Besides being the 4th lowest crime state and cheapest for car insurance premiums, Maine offers more than just cost savings. Affordable housing, unspoiled outdoor recreation and the small-town friendly vibe is a big draw trifecta.
Taking A Break In Maine On The Trail. No Foo Foo Coffees.
Maine is an ideal location if you are after a safe place to raise your family.
To start a business, the overhead is lower in a small town in Maine. Mom and Pop small business owner operators can operate cheaply and efficiently in a small Maine town setting.
The satisfaction serving your Maine small town population is a big reward and you fill an important role in the community.
You are needed in a small Maine town. Volunteering is huge to make the small community a better place to live. We make our own fun and much of the enjoyment is just the space, peace and quiet of the surrounding natural unspoiled setting.
Maine people are not in your face or pushy. You can get away from people living in a small town rural Maine setting.
Maybe you are looking for a waterfront property to use for vacations until you retire.
Here’s a log home on a Maine lake video to watch to see, hear what owning waterfront property would be like.
Maybe a farm property in Maine to horse around is the goal in your search for real estate.
Another video of a Maine home with land and major view to try on and test drive.
Planning to retire in a lower cost of living location and thought Maine is pretty unspoiled and low cost? Had a good experience on past vacations in Maine? That’s usually how it starts. A three day, week long Maine vacation and then whoa. Need more, can’t get enough happens. Maine is a healthy addiction and such a contrast to what a crowded, not so friendly urban setting provides.
Many times the move to Maine is because where you lived before used to be a lot like the small town community under the microscope for consideration.
Maine is a good idea for many people who want to spend time outdoors all year long.
Where you should live or relocate to all revolves around your lifestyle and expectations. There is no perfect location and always give and take concessions when sizing up where you should live at whatever stage of your life right?
Putting On Local Productions Like Children’s Theatre Is One Huge Volunteering Event In Maine.
Today, there are strong opinions on what you should do with everything aspect in your life. We are all surrounded by marketing with an agenda. And it seems also a shrinking tolerance for different viewpoints.
Maine is an open-minded state and big enough so you can protect your privacy and living space.
More wildlife than people and spread out acreage has its advantages.
Common sense found in large supply in small Maine communities.
It still works here. Lots of sage advice and tried/tested options for best life practices are discussed daily down at the local diner or corner Maine convenience store or gas station.
Money From Working For Area Farmers. How To Make Your Own Money, Not Spend Mom And Dad’s Important Skill.
All I know is I like no traffic, lower cost of living, more of a connection with my friends, family and neighbors. I like pitching in and volunteering in my small Maine town. Finding the positive strengths and grateful. Not slamming where I live with what I don’t like about rural small town Maine is my attitude.
This blog outlines what the locals do for fun. The outdoor unspoiled natural beauty is hard to beat. There is a long list of reasons why people move to Maine and how to prepare for the relocation best.
How we approach living in a small Maine town is kept simple in Maine.
Help others living here. Be kind. Protect the environment. Work hard to make a difference. Family first.
Continue traditions and respect nature, your neighbor and family values. Learn all your can and find ways to give back. The folks that live in a small town are the community. Always looking for ways to improve and sustain the small Maine town simple living way of life.
It’s spring in Maine as I hunt and peck this blog post made of re-cycled electrons.
Just had a neat total solar eclipse in Houlton Maine andhere’s the video below to watch for a taste of what it was like.
So hosing off the Maine house and other buildings from winter dust, road salt and grime. Opening up Maine woods and lake camps. Ordering seeds for the backyard vegetable garden. Fiddle heading and smelting and yard work. Not necessarily in that order.
Changing up the trail toys. Removing the house banking. Thinking about the year after next’s firewood to be boy scout prepared and make sure it is well seasoned and safe to burn.
Digging out the canoe or kayak for a Maine river race.
Planning hiking trail adventures. When you live in Maine, all the four season outdoors recreation surrounds you. The fun is low or no cost and picnicking is a big deal.
Attractive, Preserved Victorian Style Brick Buildings In Market Square, Houlton Maine. Small Town Maine Living. Very Attractive To Many Moving To Vacationland!
Is the pack carefully and travel light move, relocation to Maine a good idea?
Sure do think so and glad this is where I call home in rural small town Maine. Here to help share the reasons I live in Maine and all the positives. What are your expectations moving to Maine? Where do you live now? Maine is seeing a lot of city dwellers making the transition to rural small town country living.
Small Town Living In Maine. Means Trail Rides With Your Family And Friends. Maine Is Outdoor Recreation, Hitting And Exploring The Woods Trails.
So is moving to Maine a wise decision for you?
Here to answer questions from a local insider native of Maine with lots of experience that wants to help.
So much of the move to Maine relocate or not depends on the timing in decision making. But just as important what are your expectations in Maine combined with the exit interview on where live now or in the past before packing up for the move to Vacationland.
The Great North American Total Solar Eclipse, did you witness Totality? April 8th, 2024 was a pretty big deal in my small hometown of Houlton Maine.
Maine Eclipse Watchers Set Up Cameras, Timers, Telescopes For Total Solar Eclipse In Houlton Maine.
Perfect weather, years of planning, lots of food, fun and family spreading blankets, putting on eclipse glasses. Loads of people young and old from everywhere flocked to Houlton Maine. Traveling to Southern Aroostook County for the total solar eclipse experience.
The screams, laughter, cheering, clapping, singing then silence to take it all in at the moment of Totality.
Temperature 62 Degree, Clear Blue Sky Sunshine On Total Solar Eclipse Day Houlton Maine.
Different than watching a yearly small town fireworks display to celebrate the 4th of July nation’s birthday.
It is high emotion and relief, hope, faith, wonderment, science all rolled into the one Johnny one time hit wonder.
Knowing this kinda spectacle does not happen everyday, not once a year nor is it a CGI Hollywood digital stunt.
Weather temps drop, a solar wind develops, animals and humans alike can be caught off guard if you missed the memo about totality.
