Category: Maine Small Towns

“From Away” When You Live In Maine

“From Away” when you live in Maine.

How do those two words make you feel when you hear them? I am a Maine lifelong native but if I was labeled “from away”, I don’t think I would glow warm and fuzzy inside. Maybe once someone discovers a place they love, there is a need to hog it all to themselves? Plenty of room for more in sparsely populated and vast rural Maine regions. That’s the truth of the matter.

Maine, The Cat’s Meow For Many! The Unspoiled Four Seasons Of Maine Is One Big Attraction.

If someone reminded you about being “from away”, how could you not feel like an outsider?

Somehow referred to as “from away” makes me feel I missed a lot or am not as valuable or part of things. Or don’t get too comfortable, you will never be a local. Hmmmm.

Everyone wants to be included no matter where they were earlier in life during childhood or while in the service or working in a relocation location other than Maine.

Is there a sense of excitement when you learn someone is “from away”? Does it means new ideas, a broader pool of experiences for everyone to draw from and tap? It could.

And often the “new person from away” is actually a native. Called away for work, school, Uncle Sam service for their country and now returning home in Maine.

Maine Is Home Grown Food, Local Events, Always Outdoors.

New people, more volunteers to put their heart and soul into the community, sports team coaching, church choir group, whatever local event.

New blood to operate a small business with flare. When someone moves to Maine, they bring with them plenty. Kids for the schools.

I remember during 911 sudden explosion of US Border Patrol, Customs, Immigration hires thinking “hope one of the kids plays hockey, could be our new goalie”.

Feeling Safe, In Harbor Town In Maine. How Are New People Moving To Maine Treated? The Welcome To Maine Reception Is Important!

One of the US Border Patrol agents had a wife who could create Tex Mex to die for and she cooked every Tuesday night.

At The Blue Moose Restaurant in Monticello ME you could graze on the best southwest cuisine. Nothing like Old El Paso refried beans out of a can. The real deal. By living so close to Mexico in Texas, this cook in the kitchen knew her south of the border cuisine and shared her culinary knowledge every Tuesday night.

Slowly I started to notice grocery store shelves with new items. The spices, new items to make the these Tex Mex creations in our own homes was possible. Being “from away” meant sharing what you learned with the small town Maine community.

The Summer Meeting Place In Small Town Maine When Temperatures Soar.

Like travel, the person “from away” has something to contribute. And often the “from away” person moved to your town as an infant. Not their fault they missed four months or a couple years in the beginning of their life somewhere other than Maine.

Ken Knowles, a town manager of two local towns, Linneus and Hodgdon Maine told me he was “an outside from away”.

He was four months old when his family moved to Aroostook County. Not bitter, just stating a fact. That he would always be “from away”. Does it make a difference if you are “from away” wherever you move to? Will it impact your life in Maine?

Share The Road With Horse And Buggy Amish Drivers.

In a crowded city, most folks coming and going are “from away” or somewhere else. Maybe no distinction is made whether you hail from the area from birth or just rolled into town twenty minutes ago.

Moving to an area is a change, upheaval in a person’s life and you left behind your last “home”.

You do leave behind family, friends, old familiar routines when you move away from what was home. Somethings left in the rear view mirror, put behind you leaving Dodge when you hit the trail are a good thing. But happy memories, hoping your new area creates more of them is a legitimate expectation right?

Is Being Different Unique Bad Or An Asset In A Small Maine Town?

What about the people in Maine that are not from away or maybe they are.

What happens when they get the impression the move to your area is a disappointment. Expressions like “back in Tuskaloo, I blah blah blah.” When heard a lot in conversation, especially when Maine is portrayed as lacking this, this and that. It can get old. And you could wonder why did this person move or what did they expect?

Maybe moving to a new area seemed like a good idea at the time but how could you really know it was the best idea?

Try it, you might or might not like it. And how long do you give a new area to settle in, create a new mailing address to mold you?

Welcoming, Hospitable, Warm And Friendly. Hope That Is The Reception You Have In Maine.

More than two words “from away” involved here.

When you made the move to Maine matters and did you do it for a better small town experience for your kids? Was it to escape too many people, crime, traffic and a high cost of living? To save money. Or because you loved Maine vacations, thought wouldn’t a full time relocation move be a fantasy dream come true?

