Lady bugs in Maine, seems like more than usual this year?
As Mainers open up their Maine lake camps and homes, more lady bugs are on the scene this spring.
Slow moving and not bothering anyone but showing up in greater numbers.
Has anyone else noticed lady bugs attracted to the light on windowsills, over doorways at Maine waterfront seasonal properties?
Lady Bug In Maine, Seeing More Of Them Than Normal This Year?
I grew up on a family farm and my Dad always told the four boys lady bugs are good for potato growers.
The Asian lady beetle imported back in 1916. Brought to America deliberately by the USDA to help tackle an aphid pest problem on pecan, other nut trees. Here in Maine, in the 1970’s, the seven spot lady bug was welcomed in
to help battle our potato aphid problem. The aphids were wreaking havoc with the potato plant leaves and hurting yields, costing Maine potato farmers hard earned money.
Are You In This Dream About Maine Vacations? Low Cost, No People, More Wildlife, Better Sunrises, Sunsets. Maine.
In other online posts you read in the 1990’s there was an explosion of thirteen spot lady bugs in Maine cruising, hitching a free ride in on cargo ships.
Now I have to look closer, to see the difference in my lake place in Maine lady bug population.
(Squinting) They all look the same and did not know there were so many differences. Never gave it much thought other than Dad said lady bugs are our Maine farm friends.
More Than One Kind Of Lady Bug In Maine.
A real natural help and a good farm insect. Like finding more angle worms, Earth rooms in the soil. Lady bugs are a good sign and have an important job to do on the Maine potato farm.
Eating those pesky Colorado potato beetles to help the spud crop for Maine growers.
No Two Maine Lake Sunsets The Same. Cause You Are Not The Same. They Hit You Differently.
So off to count the number of spots, study the color of red to orange difference in my new uninvited lake house guests.
Local Maine pototo growers are struggling with a cold, wet rainy spring this spring.
Working hard getting the ground ready, the crop planted in between rain showers to plant them in the ground.
While sweeping, clearing cobwebs, washing windows, spring cleaning at the lake property…
I wonder why all my cute, slow moving red orange with black spot buddies, the lady bugs are showing up in Maine in greater number this spring?
How come so many and are lady bugs a problem? A lake home in Maine buyer this morning told me she is not so fond of the Mexican beetle that bites.
Not sure if I have any other those but how do you control the insect pest population best?
And knowing you are on a Maine lake and extra sensitive not to upset the natural balance or end up hurting another waterfront neighbor.
This East Grand Lake log home buyer told me how she remedied the Asian lady bug, Mexican lady bug and all her other orange back with black spot house guests.
Peaceful, Like A Bottom Smooth And Glassy. Maine Lakes Have Different Surfaces And Change With The Weather.
She said the Ortho product from Tractor Supply did not work but a Spectracide one did.
My life partner Meg is death on anything chemical no matter not carefully applied or how safe anyone tells you it is.
So will get back to you on the all natural ways to eliminate a pest.
How to herd lady bugs from inside to outside.
And what kind I have for house guests.
But evicting them to the great outdoors in Maine without hurting another corner of the lakefront neighborhood.
Poorly designed, overworked septic systems and soil erosion are two big problems to tackle on Maine lakes.
You are in love with the place, worked hard to improve it but your Maine home is not selling.
What’s up with that? Is it really just the price is too high? And you picked the absolute worst wrong colors at the local paint store? So quick like a bunny. Hop to it. Change just two things. Price. Colors. Done.
Chisel away at the house list price. Tone down the Mopar high performance color intensity and voila.
Better Real Estate Market, Not Just Price, Not Just House Color Keeps A House On The Market, Not Selling.
Get the “sale pending” real estate home sign rider ready.
Like a baby, gonna have one any minute now. Stick around. Here comes a home sale buyer contract.
So right house price and play it safe easy on the eye colors, oh and maybe a little staging.
That’s how to hit the real estate house sale trifecta? Cool. I just can start filling the beefed up heavy cardboard packing boxes.
And quickly check to see if any new house listings popped up overnight in the Multiple Listing Service MLS feed.
Gotta hustle. Time to start making offers to find my next new home address.
The reasons your Maine home is not selling.
Looks Good, Priced Right But Days On Market Racking Up, How Come Some Maine Homes Don’t Sell? Reasons For House Sale Delay (Not What You Think)
How much time do you have?
This Maine real estate blog post drills down into what impacts how long your home lingers on the local market.
Many factors work in your favor or against you in a home sale in Maine. (Any agent in another real estate market location has their own different advice to share because it is not one size fits all for the country.)
Nothing says “ten foot pole marks” to potential home buyers than the bloated DOM statistic problem indicator.
What’s wrong with this house, why is it still on the market and what am I missing?
How You Tell The Real Estate Story, How Far Reaching Your Marketing Is. It All Speeds Up The House Sale In Maine!
Why is my Maine home not selling?
Like unclaimed luggage circling round and round the carousel long after all the tired passengers leave the airport terminal. Left behind, abandoned, cold, lonely, unloved.
The buyers jump to the conclusion the home has major problems.
Has to be something wrong. Not sure just what but just a deep dark suspicion something mechanical, very expensive needs repair.
Stay away from this one.
How Long Is By Maine Home Sale Going To Take? Looks All Spiffed Up And In A Lake View Picture Perfect Setting. Should Happen Drive Thru Quickly?
Must be the roof, foundation, heating, electrical or plumbing all messed up in that one.
Heck, could be haunted. (Wait a minute. Doesn’t that make it worth more?)
Keep your distance seems prudent based on absolutely not enough information, the wrong reaction to the DOM.