Besides the 6,000 locals, how many visitors showed up for the Houlton Maine total solar eclipse?
To me it felt like (adding machine stops, ripping paper sound) … 27,417. Seriously, like the prediction of how many would come, the exact head count of how many actually did will cause wild speculation. Then the media herd will run with the distilled number or a tad little higher in the race to be the most accurate source of news.
From Other Universe Solar Systems, Everyone Came To The Houlton Maine Total Solar Eclipse April 8th, 2024.
Talked with a family from Maryland next to us with two young children. They peered up at the 2017 total solar eclipse. Said they are hooked on totality and just had to travel to Houlton Maine for another town with one.
Another West African man who lives in Berwick Maine now among the many. Sadie’s Bakery took an informal census from their donut sales, claiming 21 states and Switzerland for eclipse festival customers.
All today rubbing sore necks from all over Maine to California, extending across the pond to England. Heck even from what would appear to be other solar systems friendly curious aliens transported down from the Mother Ship to Market Square.
What builds eclipse nervous excitement is so much at stake for tourist dollars and the maximum experience speculation on the Maine weather.
What good is totality and all the logistical eclipse planning if a stubborn cloud cover pattern blind folds it all to make detailed viewing impossible or diminished?
Don’t want to over stock or wished you had prepared better as a retailer.
Only 3 And A Half Minutes To Capture A Total Solar Eclipse Is Stressful. No Second Chance.
Leading up to the total solar eclipse, the Houlton Maine planners, vendors, dining, lodging and event participants just did not know.
All rolling the dice like a Maine farmer in spring hoping for a money making or at least a break-even year ahead.
You work on the devil in the details part of the let’s host a Houlton Maine total solar eclipse event.
Put the Maine small town on the map and sharpen your tourism skill set. Everyone have a safe fun memorable time and see what a neat small Maine town we live in and what we can do?
Southern Maine coastal towns and cities get a lot more tourist marketing experience.
Totality in “The County” put Houlton and Aroostook on the map for more than the standard fifteen minutes of fame and mention.
Houlton Maine, Aroostook County Town Where Totality Happens During The Solar Eclipse.
It was not until last week that national, state and local weather forecast skies brightened for Houlton Maine.
When you see Al Roker pointing at the eclipse path of totality across the nation smiles ear to ear. Touting Maine as is the only eclipse path section standing out as clear blue, it made everyone’s pulse quicken. Big sense of urgency that something very important was looming.
Ready or not, it was here it comes, the last call for the Great North American total solar eclipse 2024 edition.
Lots of folks did make the trip north up I-95 to the Gateway from Maine to the Atlantic Canadian provinces for the total solar eclipse. Houlton Maine is at the crossroads of US RT 1, 2, 2A and I-95.
Big Green Bridge To Maine. Heading Up I-95 To Attend The 3 Day Festival Solar Eclipse In Houlton Maine. You Going?
Maine weather was the biggest concern because it’s always take it or leave it.
Pivot and adapt to work with what you got and Maine weather is never ho hum the same. The spring like clear blue skies and 62 degree temperature conditions April 8th could have been a better stage for total perfect darkness. Other pathway of totality states like Texas did not fare as well, Houlton Maine got a boost of even total solar eclipse watchers
Houlton International Airport KHUL was the busiest it has been since World War Two days of lend lease flys in.
Where local farmers hooked onto planes to “drive not fly” them into neighboring Canada before the US declared war on the Axis. In my Maine real estate job, that airport is a real asset for travelers.
The Houlton Maine Airport KHUL, One Busy Place For Chartered Jets, Private Pilot Aircraft April 8th, 2024.
Eleven big jets, sixty or more smaller private pilot aircraft added to the total solar eclipse frenzy.
A total solar eclipse and perfect weather conditions is a rare bird.
Pretty Silver And Other Color “Birds” Flew Into Houlton International Airport Maine Solar Eclipse Day 2024.
A Maine eclipse is not something you can put off and maybe view next week or the one after that when your schedule is not so overbooked. There is no rain date or second chance for an eclipse. The dress rehearsal date is missing and the next one is a decade away.
Adam Sandler’s jet, Oprah’s private aircraft, even talk Taylor Swift’s sky ride was here according to the coffee drinkers down at the corner store grapevine news outlet.
Not sure if she was in it or not but lots of media buzz about who flew in for the total eclipse of the Sun. Like the Carly Simon song about heading to Nova Scotia. (Now you have the clouds in my coffee, the “You’re So Vain” song playing in your head right?)
The NASA scientists showed up in Houlton Maine and just as predicted, the perfect calculations hit the astronomical power ball.
Houlton Maine Total Solar Eclipse April 8th, 2024. Lots Of Refresher 8th Grade Science Class Refresher Notes To Review And Share With Other Star Gazers.
At 3:32 PM April 8th, 2024 full totality arrived overhead Houlton Maine.
The weather channel, state and national media broadcast networks and World wide news services were in Houlton Maine!
What really helps studying, capturing a total solar eclipse on film and in the memory banks is not just the weather forecast. Lights, when it gets dark in a small Maine town, the photo sensor kicks them on like night time clock work.
Our local Houlton Water Company power utility pulled the plug in “star parks”. So totality was true total darkness. Thank you HWC for the boom, boom out go the lights!
The day after a Houlton Maine total solar eclipse.
Not quite like a Monday Christmas and then return to a business-as-usual normal Tuesday.
You do think about the solar system overhead when you did not before so much. The power of planets and moons and how their interaction affect our daily life suddenly, well eclipse. Everything gets elevated high above the news of the day and line items on your to do list.
My Totality Overhead Snap Shot. Besides Eclipse Photos Of Total Solar Eclipse, Most Time Spent Capturing People’s Reaction Down On The Ground.
How did the Maine total solar eclipse affect you?
Houlton Maine, Everyone Pumped Up Excited About The Total Solar Eclipse April 8, 2024!
Some watching the wall to wall eclipse news asking what am I missing?