COVID trapped and working at home online taught folks hey, as long as I have long and strong Internet. Let’s pack the job with our personal belongings and point the car north to Maine.

If you are happy and you know it, clap your hands. Welcome to Maine.

Enjoy Your Surroundings And Not As Many People In Maine To Share It.

If you were not handstand happy the last three locations you lived out of state, that trend to continue. Like let’s have a baby to improve a marriage or fix it, a relocation to Maine might not be the end all solution to all of life’s problems.

What does the search online show for “from away”?

“A non-native person or a person who doesn’t have roots going back three-plus generations” is the definition I found.

Learn something everyday right? I thought “from away” means you were somewhere else, not in class, just not here in Maine 365/24/7. Or just not stork delivered here as a new born. Just had no control over where your delivery took place. We’re not talking culture, race, religious, etc but just the fact you are new, not from here. Does someone feel threatened?

Is “from away” a stigma or something a person carries like a disease?

Trips To Maine Traveling Light On Two Wheels With Rain Gear.

Is there any reason to point it out. Like “I didn’t go to college” comment or observation some make to all they meet. I never would have know if you had not pointed it out and so what. Maybe they don’t think it’s a big hairy deal but when someone does not like you, utter the expression. They remind you you are from somewhere, anywhere else but Maine. Ouch.

Thank you very much and feeling pretty warm, special, welcome Chummy, Mister Man.

In a small Maine community, it’s not just a case of all the folks three generations deep are on this side of the gym. You “others” just line yourselves up on the opposite side please and thank you.

Making everyone feel welcome and empathy for others, enjoying socializing and learning together. Do you march to that drum beat? In a Rotary or local service club, your church, in the workplace, in your social media posts, is it obvious you have a spirit to include others? It better be if you want to grow and improve.

Maine, The Way Life Should Be. One Big State, Lots Of Special Hidden Areas To Discover. Welcome, I Really Mean It. Glad You Are Here.

Shake it up and move around at all those meetings you attend.

Don’t sit in the same place with the same small group and break it up to include “others”. What is the fear not too? That someone that new person is different or you can only have so many friends or acquaintances?

“You’re not from around here” feeling or reminder is not being a member of the Welcome Wagon.

Hospitality and a sense this small Maine home town proud community is a place I want to spend time.

To pitch in and help out and to be sensitive to others new and old around me. Friendly, genuine interest and attention is never forgotten by the brand new to your small Maine town.

Grooming Trails To Make Them Smooth, Fast, Helpful To Discover Maine.

The new kid in town and all alone the first day of school at lunch in the cafeteria.

If you have never been one, easy to not be so sensitive. When you know or are related to many around you, it is easier to forget to reach out to any and all new folks who wander into your small Maine town.

I would like to see my small Maine town of 6000 grow to 7500 people.

All ages, from diverse backgrounds and young, older, in between. Back in 1957, my small Maine town peaked around 10,000 population.

The Bangor & Aroostook railroad, a local college, industry and the downtown were bigger before the Internet and Interstate. My small town in Maine

With the outward migrations from crowded, expensive city urban areas, Maine is seeing the population numbers increase slowly from the siphon to the city where eight out of ten people had to go for jobs.

Online working remotely and telecommuting to jobs has helped change all that.

Big Game, Summer Watching Little League Baseball Games In A Small Maine Town. Priceless.

Simple small town living and feeling safe, needed in the Maine community. That kind of place is searched for online hard as Maine comedian Bob Marley would empathize “HHHHHAAArddd”.

Everyone wants to find a place where they feel wanted under the sun and stars.

Where they can glean and give back to make where they call home all that it can be. To do more than make ends meet and to enjoy life instead of chasing the almighty dollar to keep the wolf from their door financially.

Some of the most interesting people are from all over the place and many land in Maine.

Not because they are on the witness protection program but life took them here and there. Super vacations in Maine primes the relocation pump.

Past, rich experiences they had personally over the years can be a very valuable resource that causes Maine to pop to the front of the mind when it’s time to move somewhere.

Tap these individuals on the shoulder, shake their hand.

Go out of your way to Invite them into your population as you reinvent and improve it. Also, the folks shut in and without family connections. Include them in your celebrations and holidays.