Sometimes A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words. Other Times A House Is Drop Dead Gorgeous But Still You’re Not Privy, Sure Of The Reasons Why It’s Not Selling.
Every home for sale unless new construction is a “used house”.
They are not perfect, not all the same. Most home buyers have a price range to stay within or it’s keep renting the roof over their head.
So it’s always a do the best you can with the current local housing inventory you have available in any market. Feast, famine, inbetween supply situations unless you are brave enough for new construction, to build a house in Maine.
Buyers, try not to be too picky or seek perfection.
Sellers. the current market comparable houses sales like your place are priced here and you want to get double or triple that?
Real estate agents, please tell the homeowner with all due respect, you cannot meet their price point expectations.
Don’t clutter the market with hopelessly over priced house listings that are not going to sell.
You cannot always help them get a seat at the long shiny real estate conference room closing table.
Whew! Pull Up A Chair, You Made It To Another Successful Maine Real Estate Closing!
It’s not the house is good or bad. It’s more about the motivation of the buyer, seller and even the real estate agent.
(Or a simple hidden title problem discovered late in the sale. Maybe a just surfacing boundary line dispute with a hostile neighbor.
Learning the rental tenant is not leaving but digging in to force a drawn out legal eviction process that costs a home listing sale.)
What does the buyer bring to the real estate listing sale equation?
Better Far Reaching Marketing Helps Sell A Maine Home Faster. But A Home Buyer Not Bank Pre-Approved Can Waste Lots Of Time And Ending Up Having To Bow Out. Next Home Buyer Please.
Make sure you are pre-approved at a local Maine mortgage lending bank first.
Clean up any pesky issues stuck on your credit report before falling in love with the home of your dreams that you can not buy today.
If a house for sale goes under contract with a buyer that is NOT already bank approved, the days on market time suck trap starts.
Tied up so no one can buy it while maybe the buyer does or does not get the green light thumbs up approval.
If that buyer gets denied for lending, back on the market the house goes. Which makes house seekers wonder what’s wrong with the property listing? I thought it was gone, on it’s way to a closing?
I instruct, coach every Maine home buyer once they are bank approved, under contract to buy a house, don’t make any major purchases.
If you car dies, hitchhike. Do no increase your debt ratios. Stay away from charging a purchase for that new living room or master bedroom furniture set. Those added monthly payments means you were qualified but not home loan approved to buy anymore.
It goes without saying not to lose your job, not to change professions or get served with divorce papers. That all has to wait until the day after the closing if you want to stay bank approved.
What does a seller do or not do that impacts the sale price or getting to a real estate closing at all?
Price the property in line with the local current real estate market. De-clutter and deep clean room by room. Up in the attic, down in the basement, out in the garage too.
A little sprucing up with a paint brush where chips happened, washing windows, getting rid of cat boxes. Replacing dead light bulbs all helps the presentation. So does not delaying showings. If the house is rented, the difficulty finding a suitable time for the tenant can miss home selling opportunities.
Reasons Why A Property Listing Is Not Selling. (Not Always What You Think) Buyers, Sellers Make Demands. Real Estate Agents Or Brokers Can Drop The Ball.
What about the Maine real estate broker agent?
He or she is the lead reindeer. Lighting the way from pre-listing to the final real estate clear to close memo and passing the house keys.
Communicating through day and night to keep buyers and sellers meeting their responsibilities. Pivoting around obstacles, meeting deadlines along the way to keep the home sale on track.
Everything is time sensitive in real estate contract sales. Buyers and sellers can not wait forever.
Other attractive house sale situations come and go and real estate home sellers, house buyers get testy.
Lots of advice coming at them from hairdressers and brother in laws who think they know a little something about real estate listing sales.
Buyers and sellers pull the plug and move on if the sale is getting too emotional, is dragging out for lots very good reasons.
If the real estate agent does not make or answer phone calls, text messages or emails. That MIA agent can actually hurt the sale, stall the process from neglect of duties.
That’s it, that simple. As long as everyone does their role mentioned above another successful house sale happens? I just explained the roles of buyer, seller and real estate professional and how to assure a successful sale if followed?
Heck no. What happens in the local economy, the size of the housing inventory of houses just like yours that hop on the market to compete for buyers. That impacts house sales, the days on market DOM statistic.
Like sailing, adjusting the canvas to harness what wind you have is needed.
Adjust To The Wind, Shift And Pivot Quickly In A Real Estate Sale. To Keep Heading In The Direction Of A Maine Real Estate Closing.
To quickly tack. The right moves, certain adjustments are easy to make when the real estate professional has been through several years of on the job training experience.
The real estate marketing is everything.
If only a sign planted in the front lawn, the house has very limited exposure. Today more than ever your house needs better story telling descriptions, imagery, video. Your real estate buyer is very busy and living an overbooked exhaustive life.
That wannabee home buyer looking for a place just like yours needs to know about your listing.
If he cannot find it out in a wider, larger audience of home buyers, if he does not know about it. Well now, it’s like winking at a woman in the dark. Gets very poor results.
Over pricing, poor condition, lack of exposure, stale weak marketing, difficulty in quick showings, an untrained brand new agent, a rotting out should retire older one.
Completing A Maine Home Sale. Sometimes Bumps In The Road, Detours. Maneuvering To End Up At Long Closing Conference Room Table With All The Chairs.
All of these factors hurt your chances for a quick profitable hassle-free house purchase sale.
They each have a role in why a house fails to attract buyers and hangs around the local Maine real estate market
Go online and study real estate listing presentations.
If everything starts to blur and look the same, your place deserves way better than that.
To stand out and get serious attention, the real estate marketing has to pull them in from the curb.
