience.. the cost of living for me is far cheaper than folks in that part of the state are dealing with, and my wife and I live comfortably on our meager SS benefits, have all we need, and have raised our families in a very safe, and fruitful environment...living in the southern part of Maine is really not much different than living in Massacusetts... so if you are considering moving to Maine, if it were me, i would keep on motoring right past Cumberland and Androscoggin counties and head north... much easier and safer here...
I visited Portland couple years ago but i won't go back because of the cold and expensive 😊
And the needles dumped all over the city due to 'progressive' policies. Portland has become a 'terlet'.
Ayuh. Been theah. It's been a while (Freeport High Class of '63). 20 years in the USAF and another 40 in northern Virginia between then and now. Still get back at least once a year and am amazed at how much change there has been.
Probably shouldn't be, but I am. 😁
Oddly enough, I still think of it as "home".
Welcome to maine - now go home.....
Don't California my Maine
LMAO I came here to post this
MY PEOPLE!
Standish via Cape Elizabeth
@@joes7028 There is very little chance of Maine becoming like California
That’s pretty much how I felt when I moved back to Maine a few years ago, most people made it a point to make us feel as unwelcome as possible, it was impossible to find anyone to do any work on our house or yard, etc. I can’t tell you how many contractors I called (including the ones recommended by neighbors and friends) who never even returned my calls (I kept my phone number from another state. I still love Maine, but we moved out after a few years, and I’ll never reconvince my partner to move back there.
I visited the Bangor area years ago and loved it. It was right around the start of deer season so it was starting to get cold but it was a beautiful area. If I had the money I would move there in a heartbeat. Snow and cold don’t bother me, and as long as I’ve got coffee, hot chocolate, hot apple cider and a fireplace I would be good to go. I need to win the lottery.
"If you can't take the winters you don't deserve the summers."
All 3 weeks! Not an even trade off. Nope.
As a swede living in a town of about 4000, just below lat 60°N, Maine looks like Spain to me. 😊
I had a chance to move up to Maine, a job offer near the finger Lakes region. But another offer had come in earlier from Washington state so I moved there instead. Sometimes I wonder what it would’ve been like in Maine.
Having lived in Washington, I can tell you from experience with both states that, despite Maine's high costs of living, you are poorer economically for having lived in Washington. Don't get me wrong; I love Washington and Maine both. Maine's more humid in the summer and colder in the winter. Washington, at least the West side, is wetter and not necessarily greener because of it. Washington is filled with ex-Californians. Maine is filled (at least the Southern 1/2 of the state) is filled with ex-Massachusset, ex-everything that's liberal (which is the same problem with Washington.) I don't have to worry about a volcanoe exploding here in Maine. Both have Bigfoot (🤣), both have trout and salmon, both have black bears, Maine has more moose.
Is it true you can’t get there from here?
Unless you are very well off and have a specific reason, don't do Maine. The rugged beauty and outdoor possibilities are a trap. You will struggle financially if you are working class. Incredible energy and resources are wasted fighting Winter. The length and depth of darkness and cold eats you. The first warm day in Spring the black flies emerge. When we gardened we had to wear head nets. The growing season barely lets a tomato ripen. All water(lakes, streams, ocean) is frigid. Backroads heave into buckled suspension ruining minefields. Every penny of local taxes goes to roads and schools, nothing else. The inland cities are a dilapidated drug infused hell scape. I lived in Maine from 1981 to 2004 near Bangor on 40 wooded, hillside acres.
i don't know where you are talking about, but it doesn't describe central Maine at all...
i guess one could say our only redeeming quality is the lack of flatlanders due to their frail nature.
I grew up in Bangor. We had a huge prolific garden, I remember sitting on the porch snapping green beans and I’d eat radishes straight from the garden. Plenty of ripe tomatoes too! We had a camp on Pushaw lake (only $10,000 back in the 70’s) We had our first swim around Easter one year, cold never stopped us. It actually warmed up rather nicely, we spend all day in the lake. We skated on it in the winter. Cross country skiing and snowmobiling was fantastic!!
I must say, as a swimmer, I would NOT be jumping in any body of water in Maine - way too cold. My lap pool keeps it perfectly - 77-78F, so I don't like it warm. But mid-60's? NO.
@@leighleigh3624 those were the good days huh? the familiarity of your post is uncanny.. very much how life was here in Strong... life was slower, so much more going on then... if you chose to...my parents also had a camp on Porter Lake, and it was jump in the lake before work, and jump back in when we got back...winters were snowmobiling with my parents, family and their friends.. half a day off from school on fridays to go to ski school at Sugarloaf, driving home from playing basketball in a foot of snow..lol i wouldn't trade any of it for anything... Merry Christmas to you and yours...