Am I the only one that does really care about the moon butting in front of the sun to darken the Earth?
Others remember eight grade science class trips and the outdoor night time look up at the stars.
Time to test your constellation star pattern eclipse planet orbit astronomy knowledge recall.
But for those lucky enough to be in totality pathway, the solar eclipse news dominates your thoughts on a Tuesday morning. As life settles down, the population trims and small Maine town life resumes.
You can not help but be reminding all of us are pretty darn lucky to live in Houlton Maine, any of the 450 small communities in this rural New England state.
Would not trade it for anything and I hope folks who came to the Houlton eclipse went
Moose In Maine Further Up In Aroostook County Safe From Drunk Hunters. Who Start Shooting Cows, Horses In Lewiston, Further South.
Are you too busy or healthy enough to witness another one and just how far would you travel to experience another one? Are you an eclipse addict or groupie?
Most solar eclipses go out over the Earth’s expanse of water and are not available to enjoy.
It’s like being a gunslinger preparing for the shoot out getting prepared for the time sensitive solar eclipse event.
Had telephoto lens on one camera, a wide angle one on another on a tripod and the cell phone, Go Pro. No one wants to miss a Kodak moment.
Remember “Time goes by”.
What does a total solar eclipse experience do to a person? There is nothing ho hum about it. Listen to the folks around you react to totality. Going in, during, coming out of the light to darkness back to light.
Emotions bubble up in the anticipation excitement, for some fear, others wonderment. It forces clarity, awards wisdom, develops patience and for a moment there is an out of this World connection.
The Sun, Earth, Moon and stars are a tad older than the rest of us.
The celestial orbits and the plantThe eclipse light to darkness is humbling, powerful, a positive experience for 99% of people no matter what nationality, race, religion, politics. It’s science, historic and definitely time
Eclipse Waters From Everywhere! All In Houlton Maine April 8th, 2024.
sensitive.
An eclipse is a bigger than life event… Far out, right on, it blows your mind man.
In a small Maine town, the eclipse is comforting, unifying, a positive experience that leaves you thinking now what.
Pondering what just happened and how does it change anything going forward.
It opens a person up and spurs you on to be a better person and do more for mankind.
Not hokey, and not because of mushrooms or edibles.
Pills?
No thank you. Pass. High on life.
The Maine eclipse happened just as the corner is turned from winter to mud season to spring.
At first knowledge of the date, I think most folks in Maine thought “Wish it was in summer,
Houlton Maine Celebrates Totality In Market Square Fireworks Display!
any other time than April 8th for all the
company we had drop in for the eclipse.
But now thinking the beginning of spring and renewal, planting new seeds and the end of winter / mud season was the perfect time.
(It did not hurt the weather did 180 degree change to sunshine and warm temps either.)
The older you get, the faster the seasons turn.
Maine, The Way Life Should Be. One Big State, Lots Of Special Hidden Areas To Discover.
Knowing many of us won’t see another one is sobering but freeing as we all accept that.
Turning the page and moving on with a little different outlook thanks to Maine eclipse 2024.
Please follow our Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and other social media outlets key word “mooersrealty”.
Hope you enjoy the image highlights from the Great North American Houlton Maine total solar eclipse 2024.
Houlton Maine, the oldest town in Aroostook County and a shire town. What is a shire town you wonder?
A shire town is the county seat and Aroostook is the largest of Maine’s sixteen counties. “The County” is bigger than Connecticut and Rhode Island combined and the largest east of the Mississippi.
What can I tell you about Houlton Maine, the place?
Quick observations from a local native who calls Houlton Maine his home.
The people in my small Northern Maine town are friendly, helpful, funny and hardworking. Families are tightly knit and the Houlton and the ring of communities around the town pull together during tough times to help their neighbors.
You’re never alone in a small Maine town.
How do I know? Just pop the hood on your stalled car or pick up or snowmobile. Bang. Instantly all kinds of folks rise to the occasion and show up to help you out pronto.
Why? Because they can and someone else did the same for them.
They put themselves in your shoes and figure that could be me. Do something good.
Need a hand? Run out of gas? I have jumper cables for that tired battery or here. Here. Use my cell phone to make a call.
Welcome To Maine. How About A Super Sized Ice Cream Cone Treat?
Folks who live in the greater Houlton area surrounding communities take turns creating some amazing home grown experiences.
It’s not just Houlton Houlton Houlton (chanted like Marcia Marcia Marcia refrain).
Walk through the sheds filled with axes, saws, chains, horse harnesses, peaveys, Lombards, twitch cables.
Learn about river runs and using the waterways to transport the logs to mills downstream.
The entire northwest half of Aroostook, Penobscot Counties is “The Great North Woods” where we hunt, fish, ply the vast trail network on ATV four wheelers and snowmobiles.
Learn about local family farming traditions picking potatoes. Why Aroostook County is called the “Garden of Maine” and about her rich fertile farm field history.
I grew up on a Maine potato farm.
My four kids all picked fall harvest baskets of freshly dug golden farm field spuds.
To fill empty barrels then ticketed, hoisted up and hauled away for potato house winter storage.
The Family Farm Owned And Enjoyed By Me In Maine Author Andrew Mooers.
The work ethic learned heading out early and staying late in the Maine potato farm field is invaluable.
A child managing their own hard earned money is way more careful with impulse control spending it.
All Aboard. Oakfield Maine Railroading Is Big In Southern Aroostook County!
Tour the train station that celebrates the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad rich history hauling potatoes and passengers through out “The County” and beyond.
Stay at one of many woods camp sporting lodges in Southern Aroostook, Northern Penobscot and Washington Counties.
Houlton Maine is at the crossroads of US RT 1, 2, 2A and I-95 that connects to the Trans Canada highway.
Explore the recreation trails any of Maine’s four seasons. Get away from the noisy slow moving crowds and break free.
Run away up to camp in Maine.
Unplug and recharge in front of a crackling wood’s fire under the star filled sky.