Real estate full motion video with sound is the best way to give buyers open house on demand showings around the clock.
And without boring the heck out of you with technical details, there is so much going on behind the scenes. On how the real estate website IDX can make a major difference being found on the front page of a search index.
How blogging and social media on a daily basis helps the real estate marketing momentum, reach and exposure.
If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, any kind of property, I would love to talk with you.
What’s your real estate puzzle and let’s hear the questions that I can help give advice from past listing sale adventures.
I love this real estate profession, but admit the learning curve has not stopped over the entire 45 years of all kinds of experiences.
You have to have fire in your belly, keep studying and be willing to embrace new ways to do my job better.
You have to feel like you can’t wait to begin another new Maine real estate day.
How does a Carnival cruise differ than setting sail on a Viking sea cruise line?
This blog posts realizes all work and no vacation play makes Jack and Jill dull people.
Real estate agents and brokers work some incredible long hours and earned a sea cruise vacation.
Don’t mind if I do. Just completed a Viking cruise sailing on the newest Vesta ship.
Less Cruisers, Smaller Viking Cruise Line Boats Like The Ocean Going Vesta. Viking Cruise Lines Has Even Small River Boats That Can Get Where Mega Cruise Ships Can Not.
Under a thousand cruisers, almost 500 staff from 39 countries manning the decks and duties on the Viking Vesta cruise ship.
This was my first Viking cruise ship experience on their ocean going not river boat cruise option. Meg and I just finished up the Greek Odyssey Island Viking ship cruise on the new Vesta ship.
Seventeen Carnival cruise ship experiences starting with a cruise with my kids on the brand new smoke free Paradise ship.
How does Viking Cruise Line compare with Carnival Cruise Line?
There is no good or back just a different approach to go after not quite the same sea cruise ship audience.
Used all the cruises to draw from in the travel log comparison differences between Carnival and Viking.
One is not better or worse, just offer a slightly different approach to vacation sea cruses.
Shared observations to help you select which line fits you best.
The Carnival cruise ship Celebration was a very fun vacation and the big corner front high up big balcony suite cabin was very comfortable.
There are over 60 cruise companies serving World vacation travelers today.
Our Greek Island Sea Cruise Cabin On The Aft, Very Back Of The Vesta Ship.
Lots of options for where you select from the cruise ship room location from the deck plans.
Here’s some highlights of the Viking Cruise Ship Vesta Greek Island Odyssey vacation trip that we got back from in the nick of time.
Sample the Turkish delight from one of our stops to see Ephesus in Kusadas Turkey.
Programing of all of the cruise lines constantly considers the vacation traveler audience segment they seek to entice to come aboard.
To pay for of the expensive boats. To keep them coming back for more floating cruise vacations on their brand.
See The Viking Vesta Tendering In Cruisers To Hop On A Bus And Climb The Hills Of Santorini Greece?
Studying the feedback, watching cruise industry trends. Working around events like COVID and onboard health safety a priority to protect cruisers and crew.
How to fill the boat staterooms and market the differences of each cruise ship deck and category.
Zero Lot Lines, No Back, Side, Front Yards Either In Santorini Greece Island Of Crete.
The goal to add more cruise ships to the line, to increase travel option ports of calls.
To increase stock value and make a healthy profit.
Sheer company efficiency in the marketing and watching expenses.
What level of service and pampering the company provides to get repeat loyal cruisers returning to vacation on their particular cruise line.
The Mules Help Haul The Building Materials Up Steep, Twisting Small Pathways On Santorini, The Island Of Creete.
All cruise lines work hard paying attention to the big and small details. They need you happy and relaxed for the rest and relaxation.
To key in and deliver on whatever “floats the boat” for each target segment.
Polling cruisers, study of what other lines are offering. Constantly adjusting what they serve up happens.
What would be the ideal sea cruise experience can change over a person’s life time.
The Carnival to Viking back to Carnival cruise line swing.
If you have a family, are looking for a value cost saving options.
That kind of cruise travel is way different than no no. You are retired, kids grown, traveling in an 18+ adults only mode.
Taking A Carnival Cruise Vacation. Did You This Winter Or Early Spring From Maine Or Wherever You Are Reading This Cruising Blog Post?
Until change the cruise line approach again when grandchildren are invited to vacation with the grandparents.
Carnival Cruise Line and Viking are vastly different travel approaches.
Ever Take A Sea Cruise And Do You Use Carnival ? Ever Tried Viking? Or What Cruise Line Do You Like Best And Why?
The Carnival Cruise Line vibe is high energy and glitzy, let’s drink gamble party.
Viking’s vibe is quiet, serene and “Scandi-modern sophisticated”.
I enjoyed cruising with my young family on Carnival boats.
The Carnival cruise ship boats are larger, more pools and have lots of kids.
400 Visits, Sea Cruises In Maine, Taking A Boat Ride To Three Or More Island Stops In The Tropical Islands Is A Fun Break From A Maine Winter..
As I said or typed earlier, my first cruise was on Carnival Paradise, a smoke free brand new boat taken with my four children.
The last few Carnival cruises the family and I were on new mega-ships of 6500+ passengers like the Celebration and Jubilee.
Cruise Ship Vacations In The Sun And Fun.
This past week’s Viking Vesta sea cruise vacation on a small ship of roughly 998 passengers.
With Carnival cruises, the base fare is lower and you “a la carte” to add on the drink packages, Wi-Fi, the off-boat excursions. You learn how to maximize your cabin deck category choice.
Ruins, Lost City In Turkey Being Unearthed, Pieced Back Together.
It’s up to you to land the best airfare to the cruise port with Carnival.