Be friendly, reach out and see what a valuable resource you have living right in your own small Maine town.

Maine in so many ways is the way life should be with one unique rich history.

Hope you enjoy our blog post hunt and peck about Me In Maine.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

July 1, 2024
Maine State Soap Box Derby Race 2024

Maine State Soap Box Derby Race 2024.

Since 1996, every June the Northern Maine Soap Box Derby Race runs in the town of Houlton ME. This blog post is about this past weekend’s June 22nd 2024 race and with a little Maine soap box derby rich history mixed in for good measure.

Drivers Ready? Checked Your Brakes? Win Pins In? Helmet Feel Right? 3, 2, 1….(Metal Release Sound)

The Houlton Maine / Aroostook County soap box derby race run in Houlton Maine was largest local in the entire nation for five years in a row.

And the Northern Maine race is one and only venue for the state race held each June. To determine a winner in stock, superstock and sometimes master soap box derby race divisions. At one time, Maine had five local races held in Bangor / Brewer, Camden, Houlton, Rumford, South Portland.

The top derby racers in each division class go on from Maine to represent the state out in the All America Soap Box Derby 3 lane track in Akron, Ohio.

The big world series of soap box derby racing tradition started back in 1934.

Maine Soap Box Derby Racers Do Well Competing In Akron Ohio All American Race!

With perfect sunshine summer weather, the 34 derby racers gathered to race on Derby Hill.

This year’s derby race fielded 24 stock and 10 super stock racers. This specially engineered soap box derby racing hill constructed in Community Park in Houlton Maine makes set up and tear down a breeze.

Houlton Maine’s Derby Hill In Community Park! The Thrill Of The Hill in Northern Maine Happens Each June!

The World Series Of Soap Box Derby Racing Happens In Akron Ohio. Since 1934, Kids Compete In Local Races To Go On To Akron’s Big Race.

Derby Hill has a garage storage building perched on top courtesy of the Houlton Rotary Club.

The aviation grade pavement put down on the two lane soap box derby race track has lights, guardrails and is over 900′ long.

One neat slick efficient hill to race on and no more setting up and tear down to make a public street your soap box derby course to compete.

A paved derby side run keeps the supply of soap box derby cars steady. Specially built derby trailers are loaded with empty cars on back. Their car drivers riding in the front tow vehicles pulling these loaded soap box derby trailers.

Helping Young Soap Box Derby Drivers, It Takes A Village, Your Family, Sponsors.

Watch this year’s Maine soap box derby race highlights Facebook video.

The stock derby car class winner this year was Aiden Cyr. Super stock derby car winner was Addyson Lynds. For more on the Northern Maine Soap Box Derby history, check out the images and information here. Visit the Northern Maine soap box derby website.

Stock Racer Aiden Cyr And Super Stock Racer Addyson Lynds Win Houlton Maine Soap Box Derby 2024 Race!

Always looking for new Maine soap box derby racers to catch the fever.

Derby race, car sponsors and family support to help new drivers learn the “Thrill of the Hill” in Houlton Maine. Those folks all come together to create the small Maine town friendly, fair soap box derby racing experience for our youth.

Ready To Race After Loosing A Wheel Pin Cotter Key. No One Hurt, Safety First.

Love to talk “derby” and figure why should a kid wait until they are sixteen to drive a car?

Neat racing event and your entire family is involved in soap box derby. Each child can compete along with their big or little brother and sister. Lots learned about gravity, science of engineering, safety and competing fair and square on Derby Hill in Community Park, Houlton Maine.

Since 1996, have been involved in the Northern Maine Soap Box Derby Racing program.

Have helped lots of derby racers, including two of my own kids make the trip west to compete in the All American big race in Akron Ohio.

Gather Round The Soap Box Derby Racing Exam Table. Like A Field Hospital For Repairs And Therapy.

Maine soap box derby racing in Houlton Maine. Reach out, here for questions about everything soap box derby. The Northern ME soap box derby committee puts on the big state of Maine race event each June.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730

June 26, 2024
Maine Litter, Like Another Helping?

Maine litter. Like another helping of litter?

No thank you, it’s carry in, carry out in Maine. I was taught to pick up after myself.

Everyone Enjoys Outdoor Maine Lake Ice Fishing. Even The Family Dog.