That was entertaining. I grew up in Maine, from age 12 - like 23. Lived all over Maine. I can vouch for everything said here, but some things were kinda glossed over a bit. You have to have a car in Maine. If you don't, you're SOL. Winters aren't kinda long, they're 6 months long and it gets cold, cold like you can't even imagine. I've experienced 40+ below zero nights in Maine. Population, spot on, it's low. You could go a year and only talk to the same five or six people depending on where you live. Portland Maine, the largest "city" is a town. You can walk across the whole thing and see pretty much everything in about 40-45 minutes, I even know some secret spots, like where the witch's tomb is located. Mainers are weird, I know, I grew up there and I'm effing weird. Aesthetically, Maine is gorgeous, but if you're young and looking for opportunities, Maine is a tough place to get a start. Lastly, the state, meaning the bureaucracy, sucks. From the DMV to the town hall to the taxes and anything to do with courts for anything so much as a parking ticket it's a huge pain. Would I move back or live in Maine again? Sure, but only if I was retired and had a solid chunk of capital to support myself in a house with solar power and backup generators. Otherwise, no. Moving to Maine, you may as well move to Canada, the woods of Canada, by a lake.
I live in a village of 2K and the town up the road is 67K. Maine sounds perfect. I'm not crazy about the snow, but it is so beautiful and it would be a great fit for me. Thank you for this video
i live up in jackman, i own the property i grew up on. there are a few homes owned from those from away. and of course we get the campers, atvers and hunters, but snowmobiling is the big thing for this area, the businesses count on it.
I lived in a coastal MA town about 25 mins from Kittery for 9 years. I’m from Boston but moved to Essex co and lived there for a while. Definitely a big change, lovely place, but I moved back to the Boston area and feel like I’m back home.
Good Doctors do not move to Maine the same as Vermont you have to go to Boston for care
Left a small town in Connecticut in 1980, moved to a small town in Maine. The changes have been sad, to say the least. I knew Maine was going to change but it looks like mass, CT, and New York came here, changed it and now it’s different, homeless veterans, new free housing for new arrivals, no relief for property taxes for seniors and 100% disabled veterans. But this is who we’ve become. But I’m not moving just yet, nor anytime soon. It’s still Maine, just different.
This reminds me of how the South is changing because of northern transplants.
@ I was stationed in Charleston South Carolina from 1970 to 1972 (well when I wasn’t deployed) parts of the area were like walking in the movie Gone With the Wind. I know time doesn’t stand still, but sometimes I wish it would just slow down;)
@@louc8782 that's how Richmond used to be.
I've been there several times. My aunt married a maniac. Like Hawaiians, they want you to come and spend money but are scared to death that you will move there and take up resources.
Beautiful state, but few people can deal with the winter weather and summer mosquitos.
My Dad was stationed at Dow in 1960(yeah, the blizzard of 60 was waiting for us). My sister and I grew up in Bangor and Carmel. Used to go to Loring AFB from time to time. I live in TN now and I like ME but I'm not moving back. Some of my friends growing up were Penobscot Indians. Loved them like brothers, great folks. I have a 1 call sign in honor of my Dad''s time there. Growing up in ME as a kid is different from living there as an adult. Paying the taxes and dealing with all the stuff that being a parent entails is far different than experiencing it as a kid. I'm glad for those good memories but y'all don't have to worry about me coming back to live there.
I am leaving Portland in a few weeks after four years of being back. I am from Maine and Minnesota.
The costs of living in Portland and Southern Maine are stratospheric now. It used to be affordable. Local jobs just don’t pay enough. If you are moving to Maine, you will need a high-paying job, likely remote, and to be okay with high costs of living and high taxes.
Maine is a special place. It has so much natural beauty and lovely clean air. The coastline and the mountains are enchanting.
But New Yorkers and Bostonians have moved in with big money and the locals have been priced out, at least in Portland proper. It’s so sad.
I’ll always be back to visit my family, but I had higher hopes of being able to make things work here.
I’m from New England, my dads parents had a summer place in Belgrade and I absolutely love that town. I’ve always loved Maine, I’ve highly considered off grid living in Central Maine. I’ve always loved and enjoyed being in Maine and enjoying that lesser hustle and bustle, let alone me being from Mass and 30 miles away from Boston, it’s always a retreat to get away from Boston and Providence with all of the massholes around my area in Southeastern Massachusetts
Southern Maine is completely different from the rest of the state. More like a suburb of Boston.