Cruise Ship Vacations, They Are Not Little Tug Boats. Nothing Small About The Dozen Story High Water Hotel Resorts.
To get to the port to climb on board the cruise ship.
To catch a plane after the cruise ship disembarkation kicks you off according to your color luggage tag.
So the crew can prepare the ship for the next sea cruise passengers load.
On Viking, it’s all-inclusive with Wi-Fi, wine/beer at meals and one excursion per port included.
The Viking Vesta Cruise Ship Parked Out In The Harbor. Using Tenders To Transport Cruisers To Santorini Greece. See The Viking Vesta In The View?
Your airfare all arranged.
The Viking cruise line crew is there to escort you and your luggage to the boat.
Then deliver you off the boat at the end of the sea cruise vacation to your airport gate.
Pick Up And Return Delivery To The Airport On Viking Cruise Line Vacations.
Carnival cruises are often families with kids, budget conscious, multi generation groups.
Viking ocean and river are adults only (18+) couples, retirees, older couples and singles that are lifelong learners. No canon ball jumping in the swimming pools. No hairy chest contests or cruiser talent shows to cheer for shows.
On Carnival you find water parks, rope courses, arcades, Broadway-style shows, IMAX theatres.
Here’s a go pro shot of the kids snorkeling in Cozumel Mexico on a Carnival Cruise ship vacation.
Cruise Ship Vacations, Those Big Boats Come And Park Off Maine Harbor Towns. 400 Trips A Year To Maine Each Year.
A big video screen in the center of the boat for outdoor movies, sun tanning and deck parties. There is the ding ding ding of casino gambling when out in international waters on your Carnival cruise ship.
Visit To Turkey To Check Out The Ruins In Ephessus Traveling On Viking Vesta Ship To Kusadasi.
NO casino roulette wheels spinning, crap tables card games or one-armed bandit sounds on a Viking cruise ship.
NO big screen display by the busiest center pool.
NO kid’s clubs and the focus is on lectures, enrichment with Viking. Quiet places to read, play cards, enjoying high tea and the sweets.
Hot towels handed to you using tongues as you return to the boat after excursions.
On Carnival the dress code is casual with “Cruise Elegant” formal nights.
Lot of photo shoots and chances to purchase the say “cheese” vacation captures.
The boat ride on Viking is no photographer.
Viking Vest Cruise Ship Corner Explorer Category Cabin At Sunset At Sea.
No camera flashes going off except a few cruisers capturing their personal photos. The dress code is elegant casual, no dress to the nines formal nights on Viking.
I would estimate the average age on the Viking Vesta cruise vacation was 62 years old. On the last seventeen Carnival cruises, rachet it back to 42 average years of age.
Bigger Carnival boat, more options for where to eat, what to see, hear and do. Everything super-sized, longer lines.
Smaller Viking ship, lines? What lines. Peace and quiet and cruisers head to bed way earlier.
The Horizon Carnival Ship Formal Dining Room. Anytime Dining A Good Choice Using Your Hub App.
The last night of a cruise on Carnival?
Lots of continuing music, lounge laughter, bars and casino and food consumption still underway until the night.
On Viking ship, crickets.
Harp music at breakfast as you prepare for disembarkation.
Everyone retires early and the ship hallways empty, the boat quiet on Viking cruises.
NO IMAX theatre or tons of lounges, entertainers and less dining venue options on a smaller Viking ship. No late-night comedians or magicians.
Instead of a full throttle high gear eat drink and be merry to not miss a drop with a larger Carnival cruise ship’s younger crowd.
One Of Many Watering Holes On A Carnival Cruise Ship.
Your quieter, less people ride on the Viking cruise ship like the Vesta feels like somewhere down shifted to second gear.
Viking has a shop or two with limited offerings.
Nothing out in the hall runway to pull you in like sirens selling you something. Whatever you pick up for shopping is done during a break on a guided shore excursion.
You shop on shore for souvenirs and no one is hustled on the boat with Viking.
Shop At The Port, Not On Board The Viking Ship. Carnival Has Lots Of Merch To Peddle Though At All Kinds Of Shops Selling Everything Onboard.
Everything on the Vesta was extremely clean, no signs of wear and tear.
No rugs rats or carpet ice cream or pizza spills. Blue and tan the prevalent colors and understated simple elegance the vibe.
The soothing sound of birds chirping, water waves lapping in the Viking public bathrooms.
While Carnival cruise ships loaded with flashy colors, bright lights, lots of music and laughter.
The Beach In The Dominican Republic. Have You Been On Or Plan To Take A Sea Cruise Vacation? This Beach Stop On Carnival Cruise.
Each ship like a self-contained floating resort and round the clock something always being peddled.
Pace yourself.
Try to keep up and don’t feel overwhelmed.
More than a few choices of where to eat, drink, listen to lectures, music productions or comedy shows.
T-shirts, logo merch, gold chains by the inch and watches, jewelry, clothing, a store for flowers, tuxedos, candy, suntan lotion, everything under the sun available on a Carnival mega ship.
Bucket of beer specials, drink of the day for a buck off. You don’t witness that on Viking cruises. Different crowd, not the same focus, less people. Probably not a carbon copy vision of how you and I want to spend the same sea cruise vacation right?
Want to buy a Bingo card, one for Deal or No Deal in the large auditorium? Carnival is your pick.
Get your hair done, facial treatment, sauna?
You can get pretty and relaxed on each line.
But wait for the deals that unroll the deeper into the cruise week you go.
You are on a Carnival ship with the big open atrium and often exposed glass elevators pumping up and down.
With Carnival, the ship itself can be the destination and some never leave the boat (or the bar or buffet line or black jack table).
