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Not A Revenue Problem, It’s A Spending Habit Foreign To Living In Maine.

The Essentials For A Healthy, Happy Life Taught In A Maine Home, Household Growing Up In Rural Vacationland, The Pine Tree State.

Maine is not an affluent state money wise but rich, bank rolled heavily in natural beauty treasures.

Loaded to the gills with outdoor no cost, low expense recreational options all four seasons. Turn on the tube, twist on the radio, thumb through the national newspapers. Lots of hub bub, wall to wall discussion, opinion on over the spending / deficit coming around full circle. Home to roost. Not a revenue problem, but a spending issue grasshopper.

In Maine, no one sees it as a big surprise or is “chicken little sky is falling” terrified.

Because when you make less money living in Maine, you get less dependent on it. And are brought up to save. Have better spending impulse control. To live below your means a tad all the time. To be more creative and resilient in your own skills to survive.

Because “if it is to be it is up to me thinking” adopted. Mainers are pretty independent and not so cranked up about asking for help. Because lots of folks way way worse off need it. But working hard to control every day spending, expenditures in a Maine home is the sport. Savings are the comfort, safety ring to sleep better nights. To get through a rough patch. To endure a spell of rainy days for that Maine household.

In Maine, it could always be worse thinking kicks in to pilot our thought stream. Just the way we are raised. Grateful for what we have in a Maine household. Not whining or kicking, shouting. Melting down about what we want right now or else tantrums with plenty of wall to wall drama kicked in. Not allowed in our Maine households raising kids. The galloping gimmees are talked about, discussed.

Flushed out growing up in Maine with kids around the supper table.

Comes up in conversations early on climbing and hiking up hills. Or discussed while chit chatting riding up a Maine ski lift. To point the boards down those Maine mountains we are blessed with and so easy to access. Building in, hard wiring every Maine kid with a full complement of life skills. To pass on what we were taught by loved ones for long long after they depart and leave the Earth.

I’d like to think most true Mainers would describe themselves as fiscally conservative but socially liberal. Open minded and fair but living within our means at the same time. Knowing no free lunch. Having the resources, privilege to learn how to fish. Rather than expecting someone to just provide the fish as a given, a right. And with the ability to keep an open mind, avoid judgemental narrow, snarky attitudes. And growing, expanding, maturing along the life path to be considerate on other points of view different than our own.

There was a time not so long ago where ninety six percent of this country were rural, farmers, self sufficient.

Food is right up there with air, water, love and family as some kind of important. Three generations growing up under one agricultural providing home roof. Out of necessity and family was an institution to cherish, preserve at all costs. Because we needed, enjoyed each other. On most days.

Now the flip flop is eight out of ten folks are in urban, city sprawling areas of high rises, housing projects. You can not step out back from the little house on the prairie. Like Maine’s lower population density and 4th lowest crime statistic allows.

To work the rich, fertile Maine farm soil. To plant the seeds, cultivate and grow your own table food. Or raise your own household meat. Or make the rounds daily to milk the family cow. Gather the local often double yolk fresh, growth hormone free, cageless eggs from your own laying hens. Or head to the wood lot to chop down, cut up the winter’s total source of heat. Not relying on foreign oil to keep your toes from freezing during a Maine winter.

I am so glad, happy my family was raised in a neat state like Maine.

And worry about those who were not. Stuck in cities with growing concern about what happens if, when the money runs out. How do we eat, create the shelter that is house hold safe for our kids? Without needing an AK 47 or AR 15 assault rifle to persuade, provide for your family the bare essentials by hook or by crook in an over crowded, scared city landscape. Lost in a sea of unknown sober long faces.

If things get bleak, the going gets tough. And the escape route from the city to Maine, rural states like it becomes necessary. Maine, meet you there. Every day I hear from out of state real estate buyers who don’t feel safe. Live in fear and are concerned what if? And who want to not go to the extreme of living off grid and be a Grizzly Adams Mountain Man.