... and Northern Maine is Canada.
I live in Virginia but I'm in OOB visiting my recently widowed 92 year old mother for Christmas. My great-great-...-grandfather bought this house ~1870. I am cold. Morning just ended and it is already dark. HELP! At least some good restaurants manage to stay open but I am cold.
Bugs. Huge mosquitos, black flies and ticks. I spent a lot of time just across the bordering Durham and Portsmouth. Cute and quaint but oh the mosquitoes.
I wish FL was like this. The tourists are coming year round now which is an unwelcome addition and there are thousands of transplants moving in or buying property. Maine doesn't sound so bad.
I lived in NH my property tax’s just went up $1000.00 more a year I’m thinking about selling my house and move to a better state that won’t ripped off home owner.
Don’t move to Maine then our taxes going higher and higher and higher because of the Democratic run state we have become
@@blairmartin4705 lol, I live in Texas and we have some of the highest real estate taxes in America. You have no idea how good you have it under Democrats. My Houston home's property taxes for 2024 are $23,772.62.
@ yeah but I bet you have a beautiful home up here in Maine. You’re lucky to have a piece of shit falling down Tax to the hill, which is like 10 grand for a shitty two bedroom house.
@@blairmartin4705property taxes are set by the local government, not the state and in northern Maine they are republicans. In California, because of prop 13 the max my property taxes could go up was 1% and it was usually less than that. In Caribou Maine, over three years my property taxes went up 40%. Without an industry tax base the only way to pay for anything was property taxes.
Great place to live if you value quiet ,safe beautiful rural environment. Taxes are very high and it’s really cold off season. Southern maine is also nice with its ocean proximity
I'm from NYC and Maine is the best place hands down regardless of the weather!
Less dirty, less rugged Alaska with spookier woods. It’s like taking Alaska and cutting it with a few scoops of Walden Pond.
I wish most maine residents would find work in there own state in stead of coming to mass
I'm sure most Mainers would love to stay in Maine rather than go to Mass.
nobody is coming into MA people are literally leaving
@@Grandcathedral there coming for work.because your states pay wage blows
@@johnyakoobian2450 I'm literally in MA regardless of your feelings The state is losing people.
@@sheeralim8020 nobody from Maine wants to go to Massachusetts. Maybe to watch a Red Sox game or as a child a field trip to the Boston Museum of science but other than that no freaking way.
It sounds like where I grew up in Eastern long Island. It was closed in the winter.
From southeast Louisiana to southeast Maine, here we come!
First off welcome. 2nd rd. Signs are non existent in smaller towns people steal them crazy I know. You will get lost. Not to worry you won’t end up in the Brox. And we don’t all talk fd up.
Don’t forget to pack your mittens, thermal underwear, and down parker, you may be shocked how cold it gets. Have fun.
Love the cold. I can't stand being hot. I have been here for 45 years. The only thing I can't stand is the job market. Winter time I usually take out the trash in a tee and shorts. A lot of us are really rugged people.
I'll just stay in the south and eat shrimp and crabs. There are way too many Yankees in Maine for my taste. Probably why you don't see southerners moving up there.
You all can’t handle our weather.
@@rogerroger7734 Yea keep telling yourself that .
@@MrTonyPiscatelleAs a "Native" , Native Vermonter I couldn't help but to LMAO , I concur ,,,,,,
@@rogerroger7734 Yea it's not the weather that we can't handle
@@MrTonyPiscatellefeel free to stay there then. Just as soon you would stay honestly
I've lived in Maine full time and seasonally over the last 25 years. Mainers aren't the friendliest bunch overall and as they tell you if you're "from away" you'll never be a Mainer. Additionally Maine in winter is my favorite time due to ease of movement and no tourists. By far one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.
I visited Maine for most of my childhood. What I remember most was the more North you go, the more people you see sitting at the end of the driveway waving at traffic.
So true.
Still like that. That's because they have no job, no money, and nothing better to do. "Maine, the way life should be" is our motto.
Off grid. Walipini. Snow. Stars at night. That's what I am looking for when i decide to move (again).
1. Highest energy costs in the country
2. High taxes
3. General high cost on everything, especially cable & internet
4. Low wages & lack of jobs
5. Very poor healthcare & hard to find
6. Mainers are not friendly, but they do like your $$$$
7. Weather!
ticks, black flies, meth problems.