Heck there are cruises to nowhere that just head out on the blue green water for a few days to fit in a quickie.
Gimme a beat.
There is non-stop entertainment, gambling, drinking, eating every twenty minutes. It’s like.. well, a self-contained carnival fun, sensations eat drink and be merry.
My kids used the four pools, rope courses, mini golf, roller coasters, camp Carnival clubs. Louder, budget friendly.
On Viking, it’s no kids, no cruisers under 18 years of age and premium luxury cruising. Shorter list of on-board boat fun options than Carnival. Longer World cruise itineraries delivered in a lower key Scandinavian style.
The Viking ship is a comfortable floating hotel used to explore the World. The focus is port-side cultural history about whichever harbor you tie up and dock overnight. The fellow cruiser relationships that happen during your vacation.
Viking’s approach is let’s head to shore to learn about the local cultures and lifestyles. Small low-key table or two of cruisers playing cards. Working on a puzzle. Reading a book tucked away in a lounge corner or attending a cooking class.
The cost for Carnival versus Viking cruise lines?
Needs Repairs, Kinda Old. Was Buried, Went Through Earthquakes And Damage From Many Years Ago.
Carnival is quite a bit cheaper upfront but can nickel and dime for the extras.
Paying for the art shows or jewelry, photo package, excursion options. Anything offered that’s marked up for profit to help monetize the cruise from every angle.
Viking is going to set up back three to five times more initially, but you avoid the hidden costs of excursion tours, drinks, specialty dining, laundry. travel costs to and from port. Viking books the flight air fare. Picks you up at the airport, delivers you and your luggage to the port.
Carnival is see you at the cruise port.
Good luck with Ubers, your connections coming aboard and leaving the boat. No one holding up a Viking lollipop sign and helping you with flights, luggage, transportation. You are on your own to build the coming in and out of the vacation yourself.
People say they feel safer on the excursions on Viking. The red coats with the numbered lollipop guides do a superb job herding, shepherding the cruisers.
I like on Carnival to get off the boat leisurely when we all had breakfast.
Was used to finding a local taxicab driver with a well-worn Bible on the dash. Setting up the day’s itinerary, negotiating the price. To at the end of the day arrive safely back at the ship. With plenty of time to spare. Before the loud deep ship horn sounds as the anchor chain gets raised.
Viking ships that are smaller can access less crowded ports.
Visit more remote destinations easily. Carnival massive ships cannot just dock anywhere and are restricted to major, tourist heavy ports with deep water.
So there are some differences between Carnival and Viking cruise line vacations and what to expect.
You have to consider which cruise vacation is best for YOU.
The actual cruisers on your ship have talent and on Carnival they get pulled into the game shows, the auditions to perform.
Viking lets you sit there and does all the heavy lifting with a much smaller entertainment staff.
The Cats And Dogs Roam Free. Fed, Loved, But Free Everywhere In Greece, Turkey.
The biggest take away between the two cruise lines Carnival and Viking in one word.
Loud or quiet.
Viking cruise ships are quiet all vacation long. Everything is taken care of and arranged for you.
Carnival cruises are never a dull moment, more than enough to pick from to action pack your vacation on the floating resort. They start out cheaper but easy does it to avoid getting financially carried away with the spending adds ons.
Kids or no kids one of the biggest distinctions between Carnival and Viking cruises.
A Carnival boat offers almost everything a good vacation needs right on the ship. The Viking boat is the food and lodging solitude in-between the onshore excursions that complete the vacation.
My next cruise on Viking or Carnival cruise lines?
Dream, Book, Take That Cruise To Sampler Lots Of Stops On A Sea Cruise To Sample. To Return For Longer Stays.
Depends on are my grandchildren coming and the ports of call itinerary.
The big Carnival boats are impressive and love studying the deck plan, comparing the cost of corner cabins. Loft 19 perks.
Viking has Explorer cabin suites, and I love the corners, the aft and bow location hideouts.
They help you create space, peace and quiet on the Carnival ship. But it’s quiet everywhere and all the cabins have balconies on a Viking vessel.
Are you spending lots of time in your cabin or up on deck or out on the mainland tramping?
What ocean cruise vacation destination intrigues you most?
Caribbean Islands, the Panama Canal, a Greek Island or Alaska tour?
Parked off the Hawaiian Islands and tendering in and out from your ship?
All I know is you work hard and travel opens your mind for mental health. Cruises are a floating vacation buffet of destinations. Looking forward to the next sea cruise and reliving the experiences after returning home from one. That’s almost as much fun as the cruise itself.
The actually planning the trip, taking one is something you earn and a healthy habit.
The Viking Vesta boat ride cruise that Meg and I are just returning from had 500 crew members for 998 guests.
Travel To Somewhere Far From Your Familiar Home Surroundings. You Need A Cruise. Book The Trip! How About Santorini On The Island Of Crete, Greece?
That crew from 39 different countries on the Viking ship from around the World really adds to the cruising experience on all the cruise ship lines.
Travel, especially the blue green water and 100-degree temperature swing kind is good for your mental health outlook. It’s a reward. Don’t forget to apply the sunscreen. Pack a couple good books for the plane ride, sitting on a beach or sprawled on a cruise ship deck lounger.
On your death bed, you will not probably lament “I wish I had not traveled”.
But instead that “I’m glad I took the trips while I was healthy enough. Or wish I had booked even more trips along the fast-moving stages of my life.
Get out of town, run away from home.
Come to Maine, book a sea cruise on whatever line that starts the journey.
Cruise Ships Park In The Harbors Of Many Exotic Locations Around The World. Or Stop By A Maine Coastal Port.