Earning Your Spending Money. Managing Your Own Savings! Creates Impulse Control & Life Skills.
The silence is deafening at first. You replace the city sounds of EMS vehicle sirens, jet engines overhead, honking horns.
No garbage truck back up alarms and clanging dumpster bin sounds.
Visit one of many Amish communities surround the Houlton Maine area of Southern Aroostook.
The local farm to table vegetables, home made baked goods taste delicious and you get to know the grower and their families.
Others living off the land peddle their produce at the area local farmer’s markets. Farm to table is a beautiful thing.
Four seasons outdoor natural unspoiled beauty is what surrounds Houlton Maine in Southern Aroostook County.
In all directions, you can hit the rec trails and find total peace and quiet. See wildlife, watch the seasons changes and hear yourself think.
No better place to raise a family, run a small business, retire or vacation than Houlton Maine. Period.
The on the border distinction provides visitors with a two nation vacation experience.
Head over to Hartland New Brunswick to cross the longest covered wooden bridge in the World.
Or down to Nackawic to see the largest axe on the planet. Visit Kings Landing to step back in time in an early Canadian settlement.
The International boundary line border crossing creates lots of jobs. US Border Patrol, Customs, Immigration employment generate money for the local economy.
Country Rides Around Houlton Maine. Do You Have This Kind Of Scenery Where You Live Now?
Those jobs and others attract new families who add so much to Houlton Maine and the surrounding communities.
No better place to raise your family, start a small business or enjoy the blend of work and play in Northern Maine!
Houlton Maine. it hits you as you drive the streets.
These people are friendly, courtesy, let me go at the four way stop sign with a smile.
Everyone nods hello or makes a how you doing comment. No one has a need of a taser.
No one is worried about personal safety.
Living where you want to be makes a major improvement in anyone’s attitude.
Low cost power from not for profit Houlton Water Company keep juice prices attractive.
Local high speed Internet broadband connections second to none in Houlton Maine (Pioneer, Consolidated, other providers).
In small Maine towns get used to low crime (Maine is 4th least crime state in USA) and no traffic.
Looking, Flying Over Houlton Maine, The County’s Oldest Town.
Want to go to Walmart shopping quick and easy or to the local hardware store while puttering?
No time suck getting what you need or even double tracking back for the right item if you mess up. Have to back track for a second try to get it right. To cross off the DIY to do list.
Small towns like Houlton Maine are way easier to maneuver.
All Ages Picked Maine Potatoes In The Farm Field.
Less time spent at traffic lights or in grid lock. Your fellow motorists are way way kinder, gentler and no angry hand gestures.
Welcome to Houlton Maine, the way life should be.
Space, clean surroundings, friendly locals and home town pride volunteering. Find that in Houlton Maine. Your neighbors check in and want to help when you are struggling. You want to give back and pitch in to make the community what it is. Pick an event, that’s your contribution for life and you love it.
Small towns like Houlton Maine are not pay the price of a ticket to attend an event.
It’s working behind the scenes volunteering to put on the event year after year. That’s the way you give back and how you get to know the other members of your small but mighty population.
Houlton Maine had the largest local soap box derby race in the nation five years running.
Check out a soap box race on Derby Hill inspired and engineered like the All America race in Akron Ohio.
Way more satisfying living because you and I are the community where the small Maine towns offer smaller circles.
Everyone tightly connected in towns like Houlton Maine.
There is not the disconnect I hear about from people living in crowded areas. Where just too many people and you find a wall of impersonal and keep your distance. Back off Jack.
So to sum it up, small town Houlton Maine living provides wide open outdoor recreation.
Maine Youth Working The Maine Potato Harvest. Did Not Hurt Their Work Ethic!
Lower cost real estate, less traffic and crime. You get more nature experiences, meet friendlier people, enjoy a sense of community. Most of the recreation is low or now cost and the food and lodging is cheaper.
Every been on a vacation and thought what if I lived her full time and thought maybe I should consider relocating there? Maine is so much of what is missing where 8 out of 10 people live… in an urban setting.
Small Maine towns like Houlton in Aroostook County.
Barrels of money not needed to enjoy them like many expensive tourist trap locations. Simple camping, trail hiking, lake or river canoeing or kayaking.
You’re in Maine, surrounded by unlimited natural beauty whether high atop Mt Katahdin looking out over the landscape.
Or on your boards at the summit of Mars Hill Mountain’s Big Rock, Quoggy Joe or some other small Northern Maine ski area.
Plenty Of Parking At A Maine Ski Area Or A Small School Soccer Game. Welcome To Maine!
Everything is low or no cost which amplifies the enjoyment of all Northern Maine, Southern Aroostook and Houlton Maine.
Constant opening up the wallet wide is taken out of the picture here.
You can let go and get caught up in the vast open space and outdoor natural setting.
The down to Earth people here want to share suggestions on what to do for fun.
Locals are proud of where they live and will answer questions to make sure your visit is worthwhile and memorable.
In small Maine towns like Houlton, everyone is an ambassador.
The circles are smaller, tighter, more intimate and everything moves more efficiently when the communities are really just like large families.
Whether it is a movie in the historic Temple Theatre, stepping up to order a Houlton Farms Dairy Bar ice cream treat.
Too Much Excitement Or Pacing Yourself With A Car Nap While Waiting To Go Water Skiing On A Maine Lake?
Or heading out to NIckerson Lake’s Crescent Park, Birch Point on Pleasant Lake or taking in the Million Dollar View in Weston Maine’s scenic turn out.
Welcome to Houlton Maine.
It’s not like this many other places. Far enough away from population centers to stay small, personable and off peace and quiet. Insulated from over commercialization or exploitation.
Loaded with all natural four season beauty, wildlife, woods, farms, waterways to discover. All kinds of wildlife, natural resources with crystal clean water, fresh air to tap.
In life it is not one size fits all.
And these days folks seem to have strong, louder opinions on what you should or should not be doing in your life.
Houlton Maine, Aroostook County. Home Of 2024 Total Solar Eclipse.