Or that are thinking they’ll try to pay their property taxes with a bushel of carrots, barrel of potatoes. Or run away from the world home schooling, home everything and hide out in Maine. But just looking to simplify. To settle into a sane pace again for a quality of life. To catch their breath for the basics in living without the stress, fear, anxiety that takes it toll. And to escape all the people that invade their personal space on a round the clock basis where they live now.

Maine, not for everyone. But loaded with all you really need to get through this game called life. Being pretty well provided for, with all the essential ingredients to enjoy yourself along the way. Have you been to Maine yet? Considering moving, relocation, living in Maine full time? Buying a Maine home, some real estate like recreational land? I like how you think! Can help with the dream.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

December 10, 2012
Christmas, New Years Tag Team Holidays Good And Sad Mixture.

Christmas Is Bitter Sweet When You Are Reminded How Much Someone Like A Parent, Other Family Member Or Friend Put In To The Spirit Of Christmas, Holidays.

Holidays like Christmas and New Years shine brighter or darker depending on your life stage and outlook perspective.

If you have little ones to gift shop for, cook for you get caught up with the ho ho ho spirit of the Christmas season. Helping write letters to Santa. Leaving out cookies and milk, an encouraging note for last minute brownie points for the big guy in red velvet and fur with the boisterous flying reindeers.

While witnessing a child’s excitement and wide eyed wonder it is impossible to not remember your parents, grandparents, other older family members, neighbors and school teachers having a hand at creating the same Christmas magic for you.

Growing up in a small Maine town, everyone is very inter-connected.

Wired pretty much with the same family values, traditions, holiday rituals. Sitting a few pews over during the church Christmas pageant. One by one lighting candles around a balsam fir richly decorated sanctuary while sinking tried and tested, old favorite Christmas songs. Out in front of their Maine homes stringing up Christmas lights to add to the twinkle of the season. Making more of an effort for any kids in the small town audience. Or to rekindle the spirit of past Christmas of their own in the decorating process inside and out of their houses.

The coconut covered bon bons, peanut brittle, divinity fudge, pin wheel date filled and frosted sugar cookies my mom would love to make during the weeks leading up to Christmas were special. Banana breads, other passed down holiday food recipes for sweets carefully prepared, wrapped up with festive trimmings. And delivered one by one in care package fashion. My secretary at work says she misses “Nana’s” Christmas goodies. My kids, I do too.

Where son number one works at A Basin Colorado ski area winters, he says an eighty something year old couple swish swish down his mountain.

And the lady half of the couple creates the same vintage, style holiday survival, enhancement packages of sweets. And each lift operator, mountain resort worker gets their own box to enjoy. It reminds him of Nana even though she has been gone for years. This year’s box will help salve, bag balm the bitter sweet feelings the much appreciated goodies evoke. He is looking forward to that woman’s smile, love and attention. That may be coming again to brighten another Christmas away from home town Maine.

In Maine snow flakes come in different sizes. Delivered in different speeds and amounts. In December when slowly drifting bigger, lighter flakes fall under warm, glowing street lights I think of my Dad’s father. Laying in Madigan Hospital run slowly dying of throat cancer. And my brothers’ nightly visits up the big front granite steps. A parent holding my hand as a small child.The room smelling of Cepacol and his hacking, labored breathing making me feel helpless, uncomfortable. Not how I remembered Grampy with a dress hat, tie, sweater and love of playing checkers.

Worrying if Grampy was going to witness another visit from Santa or not.

Seeing others cousins, family members with long faces and not talking much. It was my first introduction to death, which we were taught with routine visits to the graveyard to plant headstone flowers is part of life. Reminded to celebrate life, family and days with blue skies, bright sunshine and perfect health. That don’t happen every day in Maine, any where forever.

Embrace the happy memories of Christmas.

Make New Year’s resolutions that involve others, less of your own wishes, desires, gains. Reach out and mend strained or broken relationships. Have yourself a holly jolly Christmas, Happy New Year this year. Ring the Salvation Army fund raising kettle bell with a friend, or family member.

Without fan fare, do whatever you can to brighten the Christmas of someone you know with a son or daughter away. A missing parent lost too close to the holiday this year. Or with family overseas in the military and gone. Pass on the trappings, experiences of Christmas pass to those around you. For ideas on how to enhance their own.