The memorable travel you make time for completely changes up the day to day same old routine of wherever you live now.
It’s fun to talk to other sea cruisers on your vacation and compare notes. Crystal does this, but Norwegian, Virgin, Princess or Holland America offers that. Check them out and look for the deals.
Remember, they over sell the bottom of the boat and the sooner you book the cruise with a room to be determined (TBD) means you can float, to climb a couple categories.
Or pack your bags, be ready to drop everything to race to the cruise ship that is not quite full for some reason.
The cruise lines wants a full boat, other vacationers like you to spend money on the drink package, in the casino, taking shore excursions, buying photos, jewelry, t-shirts and massages or facials.
Guided Tours On Viking Cruise Lines All Part Of The Trip. Included Shore Cruises Included To Learn!
Last minute cruises if you live near the port or can arrange economical airfare are another money saving option.
Here for questions about cruising and can compare Viking cruise or Carnival cruise experience I can draw from but which line do you like? Where have you cruised and on which cruise ship brand telling us how did it go?
My next cruise? Booked yet?
No but thinking heavily about the Scandinavian route as I study the online cruise ship line propaganda.
I love sampling everything Maine offers for travel options too. But venturing out further away from Maine just makes me feel how lucky I am to grow up, raise a family, work here listing and selling real estate living in Maine
Over 400 cruise ships to Maine mean come sample the lighthouses, roam the coastal ports to sample Vacationland. Thank you for following our Me In Maine blog posts.
Look around and it hits you, Maine, more room around you.
Unspoiled space, being out in nature with room to roam around in Maine. It hits you sometimes instantly or after a few visits to Maine. As you hike a woods trail or paddle a Maine river or lake, the sense of wide open space.
Are You In This Dream About Maine Vacations? Low Cost, No People, More Wildlife, Better Sunrises, Sunsets. Maine.
Something you can not easily find in a crowded urban setting. It’s missing where there are lots of Interstate cloverleaf exchanges and the hustle bustle of population centers.
Maine is rural, unspoiled and offers tremendous amounts of space, peace and quiet.
Don’t you think having plenty of space around you to maneuver is right up there with lots of sleep improving the day to day?
In Maine, the natural beauty hits you. But the lack of what just too many, what lots of people can cause to impact your surroundings. It’s easy to forget how lucky having all this space in rural Maine around you really is.
Space, Trees, Water, Wildlife Not People. Maine Is Rural, Unspoiled And Unforgettable.
When you live in Maine, do you think a local forgets how lucky they are?
Does the wide open sense of space excitement diminish as you log more hours in the great state of Maine?
Not if you get out on the water or trek the trails in Maine.
More Land, Less People, That’s Huge In Maine! Space Happens All Around You.
Many come to Maine for one long weekend or a longer string of days and then that’s all she wrote until next year.
When you live in Maine, the outdoor adventure is on tap and always available to sample.
It just takes getting outside and not wasting a season of living in Maine. Berenstain Bears children’s book about “too much television”.. remember that one? You do have to get in a habit of getting off the couch.
More on Stan and Jan that cranked out over 300 books.
With four seasons, the state of Maine serves up so many opportunities for outdoor enjoyment and recreation.
Small town charm, the locals full of stories and a sense of intimacy, closeness and working together.
The wisdom of the woods, lessons learned in farm fields, working together on the local events, there is a strong awareness of community.
What’s It Like Waking Up On A Maine Lake? Like No Other Experience. How’s That?
Smart as a whip and doesn’t miss a trick. Talented and skill set rich. You see a lot of those kind of people in small Maine communities. How come?
More hands on direct involvement in the home grown not store bought small town rural communities makes everyone tighter.
All this space helps the process too.
No one bumping into you, less traffic on the roads. Less time spent getting out of anyone’s way or stepping aside to get out of their space. Less time spent trying to avoid or get away from people to “hear yourself think”.
Your View Where You Live Now. Is It A 300 Lot Housing Subdivision Or Wildlife, Trees, The Waterfront?
Small, simplified, rich and rewarding day to day in Maine starts with all kinds of space around you.
Simple living in Maine.
That’s what living in small town Maine is like, everything kept simple. Do you have that feeling surrounding you, it is like that around you where you call home now?
Keep it simple. Pine tree and a star. It’s all your need, says it all. Maine is 91% wooded and has lots more than just pine trees. Why the star? Ever looked up in a Maine winter sky especially? Most folks not used to the black velvet of sparkles are blown away from the cosmic light show. Maine is one of the least light polluted areas and has tremendous constellation star power.
Ever saw this original Maine flag?
Early Flag Of Maine. Simple “North” Star, One Lone Pine Tree. Keep It Easy Peasy Simple.
The lone green pine is also a Native American symbol of freedom.
The blue “North” star is a pretty important navigation tool. You need that star of all stars to lead your ships, your trail riding group and to know where the heck you are. No GPS or satellite tracking to help you know which exit to take in the North Maine woods where one tree looks a lot like the another.
The motto “as Maine goes, so goes the Nation” caught on before social media trending phrases.
Our Yankee ingenuity and common sense earned Maine a recognized place of respect and leadership in the early days. This simple original Maine flag hoisted high to wave in the breeze from 1901 until 1909.
Dirigo Flag Of Maine. Little Fancier Than The Pine Tree And Star Earlier Model.
What’s Dirigo mean on the State Of Maine flag?
“I Lead” or “I Direct”. Other flags that flew before Maine became a state? There was one from the Republic of Madawaska with an eagle and six red stars semi circled overhead on a background of white. See the flag and learn about John Baker and the territory of Madawaska.