But maybe too small is just right because too big is impersonal and expensive.
In my job, I hear it a lot.”I want to run away from too many people, HOA’s and heavy layers of regulations and code enforcement”.
Or “I’m in Florida, Arizona Texas and burning up”. And lastly, “it’s too expensive where I live now and can not afford to retire here”.
If housing is too expensive where you live now, consider small town Houlton Maine real estate prices and selection.
When crime is high, traffic is heavy, small town Maine communities are such a contrast.
If where you live now people don’t smile, avoid making eye contact and keep to themselves, that’s not the feeling of community you get vacationing or living in small town Houlton Maine.
Houlton Maine Loaded With Grand Older Well Preserved Victorian Houses.
Walking to everywhere easily happens in small town Houlton Maine.
Leave your car or SUV or pick up parked with the keys in the vehicle.
Walk downtown, to the movies, to the tennis courts, baseball field, basketball court, along the Riverfront Park trail.
Get out, hoof it and see how folks smile and are friendly.We use our open porches and wave, say hello.
Getting Out Of The Maine Real Estate Office, Not Pinned To The Wall By A Desk.
Simple living, easier day to day interactions with local folks who want to help.
Ask for help.
What kind of experience are you looking for?
This blog post simply attempts to describe what greater Houlton Maine is like.
It’s up to you to feel whether a visit here is worth the time and expense to come sample this special corner of Maine.
Here to help and please ask us all your questions.
Love where I live and want to help save you money, to make your vacation stay memorable, whatever you need.
Call, text, email, send a carrier pigeon capsule or send a smoke signal.
Come visit us in Houlton Maine!
Thanks you for following our Me In Maine blog posts!
Get calls from Maine real estate buyers who need to invest in property someplace else that where they now live.
Maine, The Way Life Should Be. One Big State, Lots Of Special Hidden Areas To Discover.
Some are looking for a vacation home location and Maine scores top of the list.
Moving to Maine.
Others just know they can not stay where they live now. Either to raise a family, run a business, to retire and enjoy the Golden Years as best they can.
Had a lady from Texas as a recent example who dreams of moving to Maine.
Getting Out Of The Maine Real Estate Office, Not Pinned To The Wall By A Desk. Lucky To Live In Maine Is How I Feel Every Day!
Her husband works for the phone company, she has MS and is from Maine.
Does not need a prepping on what it is like living in Maine.
The couple bought a house for around $150,000 years ago near Houston Texas that is now worth three times that figure.
“It’s too hot and burning up” is a remark I hear a lot these days and those exact words she shared with me on the phone today.
This lady says you know it is time to move when you come out of a big box store and your jeep is parked next to a Lamborghini on one side, a Maserati on the other.
There’s one of the signs. This couple in their early 60’s are looking to sell out and move away to get to Maine.
It’s not just the cost of living outside rural Maine that is nose bleed high pushing the pack up push back to relocate to “Vacationland”.
Maine is drop dead naturally gorgeous and a four season stunner.
The simple small town way of living in rural Maine is the hook, the carrot.
The communities, the people who live in small town Maine are the best. You wake up and wonder who plowed your driveway and have no idea. A casserole shows up with a hand written note “I know you are going through a tough time in your life and hope you like this covered dish at meal time.”.
Or “heard your mom had fallen and hope she is doing okay” is also on the same note.
In large over populated rush rush hurry scurry areas, kind gestures don’t happen like that. In small town rural Maine they do all the time.
Smaller group of people, friendly happens. More intimate, personal and friendly. Less crime, no traffic and lower cost of living kicks in living in rural Maine. High price of fuel oil or gas, no problem. Heat with renewable resource wood and warm as toast.
Live Music, A Maine Community Band Supplies It Weekly For Free. That’s Maine.
Next year’s heating supply of wood is all cut, stacked, stored away. Mainers are more organized and well prepared. The root cellar in the home basement has canned fruits and vegetables. The chest freezer gets pulled from over the winter months.
A garden is a source of joy and tasty food your planted on your knees and kept weeded, watered, tended.
Sometimes searching online comes up with very little Chamber of Commerce type information blurbs.
Hard To Stay Indoors For Long Living In Maine.
No chamber, low population and just not a lot to browse and consider in typical small rural Maine towns.
Or other times, lots of write up on many websites created that just miss the mark. What should happen is testimonials on why do you live in Maine? What makes you some kind of glad everyday you live in Maine? What is life like and what do you do for fun?
One website I stumbled upon tries to pick a region of Maine and showcase a “day in the life” there.
The hour by hour break down would not attract anyone to come to Maine let alone stay here. The same format write up but find a different local coffee shop, insert it.
Life Is A Maine Beach. Salt Water, Fresh Air, A Summer Breeze At A Maine Beach.
Highlight the mill the local Maine native works at and mention how during break they take a walk to enjoy the outdoor location. That’s it. No images, no narrative written by the local native… just how someone outside Maine would describe what life is like. About as exciting as watching paint dry. It is obvious who threw together the copy does not feel grateful they live in Maine.
We Have A Green Light On Derby Hill! Heat 109, Drivers Ready…? Check Your Brakes.
I hope the images, the video embeds and what is blogged about on Me In Maine is worthwhile and transparent.
Living here, raising a family in Maine and enjoying four seasons of so much natural beauty is part of what pulls at a person’s heartstrings.
But the community spirit, the local population that steps up to help out and shares the same lucky to live in Maine attitude.
So many people in this World want to run far away to hide out somewhere, anywhere. Moving to Maine. Itching to run away and doing your home work on just where?
Maine, are you looking for small town friendly and real, wholesome, healthy?
Houlton Maine, Everyone Is Excited About The Total Solar Eclipse April 8, 2024!
If you know of a boy or girl in Maine, anywhere around the state who wants to race in the soap box derby, please reach out.
Every young driver should not have to wait until they are sixteen to get behind the wheel of a car. Learn the “thrill of the hill” happens at Community Park in Aroostook County’s oldest town each June.