Everyone in our state is worried, praying for an Orrington Maine mother this year who is suffering the gruesome loss of her three kids and husband in a recent fire. Or directed toward a local man burned in a car accident. In a coma, missing both feet, on a long straight up hill recovery from burns to much of his body lying in a Boston hospital bed. Hoping the good past Christmas memories can sustain and lift up the heavy, broken spirit horror they struggle with that must be causing deep depression. Thick dark clouds over their holiday season. Hoping to just get this year behind them. Prayers for families enduring divorce and the hardship it causes in the split up, highly emotional rift too.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

December 7, 2012
Not A Cat, Dog, Horse, Snake But A Sugar Glider For A Pet.

Sugar Gliders, Small, Quick, Caught With Cool Whip

Sugar glider, sounds like something good to eat from Krispy Kreme.

Maybe a screened or glass Maine home porch swing that moves pretty smoothly for afternoon naps or evening chats. A sugar glider is an animal that I thought at first was described as more of a flying squirrel. And I know from experience you do not want squirrels, chipmunks no matter how cute Alvin, Theodore or Simon are in your Maine home, lake camp. Can you say destructive? Sure you can, I knew you could.

Sugar Gliders, Take Two They Are Small, For Pets Video.

A friend of my son’s says sugar gliders love whipped creme.

That Cool Whip is one way to get them to come down out of high places. Or anywhere that you don’t want them to be. What you use to catch the very fast, sometimes crazy busy after a sugar snack high kicks in. Says sugar gliders can not resist the white sweet stuff. It is their coffee, smoke, bad habit. I asked if they are noisy and he said they kind of scream, don’t chirp. That a sugar glider is not wild about daylight, sleeps in a pouch, and has to have their nails trimmed. They are always moving when awake. Leaping here, there and you have to be quick like following a hockey puck during a spirited contest on a sheet of ice.

Wikipedia describes sugar gliders as flying possum. That they are native to Australia and Tasmania. They do look a lot like a bat crossed with a flying squirrel though. Looking for an out of the ordinary pet? No room for a horse, pony or something not as common as a cat or dog? Maybe a sugar glider is worth looking in to purchasing.

Had a fraternity brother at Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) at the University of Maine in Orono who had a pet boa constrictor snake.

He would feed him mice from Kmart and the lump would remain for a while during digestion which made me think gee. Isn’t that special and always wondered how a snake would be much fun to have, care for. He eventually got out of the glass lighted cage that offered him the desert like heavy heat he needed. And ended up in the wall of the fraternity house and dying. With fruit flies and a strange smell letting all the brothers know what happened to the “pet” snake. Where he ended up after being MIA for a spell.

Helpful ideas about a pet for Christmas if the recipient will take care of it after the newness, honeymoon period expires. Don’t forget your local Maine animal shelters this Christmas for support donations, for adoptions. And my contention that your mixed breed cats and dogs, the Heinz 57 varieties looking for a forever home are hard to beat for companionship. Are a great living, loving gift.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

November 30, 2012
“Well Bub, Like I Said It’s Hard Telling Not Knowing….”

Moose, Lighthouses, And Friendly People… Part Of Maine.

Living in small rural Maine is not like any other place.

The people are fewer, down to Earth, hard working, God fearing. With a small Maine home town pride burning brightly deep down inside every man, woman, child.

A strong willingness to help, pitch in when Maine community events need a hand. You don’t just report to work. Do your job and at quitting time have boat loads of free, idle time on your hands evenings, weekends. No no, not in Maine a state with more wildlife than people. With your neighbors more often four legged, furry and outnumbering the two walking limb kind.

There is a connection in small Maine towns that can not be swept under the rug, ignored.

It hits you when new to the area. Is just a comfortable, familiar given when you’ve logged some time here. Or were lucky enough to actually grow up in Maine.