But now that we’re on the subject, who taught you how to litter? Are you good at littering? Would you consider yourself an amateur or professional or in-between level litter bug?

Littering, sounds strange when asked about a skill or talent that helps no one.

But how best to help ” give a hoot, don’t pollute”? (Thanks Woodsy Owl. Like to come out of retirement?)

This Maine blog post about littering, what makes a litter bug let fly.

Keep It Clean. The Air, Water, Earth. Give A Hoot, Don’t Pollute!

To open the window wide. Toss the Happy Meal packaging remains out through the hole where glass used to be.

You could take the approach that litter creates jobs. The highway clean-up crews and effort put into recycling litter all pump lots of money into the economy.

Is it like no no, don’t take your shopping cart to the parking corral or push one back into the store thinking.

Because someone makes a living, can be hired to do that for you. Even though inside more and more shopping places, you and I are being trained to scan and bag our own items. Then asked to rate how did you do with the five-star option. I’d give myself a five for a fine job bagging and tagging at the Wally World or Piggly Wiggly check out.

Any Season Is The Right One To Visit Maine.

So littering when walking along a Maine hiking nature park trail or around home.

Done with the empty bottle or can, the candy or gum wrapper, the food container. Throw it, get rid of the debris on your four wheeling or snowmobile stop. Just let gravity do what it does best here on Earth.

Maine’s Mt Katahdin Is Almost A Mile High. Carry In, Carry Out And Protect Maine’s Tallest Mountain Hiking Trail Camping Experience.

Park the car.

Statistics show most littering in Maine done by motorists and usually in the 30 something age group. Tossed on a highway means you can get away from your litter at 55 miles or faster and less apt to know who generated it right? But take a walk down over into the road highway ditch. Littering along a beautiful Maine highway or hiking trail is not pretty. Not many would argue about that right?

Family Fun Is Always Outdoors In Maine

But nothing worse than a Maine blog post that shames.

Instead, how to be proactive in understanding the “why” folks litter. I never saw my parents litter. I was brought up to pick up and put litter where it should go… into a garbage pail. So not made to clean up after yourself or just not caring. Is it just lazy?

Take a trip to a third world country and it’s whoa.

Look at all the garbage, everywhere in heaped deep layers around you. It smells, is not sanitary and contaminates. Garbage can be industrial littering where jobs over the environment tkaes priority.

Or just no structure in place for here’s what you do with with littler on any level ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.

If the increase in litter because of the higher cost to get rid of it?

Maine Would Love To Have More European Tourists From Across The Atlantic Ocean.

No more backing up the family sedan on Saturday morning at a small Maine town dump. To throw another bag or two where the black bears are never far away.

The bulldoze operator idling and ready to pack it down and cover it up to remove it from sight. To ready the land fill dump for the next deposit. Land fills in Maine, those did not help the ground water quality.The black bears were entertaining though.

Take the case of an appliance now that wears out?

Where does it go if not a recycling center transfer station? Dump along an old woods road on someone’s private property?

One of the best ways to cure littering is to grab a pair of gloves, a large refuse bag.

Then high ho, let’s go comb a stretch of Maine highway garbage together. Everyone should take a turn.

Why not adopt a stretch of roadway or trail, parkway to tidy up on a regular basis. Make it a family or civic, school, church group regular event. Not just in spring. Maine highway vegetation can hide a lot of garbage.

Awareness of how bad the situation is often requires hands on, up close and personal inspection of what’s out there for litter.

To study the sheer amount that piles up along a Maine highway over time.

Got This Maine Cat In A Real Estate Property Sale.

Broken bottles are dangerous. Wildlife has to deal with six pack plastic rings that will never biodegrade.

Left where a Maine lake ice shack sat that just becomes part of the waterfront habitat below.

Shifting up to bulk buying to avoid the individual packaging something to promote?

Why not join a co op and bring your own containers to reduce packaging waste?

Do you have a compost bin out by your garden where you give the crank a heck of a yank?

I’ve witnessed the highway road crews collecting the returnable bottles, collecting the debris each spring in Maine.

Winter must be the peak time for litter bugs.

Or harder to get out to retrieve it. When what’s tossed is out of sight and mind under white fluffy snow during shorter days of light.

