In small rural America, places like Maine, the sense of community, connection is a strong one.
People,
family, friends not things are what are important. Some wonder how would anyone live without a dozen mall choices. But at the same time wouldn't it be neat to not need dead bolt locks. Not know what a gang is, not spend so much time stopped, or barely inching along and wasting all that time in traffic.
Rural states like Maine don't have real estate bubbles that expand, burst and then painful market corrections take over. We live pretty much a frugal, get value or don't buy approach to life. The community members are the life blood of the area flavor, spark and define the subtle differences as you roam around Vacationland.
Maine means outdoors, spending time hiking, biking, on one of the 6000 lakes. Downhill or cross country skiing. White water rafting on the Dead, Penobscot, Kennebec Rivers. It's farmers markets.
Andrew, I have not been to Maine in many years, but had a friend who grew up in Orono, so I visited quite a bit when I was younger, and skied Moosehead Lake quite a few times as well!
Sounds like a pretty nice life Andrew. Nothing like enjoying the outdoors to its fullest.
Maine has lots of mounains to snow ski, areas to cross country swish swish...lget outside and enjoy our little ones, big ones.
Carol...you are over due for another visit to Vacationland
Steve...I love where I live..but have a son in Colorado Springs that is pretty neat and has a college pass to ski Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone and other mountains that are pretty incredible. Want to swap real estate jobs in Colorado and Maine?
I bet Kansas is nice, let me click some red heels and see if I can get to your corner of the universe.
The sense of community in rural America is one of its great benefits. You have done a great job of promoting this value.
Cal
Not hard when you love where you live. Are in your right place. You others wearing the "R" are in the same happy camper boat right?
I've been looking for my perfect place to retire, you make a great case for Maine!
You don't have to be retired Cindy. There is no better place to raise a family in a safe environment with no gangs, 4th lowest crime state in the country atmosphere of safety. And all that clean air, fresh unspoiled water and not over populated so there goes any traffic, all the noise of crowded areas.