The winner goes on to represent the state at the big All American Soap Box Derby Race out west in Akron Ohio.
Need to send them a race application for the big state of Maine race on Derby Hill in Houlton Maine.
Also, the count down has started. Ready for the big total solar eclipse in Maine? Here to help with logistics if you are heading North to experience it in Northern Maine, Aroostook County!
April 8th, 2024. Circle it several times in red magic marker please and thank you.
Sorry, you snooze and lose. It will be a lotta years before the next one in Maine. There is no rain date for the total solar eclipse in Houlton Maine 2024, the last location in the USA to experience “Totality.
Maine small towns are proud of their unique area of the state. Tourism in Maine accounts for about 6.4% percent of the state’s economy. I know, that low a figure surprised me too. Or made me think we could bump it up to way more Maine tourists traveling across the big green bridge.
All this space, no crime, no traffic. Plenty of eye candy. But still the tourism dollar numbers are impressive. Tourists pump over 8.6 billion dollars a year into the local Maine economy. One out of seven Maine jobs are tourism related. Maine tourism creates 151,000 plus employment opportunities to bring home the bacon.
Welcome To Maine. How About A Super Sized Ice Cream Cone Treat?
The towns in Maine most memorable are the ones where the entire population wears an ambassador hat.
Putting on a genuine smile. Greeting the day with a healthy attitude of wanting to be helpful. Rolling out the red carpet welcome mat means putting yourself in the shoes of a tourist.
Really friendly, warm and helpful is something any new to your area visitor never forgets.
Returning trips to the small Maine town happen with frequency when the folks you bump into on vacation go all out to be the best tour guides.
The Maine folks you meet from the hospitality industry in the local lodging and dining sector have to provide first class service.
Can’t be hit or miss or depending on which way the wind happens to be blowing casual. Sincere, empathetic, sensitive to help the brand new tourist visitor have a quality stay in Maine.
Like any vacation, a brand new to your area traveler wants to explore, sample the local home grown food, to tap into the recreation. Maybe to just be left alone and veg. And usually to rest up from the very hectic week before they tidy up all the business affairs. For the pack the pack and ready or not here I go.
Take the vacation in Maine.
Life will not end if you take a break to unplug, recharge and change the scenery and routine you practice day and night on the hamster wheel right?
Maine, The Way Life Should Be. One Big State, Lots Of Special Hidden Areas To Discover.
You and I travel for the memories, the sights in a different setting. To try out the new culture that is not the same old same old.
Change of pace and to shake up the drill to shake off the cobwebs. To see how the rest of the World lives and what they do for downtime fun. Family vacations for couples on a budget with young children are taught travel is part of life.
Maine vacations.
Great exercise too if you like to walk, hike, bike, climb, paddle, sail or whatever mode of transportation.
But how to do a Maine vacation cheaply requires discipline and a strict budget.
And asking for help from the local Maine population that live in this section of Vacationland to guide your spending and to learn what there is to do for fun.
Saving your everyday spending dollars frugally frees up the money. The green stuff earmarked for a Maine vacation.
Feed back to the Maine hospitality service providers is critical. To learn what your customers liked on vacation and what was missing only helps shape better future stays for small Maine town travelers.
Plus your travel taps into lots of other service providers. You want to hear what they are doing right or wrong so you can adjust the dials for better performance. According to Maine government officials, state annual tourism visits show a 10 percent increase.
Nightly lodging stays in Maine are up 18 percent.
The Crown Jewels And Europe Jewel Treasures.
What do people want to do for fun, what do they consider entertainment?
Go to a local museum? Farmers markets, paddling a kayak on a bottle smooth Maine lake? To hike the trails up Baxter State park or ride a bike on miles of roads spanned by classic stone bridges around Acadia? To admire the four season space not crowded with wall to wall tourists? Maine is different than Disney Land or Cony Island, Las Vegas, most other places.
Why not own your Maine vacation property spot and possible rent it out to others with a careful background check and healthy deposits taken?
Sitting around an open fire at a Maine waterfront setting.
Enjoying a hot or cold beverage on an open porch watching Maine wildlife. Too slow paced and not action packed enough for you? Maine’s unspoiled four season setting make it low or no cost which only enhances a stay in Vacationland. Try paddling through the river rapids on the Penobscot, Dead, Kennebec Rivers for some adventure.
Camp Fires In Maine. The Circle Of Chairs For Outdoor Group Therapy.
What’s the weather forecast and being ready to pivot to a plan “B” and “C” if needed.
Not jamming so much into the Maine vacation schedule so whoever you are sharing it with does not revolt. grumble or worse mutiny.
Vacationing 101… everyone does it differently but a little help from local Mainers to suggest what should be on the itinerary is helpful.
Making it worth the money and time spent to vacation in Maine hinges on the people you meet along the way.
Vacationing In Maine. Returning To The Same Favorable Haunts Or Somewhere New?
When I was Houlton Maine Chamber of Commerce president, marketing the town for tourism was huge.
Thinking like a brand new traveler wandering into town. What would he or she need besides a warm feeling that they were welcome? How to help the new to your area tourists not waste their short time and hard earned dollars in your Maine home town? Showcasing what there is to do for fun wherever you live in Maine is huge.
So much on the list may not be your personal favorite but what do the vacation audience members want to achieve from this vacation getaway stay?
See sunrises, sunsets like no other. Meet a Maine moose, see a bald eagle, strap on a bib to eat a steamed lobster. Sample a whoopie pie or slice of blueberry filled anything. Pick up souvenirs with Maine splashed across them.
Waterfront Maine Vacations Are The Most Memorable!
How to get a Maine tourist to stick around for a stretch of days and to return for more?
To share their enjoyment with their inner circle of friends to expand on the local Maine tourism traffic to your zip code. Regional tourism and helping tourist travelers “build” an itinerary that includes more than just your corner of Maine is how state tourism dollars increase.
I just got back from a vacation to London England and Edinburgh Scotland.