Before Maine was a state in 1920, back when everything was part of Massachusetts, there was a lot of New England versions of a flag to show your patriotism.
Doing Your Homework On Maine? It Starts With A Vacation, Can Leave To Much More As Your Heart Strings Get Pulled.
I see lots of “flags” in Maine and one of the more hard to swallow in Red Sox Nation is the Yankee baseball one.
I just love baseball and it is fun to see the Red Sox at Fenway park in a home game come out on top of the New York Yankees.
But my first local little league team had pin stripe uniforms like the “Evil Empire”.
Success, longevity, grit and talent is something to be admired. What flag would you put on the Maine real estate vacation property or second home? One to celebrate your heritage? One to show you are a snowbird and what your other state is as you travel back and forth splitting the time here and there?
The outward migration from city to country continues in the Northeast.
This blog post about why the move to Maine.
What to expect, why people pick Maine as the map location in relocation.
Packing up, breaking ties and filling out the change of address form. Your Worldly possessions sorted through to lighten the load for the trip north. The big heave ho, let’s go to Maine.
Big Green Bridge To Maine. Lots More People Using It To Move To Maine.
Why do people move to Maine?
Here’s top of the list I hear daily from out of state Maine real estate buyers.
“Not happy where I live now. “
What are they not happy about specifically? Just too many people where they live on the planet. High cost of housing and tired of renting, wanting to own. Crime, traffic and simply where do all these folks come from crowing into their daily lives wonderment.
Maine is the 4th lowest crime area and lowest cost state for car insurance for a reason. Less people, less problems caused because of too many folks squished in your living space. The pressure to protect yourself and possessions is a big concern in large population areas. All that goes away in small rural Maine communities.
Fun In Maine Is Low Cost, No Cost. Make Your Own DIY For Life Enjoyment.
When the city mouse travel to Maine on vacation, they notice how friendly Maine people are to each other.
Only natural beauty and space surrounds you when you live in a small rural community in Maine.
Skyscrapers and the wail of EMS vehicles fades away. Trees, lakes, rivers, streams, ponds and wildlife replace your background. Hiking the trails of Baxter, skiing down Sugarloaf or Sunday River, slowly paddling a kayak on a bottle smooth Maine lake. Picnic lunches on the rocks over looking the Maine coastal waters at Acadia National Park. Just the tip of the what to do on vacation in Maine fun things options ton consider.
Life Is A Maine Beach. Salt Water, Fresh Air, A Summer Breeze At A Maine Beach.
Maine offers a four season picture book setting of backdrops to complete the relocation dream.
With this kind of setting and on vacation in Maine, why wouldn’t you wonder what if I lived in Vacationland full time? Waking up to everyday in paradise. How could you not consider relocating moving to Maine between the ears and behind the eyes? It starts with a simple three day long weekend trip to Maine and then feel the tug on your heart strings. You want to be air brushed into the Maine landscape more than once a year on vacation.
Maine is a contrast to most places.
Refreshing, unspoiled, not discovered and like the state’s motto, “the way life should be.”
A move, any relocation to Maine or anywhere is a change. The older we get, the less easy upheaval is for most. There is lament and regret tacked on to the life change bill when you really love certain aspects of wherever you live now. But migration to Maine, lots of reasons for the transition consideration after COVID. The move to Maine for what is missing, what a city setting can not offer in the concrete jungle.
Growing Your Own Food, Knowing Where What You Put On The Family Table Came From Today, Tomorrow, Next Week.
The move to Maine, is it self inflicted and free and easy?
Or was it a take it or leave it job transfer? Is the relocation to be closer to elderly parents who need more daily assistance? Or to be closer to grandchildren? The lower cost of living, smaller house prices and what you do for fun no or low cost. That’s a big part of the tug of war to get to Maine.
The motivation to move to Maine has many facets.
The state of Maine is in the top ten healthiest places to live. But at the end of the day, it all distills down into expectations from the actual move to Maine. What do you expect the relocation move to Maine to mean in your life today? Everyone wants happily ever after until “The End”.
Walks, Talks, Everyone Brings A Covered Dish To Enjoy. That’s Small Town Living In Maine.
Give and take, more or less in any relocation should be expected moving to Maine or anywhere.
Second question I hear from folks from out of state Maine real estate buyers ask is “are people friendly”?
Will I fit in? If you did not where you are leaving before heading to Maine, there is a big red flag. Don’t ignore it. Where you live now, why or why not do you feel warm and fuzzy?
Getting involved, being accepted means to have friends, you have to be one first. Are Mainers friendly and accepting to new people sharing the landscape? Honestly, it depends on how things play out after the move to Maine. Volunteer, be sincere, want to help and pitch in to make a difference. Do that and you are an asset to any community.
Small Town Living In Maine, What’s It Like? Home Made, Local Talent, Volunteers Pitching In.
Three barking very large dogs on a very small lot and using your neighbor’s house lot for creating lawn fertilizer. Those disrespectful daily habits could cause tension. Lose your place on the neighbor’s Christmas card list. So does talking daily about where you moved from and what you liked better about “back home”.
I have eavesdropped on conversations at a corner store stop for coffee and heard “how stupid the people of Maine are” about a variety of subjects.
It begs the question, why did you move here then?
If it is so great, why did you move? Remember you relocated, no one hooked a chain around one leg and pulled you to Maine. It was your idea to cut the ties to the other side of the Big Green Bridge. Lots of local resources for moving to Maine. Lots of things living in Maine that you will enjoy that were missing from your last out of state address. Plenty of what’s missing in Maine that makes you smile too. What traffic lights, what road rage, what porch pirate, etc living in small town Maine.
Moving to Maine means planning to volunteer.