As you lead a crew picking up litter it’s hard to not think about how to stop the sheer volume of it.

As you toil, you think what steps need to be taken for this constant clean up procedure to become unnecessary.

Just how best to reduce the growing amount of litter in Maine?

Singing, Crying, Or Paddling By In Silence. Maine Lake Loons.

Sure glad Maine has a bottle redemption law. No billboards to pollute the highways with distracting message either.

Littering, why people do it? Is it like the Hank Williams Jr song that littering is “a family tradition”?

Hope not.

Remember the classic litter campaign PSA’s?

Sometimes the trash, litter floats in from across the pond washing up on the coast of Maine.

There are more productive uses of time and money than picking up trash and litter after someone else. With a few adjustments. litter can be reduced or eliminated.

No, don’t need another law on the books about the stiff penalty for littering.

It’s all about education for young grasshoppers. Who help convert older family litter bug members to see the error of their ways.

What does Maine law say about littering anyway?

The state of Maine littering statute today.

Clean, Outdoors, Unspoiled. That Is Maine, The Way Life Should Be!

Falsetto parenting, where Mom or Dad throw their voice into a higher register like Frankie Valli.

To plead please don’t litter Jimmy or Jane.

That’s not the best way to cause litter reduction.

But if kids don’t practice pick up after yourself at home, they sure are not going to out in the World.

Like quitting smoking, the movement to stop littering takes awareness, education and a statewide approach.

Stopping By For A Slurp Of Sweet Syrup, Maine Hummingbirds Give Winds A Rest.

I worked at Maine Broadcasting in Bangor during and after graduating from the University of Maine in Orono.

Fred Nutter would do editorials on the direction the state of Maine should be taking or correcting. Summing it all up with “that’s our opinion, we welcome yours”. Wonder if Fred ever did an editorial on Maine littering?

At Baxter State Park, there is a famous rock to remind all it takes effort.

To keep it clean, to preserve beautiful four season Maine.

The huge rock boulder is called Pockwockamus at the entrance to Baxter State Park in Maine.

Set On Stone, Don’t Pollute, Give A Hoot! Pockwockmus Rock, Baxter State Park.

Colorfully decorated with a stone billboard reminder it is up to you and I to keep it clean and pristine. Keep Maine beautiful.

No People, No Man Made Structure Or Noises. Welcome To Baxter State Park’s Mt Katahdin.

Recycling helps reduce the trash, Maine litter.

Keeping trash items in a bag inside a vehicle until you arrive at a place to dispose of them. While traveling instead of throwing debris, garbage out a car window, save it, hold it until you get to a place to deposit litter.

Respect, How To Enjoy Maine And Keep It Clean! One Pastime Learned From Your Loved Ones.

Maybe like the “I voted” or gave blood sticker, there could be a version for a litter bug with a circle slash through the trash image. Or a lineup of five Mainers and the simple question “Can you spot the litter bug?” Keep it clean, it’s your planet, state, local Maine community. Please don’t litter. Keep Maine beautiful.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

June 4, 2024
Living In A Small Maine Town, What’s It Like?

Living in a small Maine town, what’s it like?

Maine is a handful of cities and over 450 small towns, plantations, unorganized areas. More open space and wildlife, less people and no billboards.

There is no shortage of opinions on anything these days. Where you should be living is one of those hot topics. Strong opinions and often the pros and cons are deeply personal.

Attractive, Preserved Victorian Style Brick Buildings In Market Square, Houlton Maine. Maine is full of small friendly towns.

This blog post is to spell out the what to expect without the sharp barbs or any resentments about small Maine town life.

For starters, who best to describe living in a small Maine town then someone who lives there full time.

Not a scathing report based on never set foot in Maine, never ever been there but I’ve heard blah blah blah. Or and here-say from one or two not so happy campers where the complaint experience might be legit or their own short comings caused.

So small town living in Maine, anywhere has a garden variety list of differences compared to a populated setting.

Small towns are fewer cars and traffic, more unspoiled outdoors. You experience lower crime, less pollution, friendlier first name basis living but not everything at your fingertips.

Vacationing In Maine. Returning To The Same Favorable Haunts Or Somewhere New? Maine is small town, not crowded, not riddled with crime.

The “gotta have and don’t want” list changes in your life no matter where you hang your hat.