Touring Edinburgh Castle In Scotland. Lots Of History. Not So Many Castles In Maine That Is A Lot Younger Historic State.
Meg, her mom and I learned a lot and got lots of exercise. How each tourism stop markets itself observed. Online and after you get there. Do you get a sense that the tour operator, restaurant, lodge owner has hospitality training?
Tower Bridge London England Toured On Recent Europe Vacation.
Is the individual providing the service you need? Or on their phone more than spending time with the “how can I help you?”. Meg and I did a lot of planning online and sorted through a lot of marketing, reviews, eyeball the media available. Again, what to do for fun is not the same list of responses for everyone polled.
Maine vacations are hard to beat and this is where our heart is.
The trip to cross the pond flying Delta to London England and Virgin Airlines back to the Logan Airport in Boston MA was different too.
Not because of jet lag or lack of hydration or sleep. Did it by the book. But like the flight experience, the dining, train travel, the museums, historical and scenery experience were not the same either. Like a movie or book you remember for days after you finish it. There is a reason why and all of us harvest different take aways looking back on any vacation.
Delta Airlines Over, Virgin Airlines Back “Across The Pond” On Vacation.
Our bus tour guide to Sterling Castle Paul gave us the history lesson on Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots, Robert the Bruce, Kelpies, Nessie the monster folklore.
Train Travel On Vacation in Scotland.
In between hearing Scottish local historic information about the clans, Paul was awesome. All the information served up from a Scotsman while driving the bus along the highland country sides dotted with sheep. There was music. Fill from Paul’s playlist shared with our group added to the local Scottish immersion.
The Chieftains, Proclaimers, Annie Lennox, Simple Minds and other artists on the small bus ride with the panoramic windows made it memorable. We were not in Kansas or Maine or stateside anymore.
Ran into one fellow wearing a kilt who we asked are you cold? He smiled and quickly retorted “it’s not cold, this is Scotland”. Overall the weather was a lot warmer than everyone in London and Edinburgh remembers just like here in the Maine.
Edinburgh Castle View In Edinburgh Scotland.
This trip made me really think about the new to Maine traveler and all the maps, GPS tools available to guide them.
And in my small town in Northern Maine, how to beef up the technology to create a digital guide to help travelers more completely.
The reviews on places to stay, the Maine attractions, where to eat, etc are all well and good. There are lots of happy, crabby and in between remarks and tourism propaganda to sort through building your Maine vacation experience. But what are your expectations and are they reasonable for the time and money available?
Everyone who lives, works and plays in Maine wears a tourism fire in my belly hat. Or should.
Touring Edinburgh Castle In Scotland. Lots Of History. Not So Many Castles In Maine That Is A Lot Younger Historic State. It’s Good To Explore In Travel.Scottish Bag Pipe Shop. Lots Of Bag Pipe Music Heard As You Climb The Hills, Down The Dales In Edinburgh Scotland.
I am proud of where I live and want to share why.
That is a big part of what the Me In Maine blog is all about right? To help shape vacations in Maine for others looking for rest, relaxation, entertainment, culinary delight. And to save them money in the process to help assure the Maine vacation is the best it can be.
All the locals pitch in and because we are not over crowded or withdrawn, the travel to Maine is a lot more relaxed for everyone involved.
Low population and less online to glean and study forces small town Maine vacations to be kept simple.
Need A Mineral Rich Healthy Bath? The Romans Built This Bath England Communal “Hot Tub”.
Instead of a commercialized Disney Land of expensive vacation package options to slide, scroll and display on your device, rural Maine if naturally different.
Less four color glassy tri-fold tourism paperwork to eyeball. The approach to peddling Maine tourism has to be creative. Limited resources and careful spending is the Maine frugal way.
Maine Lake Ice Fishing, Frozen Lakes Needed.
In Maine, there are a handful of cities and over 450 small communities.
Well oiled Chamber of Commerce resources are not always so plentiful online. To use in connecting the dots and reading between the lines to shape up your planned Maine vacation.
Time For Fish & Chips In London England.
But ask a local Mainer who is helpful and more than willing to suggest vacation options for your day and weekend ahead. Don’t just rely on skimpy online reviews and limited blog posts, videos, websites to tell the Maine vacation story.
Taken any interesting trips or are you over due for some R&R?
Houlton Maine, Last Place To Experience Totality, The Total Solar Eclipse 2024!
Reach out and here for questions about anything Maine.
Please consider you are personally invited and on the VIP invite list for a solar eclipse visit or whenever you can take the trek to Maine. Would love to meet any of your blog post followers and here for questions or tips in getting around, where to go, what the options are!
This total eclipse in Houlton Maine is the last stop for totality in the USA. Maine tourism, something that goes not happen again in my lifetime. No better spot to experience the total solar eclipse than in Houlton Maine, Aroostook County!
Saving money during construction tips to lower the cost building a new Maine home. Steps to take to stretch your dollars. To just shy of the breaking point to save the most money possible to get what you want.
This blog post highlights the best cost cutting and top money saving house building tips to follow.
Everything from finding the perfect Maine land to the step by step build from scratch dance steps. It’s all about timing and for most of us remembering that money and time are limited. Pouring your hard earned money into home construction is expensive, scary and exciting all rolled up into one.
So, let’s hop to it. Where to begin? Your location, the land in Maine where you chose to build a house.
Is the land level or sloping, open or wooded? How long a driveway to get to that perfect building spot to capture the view and southern exposure sunshine? Some Maine land listings are easier to develop than others.
In rural Maine it is not so hard to have privacy space and elbow room to protect from too many neighbors. Where I live there are just 11 friendly folks per acres in Northern Maine.
Maine Land. More Acres, Wildlife, Less People!
But how much in the house building budget for buying Maine land?
The more you buy, the cheaper per acreage cost but you can’t blow the whole wad on just land right? Unless your new home is just a tent. Or you plan to haul in an old camper trailer and call it good enough.