You don’t just attend pre-arranged events in a local Maine community. You work them, help orchestrate, have a role. You are an intricate, vital part of them. Year after year. Because home grown beats expensive store bought any day of the week. And without volunteers pitching in, the events could not be bankrolled, put on any other way in a small Maine town. Just too low a population. Your kid’s school, sporting, church, family activities pull you into the pulse of a small Maine town. The stars are our own in a Maine home town. Watched, coached, taught, mentored, enjoyed from the ground up as kids that have center stage. Are our future.

When someone has a car accident or word of cancer treatments are underway down country. Or a son, daughter is overseas in the military service over a set of holidays.Then crank up the prayer list chains, share concerns, activate public suppers to help the families happens instantly. The recipients of the small Maine town attention from friends, neighbors, family, even strangers are blown away from the generosity. The care, concern blows them away. Because we are independent. Don’t make a habit, not fond of, used to asking for help. Would rather pitch in, pull our weight and then some to a life time of service in a small Maine town.

Maine people step up, assume roles, tasks, tackle the chores.

With no questions asked. Taking ownership in year after year contribution of time, money, creative sweat and tears. Rich in pride, respect for their special town spot on the vast map called Maine. In whatever small way they can. With whatever talents, skills, traits God put into their beings to help others whenever possible. And in turn enriching their own lives in the process of greater commitment. Because we are grateful, privileged to live, work, play in the great outdoors named Vacationland. Not a few, the majority of locals.

Walking tonight under moonlight, the approaching Christmas season more and more obvious each evening. I hear, see a hospital night flight helicopter slowing lifting out with blinking red navigation lights. Heading south. Leaving those in the neighborhood hearing the chopper blades too. All wondering who is on board. Thinking what family needs a call, a hand, food platter, a sympathetic ear, prayers or more. In small town Maine, people care about each other. Are intricately connected. All needed because only so many folks populate Maine counties like Aroostook, Washington, Penobscot, Piscataquis. We need them all, they are the unique flavor, spark, the vibrant color radiating brightly, constantly in every Maine town.

We Have Space In Maine, Less People, More Unspoiled Outdoors Which Helps Enrich Life.

I am so glad I live in Northern Maine.

Long for the space. Happy about the lack of crime, the lower population. Greater outdoor four season recreational options my family can enjoy all year round. Not just having to settle for a mere week or two a year on tightly scripted vacations. When travel time to and from out of state eats up lots of the precious vacation time experience for Maine non residents. What’s missing in your life? Do you know without a doubt you live where you should be on the planet? Or is it “hard telling without knowing”? Get to Maine, sample ME any chance you can. Not a bad early New Year’s resolution to top your list. Find your place in the space called Maine.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

November 26, 2012
Sliding Down A Maine Snow Hill, Picking Up Speed.

That Was The Best Yet, A Great Downhill Steep Sliding Run Dad. Seen My Sled?

Maine winter downhill snow sliding, and learning tricks to increase the speed.

As a Maine kid, using the area terrain in the back yard or as far away as a parent would go and spend an afternoon. Bundled up, nice and warm. Your brothers, sisters, all the neighborhood kids, cousins and school mates part of the winter sliding experience.

Years ago, World War Two vintage sliders would rave about steel runner sleds.

Speed this, flyer that named winter contraptions of the era. Wooden slats on two rails. With a cross piece in the front designed to swerve in either direction with a little push, pull. Gripped by hands if sliding face down, flat on your stomach. Or maneuvered with your feet if sitting up.

And the stories of damage icy snow crust could cause in scrapes, abrasions to the exposed skin. The dark slide of sliding from old timers remembering what can happen on a down hill snow course if your sled up ended. Became upside down before the hill ran out. Caught on something not so smooth on the trail and caused to stop, tumble after you get airborne. Over the years, lots of household items and skies the limit for expense snow sliding sleds, space ships rides and flying saucer devices out there.

My four Maine kids started snow sliding down the east hill top lawn at the Houlton Maine Wesleyan Church. The church used to be the commons for Ricker College students and now has lots of left over campus in spots around it. Ideal for an inner town, family safe down hill course for beginning snow sliders.