Local home town proud Mainers are actively involved in their communities. You are going to be too for the easiest way to feel part of the local fabric. Just pitch in, try not to complain and be an asset.
Reading A Book, Not A Care In The World! They Say Life Is A Beach. The Maine Waterfront In Maine With A Good Magazine Just Before Dozing Off.
Because you lived somewhere else, new ideas on how to make a local event even better the next time happens. There are so many ways to make a difference and everyone in the community glad you moved to Maine.
You take ownership of a successful event. A small Maine town is really like a big family. It is not uncommon to find others moved to Maine before you from the same area you just left.
Ways to make others in Maine wished you had picked somewhere else to relocate.
Complain pretty much all the time about anything and everything.
Don’t volunteer but expect your neighbor to meet your every need.
Forget contributing to the local charities and being proud of where you live.
Put up way way too many no trespassing and keep out signs.
Don’t mow your lawn and make sure your property is a pigsty eye sore.
Play loud music round the clock and be a nuisance.
Argue with teachers, neighbors, the police on a regular basis.
Complain, find fault and never offer solutions.
Post your unhappiness all over social media.
You get the point. Be friendly, have manners, take pride in a community makes you an asset wherever you land in Maine. But easy does it. Making the transition relocation move to Maine takes time and the first year is critical.
If you are not happy where you live now, do some soul searching to study the reasons why. It may not be all economic reasons. More than just living cheaper thought about driving the bus to get you and loved ones to Maine.
Multi generation reasons to buy a lot of Maine land with the option for family members to all get their very own a piece of ME. Hear that reason for the move to Maine a lot too. Where else can you get all this unspoiled Maine land and for such a low cost per acre??
How’s This For a Back Drop Reading Your Favorite Vacation In Maine?
For some it is starting over in a new relationship. Or putting the drama of where you live now in the rear view mirror as you head up Interstate 95. Did you come from a family of inlaws or outlaws and too much interference? Maybe smaller school classrooms, a better place to raise your kids is near the top of your move to Maine list.
Personal safety is right up there for many Maine real estate buyers picking Maine for relocation. It’s an investment buying property in Maine like hedging a bet. Feeling deep inside the World is changing and if all heck breaks loose, Maine seems a sure thing. Have many who bought Maine land, not done anything with it but enjoy knowing I own a piece of Maine. It does not make them preppers or end of the World doomsday predictors.
The last bit of advice relocating to Maine, moving to the Pine Tree State is sample lots more than one blog post or video.
Make the trip to Maine to look around and size her up before cashing in your poker chips.
Maine Is Family, Teaching, Walking, Talking And Doing Things With Your Kids.Watching A Parade Of Local Friends Family Neighbors In Your Small Maine Town. Part Of Living Here In Maine. Open Front Porches Used A Lot In Maine.
It’s ideal for many but all of us are wired a just a tad differently. Why the move to Maine is thrown into gear tied to a lot of personal factors. What do you hope to achieve moving to Maine? Today there are many strong online opinions on how you should lead your life. Not a lot of tolerance to other ways of doing it for some. Ever noticed vacation rentals for all the hints on the walls about Breathe. Relax, Nap. Laugh, Live, Love.
The biggest critics online have never been to Maine.
Or lived here for such a short period and in only one corner of Maine. Some have a vendetta. Like they are producing a 60 Minutes expose to save the World. Not the best resource when charting your life course on should you move and where if you do. Some critics are sincere, others would not be happy no matter where they live. The later are not the best to provide the list of reasons to move to Maine.
Tasty And Wholesome, That Is Maine Simple Living.
Living in Maine and not expecting a quick fix to what’s wrong that caused your relocation move means easy does it.
Stay positive and be sensitive to why so many love calling Maine their home. Realize where you left has some features you will miss. Many times it takes lots of people, a bigger population to offer this, that.
Is the gain and sacrifice worth it on your personal quality of life list of what’s important? Maine resources to help in the transition and doing your home work relocating to Maine .
Home On The Maine Farmstead. Lots Of Chores And Outdoors Year Round When You Decide To Homestead.
Relocatin To Maine … Cashing in on your house equity and toying with moving to Maine because just sick sore and tired of city life?
Getting more space inside and out is a big perk of owning and enjoying Maine real estate. Less rules and more control of your life. Pursuing an outdoor healthier lifestyle in Maine is way easier than a crowded urban landscape with over the top regulations, zoning, HOA’s.
Gardening, exercise, heating with wood, pitching in on the local level of community affairs. Maine scores top of the class for a simpler healthier lifestyle. But where you should be at this point in your life? Life is a series of continuous adjustments. Relocating to Maine involves lots of considerations and your real estate needs and quality of life needs change.
Only Fresher Maine Seafood Is Still Swimming In The Sea,
Pretty high on Maine but what if your loved ones are somewhere else? Have seen many make the mass exodus in this direction. More than one family member deciding let’s move to Maine to help each other out .
How’s the Maine real estate market today?
The outward migration to Maine still has the real estate market like playing musical chairs. In a nut shell, the real estate market nitty gritty is a tight market due to too much demand and a lacking inventory supply. This makes relocating to Maine mean expect to lose out on a big of multiple buyers after the same property listing.
Lots of qualified Maine real estate housing buyers in all sixteen counties.
But prices statewide in December a 9.23 percent price increase over a year ago statistics. With a 5.51 percent decrease in housing sales.
Videos for real estate are by far the easiest way to tap, slide, sit back and listen, watch, learn. Here to help whoever is reading this Maine blog post. To learn the lay of the land, to study the short cuts to make the transition less painful than it has to be. Glad will give you the local insider perspective as a life long native of Maine.