Is the Maine land now serviced by a municipality town water, sewer and power ?
Home On The Range… Er I Mean In Maine? More Space, Lower Price, Less People!
Or do you have to drill a private water well, septic system and run juice to the building site? Run the numbers, make one of many financial decisions along the way unless money is no object.
Are you going off grid and what extra expense are solar, wind, whatever alternative energy source going to set you back developing the Maine land?
It’s constantly doing the math all along the way from ground work to nailing in the last piece of finish trim. Add and subtract and constant study asking lots of questions. Take very good notes in interviews with other folks who built a house. And what they share that was a smart move or not the steps they would have taken again if ever building another house in Maine.
Best Way To Insulate The Cathedral Ceiling In A Maine Lake Camp?
Talks with contractors who are no stranger to the house building process has to happen until you assemble the team you trust to guide you. Do the math each and every step.
Like with all home building weighing the cost and considerations, be ready to pivot and modify the build the house from scratch plan.
Maybe the Maine land you bought already has utilities to tap into that are modern and up to snuff. Is there the cost of tearing down an existing old home on the building site? Hauling it away rather than burying it on your Maine land?
Calculate the expense and hopefully it was all factored in before you even buy the Maine land.
Maine Land, Are You Building A Home With A Major View In Your Lap?
There are a lot of moving parts and costly variable to navigate when you start fresh building a house in Maine.
Instead of buying a house to undo, redo and then make do that is not quite what you had in mind. Building on Maine land can be cheaper in the long run if you plan your work and work your plan. What house design did you set on and was it cost saving because the kitchen and bathroom plumbing is back to back in close proximity?
Land To Build A Home On, Sometimes It Is Waterfront Property in Maine.
Spreading out the blue prints to see lots of open living space not rooms combined to avoid extra walls, halls and doors?
Pick a house plan that efficiently uses dimensional lumber the way it is sold. In the lengths it comes out of the warehouse. Or better yet, there is lumber on the Maine land and a nearby sawmill to process it?
How else to reduce your house building expenses costs?
Put the floor plan home square footage on a diet. Less home inside, more outdoor living. Keep it simple and less is more thinking if you open up and combine the living areas. Smaller home, less materials, easier to heat, less to clean, kinda cozy. It all saves costs.
Outdoors, Maine Is All About Being Outdoors Any Chance You Get All Year Round! Kids Play Outside, Adults Don’t Forget To Do The Same In Maine!
Also, building a second floor and go up or a daylight basement to walk out can be extra living space.
Instead of a bigger footprint and higher basement wall and floor expansion costs, a two-story house design is cheaper. An attached garage saves one wall and reduces the costs. Stay away from custom designs and lots of “jogs” in the cellar foundation.
Each two feet in and so many feet out bay window or recessed front porch basement wall twist and turn adds thousands to the cost.
A simple rectangle or square is cheaper and easier to build on. Do you even need a full basement and the older we all get, stairs become more and more less fun to navigate right? Crawl space, insulated slab with radiant heat, or a full walk out daylight basement to save on the foundation cost square footage?
Small Maine Towns Are Closer To The Wildlife, The Recreational Trails. Less People, More Space, Clear Air, Fresh Water Make It Unspoiled Special!
It’s all about calculating time, materials, labor costs and your enjoyment with the finished product Maine house design at this stage of your life.
Maybe you are using a local Maine log home make for the building materials? If they are local, no extra cost of trucking the logs in from far away when they grow up and harvested all around you. The best price on the cost of materials, who’s available to star in your house building dream that you don’t want to turn into a nightmare.
Getting the labor team lined up and keeping them working on house construction.
So no one is standing around killing precious time. Being paid to only push a clean up broom to look busy while waiting for material deliveries or other MIA tradesmen to show up to work.
Maine Fall Colors, See Them Shine Brightly Four Wheeling On An ATV Seat. Plan To Build Home Or Camp In Maine?
People are different, the combination of who builds your home can go smooth or have rough edges causing friction.
When they house building crew gets along and works together, harmony happens. If they don’t there can be back biting, wasted time, cost over runs, the blame game as tempers flare.
Resale of whatever you build, that 3rd bedroom you use as a den that has a closet will add appeal. To the couple with Jimmy and Julie who need the extra bedroom you don’t.
Also building a house in Maine. Consider what if you needed to add on for a loved one to be close but living independently. That door off the kitchen would work fine for future construction for you or the next real estate buyer. The septic and well were not in the way and purposely put elsewhere just in case adding on to the house had to happen.
Lots to consider and here to help in your exciting build a house on your own Maine land.
As a local native I know the lay of the land and have personal experience with lots of construction projects over the years. Here to help your Maine land buying, to guide your house building desire to get exactly what you want for “home sweet new home”.
Maine, The Way Life Should Be. One Big State, Lots Of Special Hidden Areas To Discover.
I know a recent Maine land buyer who purchased 15 acres to build a new home on.
Instead of going head over heels in debt with a construction loan and lots of bank interest payments and fees piled high to carry, this couple is going a different route. The Maine land purchased for cash. The buyer’s Dad has a dooryard with lots of excavation road building and wood timbering equipment. The site prep work already done and the land cleared.
The long driveway installed with drainage culverts and turn around. The start for the septic system prep work in place and the couple knows exactly where the private water well will go on the Maine land.
Building On Land In Maine Ground Work Takes Money And Planning.
Living in the full concrete cellar is the plan. Month to month adding money from their income stream slow but sure put a roof over their head.
Their existing Maine home is on the market. Neat, clean, priced attractively to sell. Once it does, the profit from that Maine house sale will be funneled into the new home being built in Southern Aroostook County.
Smart, careful, frugal and doing just as much of the house construction, building a home work themselves. Rather than hiring it all out because they have the tools, equipment, skills and determination to pull off the build a house in Maine from scratch. Mainers have common sense and a wide skill set to do more than survive. Building your own home in Maine is not such a nerve wracking ordeal when you grow up helping doing all kinds of building maintenance and construction.