Quality of life, healthier simple living is attractive but as parts wear out, medical centers come into the consideration of where you should live.

Too expensive to live somewhere causes moves, relocations to Maine.

Or you can not afford to retire where you are now can make you go online to do a Maine real estate search. If you live now in a not so great place to raise a family, the pack up the moving truck maneuver is on many folk’s radar these days. Or over population, high taxes, crime and temperatures can cause the pull the plug to want to live off grid in a Maine homestead with land.

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So Maine small town, what it is like?

A Toby Keith song but all the time? Everybody thinks my tractor is sexy Kenny Chesney like? I’ve blogged about 4000 population towns in Maine and it is all relative.

How small is the size you are examining for a Maine town?

If the town is 100 people, you might have a church or two, maybe a small convenience gas station outlet nearby to tide you over. Until the trip to a larger population center that can support a Dollar General or maybe a small Piggly Wiggly or Yankee Grocery food store.

Life Is A Maine Beach. Salt Water, Fresh Air, A Summer Breeze At A Maine Beach.

Small town living in Maine can make you think of out west in the farm belt.

Or a small coal mining community where farming or mining is pretty much all your have. Healthy Maine small communities are diversified and don’t have all their eggs in one economic basket.

Farming, woodwork, fishing, tourism for the sportsmen, families on camping trips are all big. So is transportation because unfold the map. See all those miles that separate small Maine towns from large population centers? That’s a big 10-4 on trucking in and out the goods we need and what we grow or create heading the other direction.

Working On A Small Maine Farm. Kids Benefit, The Farmer Wins Too!

So the life in a small Maine town.

You hear about a fire in your home town from a neighbor who posted a photo or two on social media. Or someone down at the service station or in the aisles of Walmart mentions did you hear about it?

If you are two or three degrees separation from the person in the news or making it, you hear through the family grapevine.

If you are not from the small Maine town originally, you will hear some negatives about never being accepted. Or feeling like a true local native of the Maine small town.

More Outdoor Space, Owning More Land With Your Home In Maine. Working Together To Earn Your Keep.

But if you volunteer, join a local club, church or school event, you will make new friends. If you are not always complaining about back in Jersey or wherever you lived last or grew up on how they do it better.

You are valuable if you are a worker, an asset to a small Maine town.

If you have a positive attitude and hopefully a sense of humor, that is a plus when moving to a small Maine town.

Live Music, A Maine Community Band Supplies It Weekly For Free. That’s Maine.

If you are from a sprawling urban area with million of people, it is hard to get your head wrapped about a small Maine town population of under 1000. Lake resort communities in Maine that swell and then go back to small numbers as the “snowbirds” head to the sunny south or southwest.

Long distances to travel for goods or services are part of the drawbacks to small Maine town life.

But access to Interstate 95 makes the travel pretty easy when no traffic and designed for moving 75 miles an hour or faster.

But because we are parked a little further up the pike, the surroundings become less traveled and more unspoiled all natural. Look up, see the stars on a walk at night? Hear the crickets and Maine lake loons in the moonlight? You can not duplicate that in a city setting.

Taught How To Fish, Survive Early In Life. Missing His Mate, Crying About It Heard On A Maine Lake.

So what are you after, what are your expectations and how did you grow up and was it a good experience or not.

You want more of what you like, less of what you do not and a change in zip code is driven by expectations. If they are met, you stay and pitch in to add to the local community in Maine.

Our job in the Me In Maine blog is to introduce the many corners of Vacationland to the readers. Some who grew up here and appreciate what we have in small town Maine living. Others who long for it because it sounds so delicious but so foreign to where they live now. I love living in a small Maine town and think you will too!

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

May 26, 2024
Is Moving To Maine A Good Idea?

Is moving to Maine a good idea?

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.

So is moving to Maine a good idea?

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.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

May 1, 2024
Houlton Maine Total Solar Eclipse

Houlton Maine Total Solar Eclipse.

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.

Here is what I can tell you about the total solar eclipse in Northern Maine.

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.

away with a good feeling about small simple Maine town living.

The next eclipse is August 23, 2044.

Mark your calendar time right?

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.

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Hope you enjoy the image highlights from the Great North American Houlton Maine total solar eclipse 2024.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

307.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com | MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

April 9, 2024