But after you leave your kid’s own back yard, it is time for more adventure to fill the need for speed. My kids graduated to The Steep. A pretty much total vertical incline, straight down from an eight year old’s perspective. They had heard grandfather’s tales of steel runner sleds. Rocket fast, used on town streets shut down to winter traffic. And barely kept clear of snow, no pavement showing. Accessed only by kids and the folks who lived in the Houlton Maine houses along the extra wide luge course.

But The Steep had exposed, imposing looking ledge out croppings at the bottom of the course.

The first thing a heavily multiple layered Maine snow sledder spies, turning, taking the end of course corner. For a warm up still image not to be forgotten. Of the explosive end to the snow sledding maiden voyage into the great unknown. Wide eye witnessed, wearing hand made wool hand knit mittens, matching hats loaded with small snow ice crystals. Gathered, produced from the earlier warm up yard runs with the new Christmas sled at home. The Steep, local Maine Olympics of the down hill snow slide courses seen out frosted family sedan rear windows as it downshifts to a lower, more powerful gear. As the noisy kid shrill animated collection of voices suddenly hush in unison on the ascent.

The red cheeks caused from filling lungs with clean, fresh Maine winter air planes a restless, pent up kid out. Exercise can be fun and creative and is always outdoors any of Maine’s seasons. Winter in Maine is not the horror someone that has never been here shares. You know the tall tales about 20 minutes of daylight all winter. Heaped with sharp edged talk about months of negative 300 degree weather. Traffic pretty much 99% dog sleds in the winter. Maine housing stock of igloos. And polar bears as plentiful as black fly swarms they warn.

Come slide down a hill in Maine.

Remember what being a kid, feeling young and excited again is all about through your child’s or grandchild’s eyes. Sliding up and down hill and dale on something with a motor and track working in combination with the skis is okay too. Or just sitting on an aluminum, plastic flying saucer or a piece of vinyl carpet. WARNING: Sliding is the entry level outdoor Maine winter gateway drug that leads to a skiing cross country or downhill healthy addiction habit too.

The lodge hot, crackling, dancing flame open fireplaces or cabin wood heater warms the bones after whatever form of sliding you graduate to. As wet melting snow outer garments coats, pants, boots, socks, hats, gloves, scarfs and mittens are shed. And overloaded platters of grilled sandwiches, piping hot soup and chowders are escorted to the Maine family dinner table. As epic reruns of slightly exaggerated hill runs are broadcast, passed around the room. Maine, make memories, most of them outdoors in Vacationland.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

November 24, 2012
Not Just Happy Round The Clock But Euphoria Sustained.

Maine Is Big, Vast, Underpopulated So Real Space, Outdoor Natural Happiness Happens.

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.

Stomp your feet. Smile big, wide and handsome. But expecting to have full time joy, contentment, a state of intense happiness and self-confidence takes lots of work. And others are not the key to taking you to this “happy place”. It starts, ends with what happens deep inside.

My Mom labeled the culprit that steals, robs a sense of wall to wall surrounding happiness and joy a condition called “stinking thinking”. Not counting your blessings at least three times a day. On the ends, in the middle. You have time for social media interaction. Maybe a few minutes, quiet moments of reflection with a higher power and being on your knees is what is missing. Or maybe you go through the motions, are fooling yourself. Just too busy, in an overbooked life with too many expensive, artificial elements used to cope. And not enough home made, natural ingredients to discover, experience true happiness.

Maine is a state where you dig deeper, find inner resources to do it yourself.

Money is tighter, not so important. Entertainment is outdoors all four seasons. Low and no cost because of all the beauty surrounding us folks that are lucky enough to live here. Or those that schedule regular rest and relaxation therapy sessions with the space in the place called Maine get to enjoy.

Being in a state of Maine. If you already have her in your system, it’s preaching to the choir. If you have not found the time to check our Maine, get ready for a big eye opening surprise. Awareness, true reality not the kind spun, rehearsed and beamed in from Hollywood. Simple living with fewer folks getting in the way of experiencing all Maine has to offer. Boils down, means down to Earth people live here who are just sincerely grateful for what they have. Not lamenting what they might want but don’t truly need anyway.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

November 16, 2012