MeInMaine Blog

Category: Uncategorized

  • Maine, An Easier Place To Turn Up The Heat, Fire In Your Belly.

    Maine Is Small Towns, Home Grown.
    Home Grown, Maine Made Is Small Town Special, Unique.

    Desire, passion, drive that burns deep down inside fueled by being in Maine full time where you want to live.

    But the fire in your belly is not just spiked when someone rubs you the wrong way. Or because of anger, frustration, jealousy or thoughts of just lashing out, retaliation. No no, because to begin with, in the simple living of Maine, there are too few of us in the sparsely populated state.

    Wasted emotion is like spent blue sky, bright daylight not used when the hay should have been cut.

    Then the tedder needs to spring into gear. To speed up the drying for the all important to feed the livestock this Maine winter hay bale making. Removing moisture in the loose hay. So spontaneous combustion from wet hay does not heat up and end up destroying your entire set of Maine farm buildings. One by one. Ashes to ashes for the all she wrote.

    Wasted emotion is as bad as apathy.

    Like intelligence untapped is sadder just not having marbles to use. Nothing on the meter showing for any degree of ommph, fire in the belly to complete a task or lead to effective needed change if all the energy wasted with upset arguing back biting. For solutions needed, facing small Maine towns. When the economic hose develops several kinks that threaten survival. The unique flame that burns brightly in any small Maine town that is always home grown, freshly squeezed special in its own distinctive way.

    But all the Maine towns, handful of cities facing the same problems of over spending, wasting resources and duplication of services that can not continue. For the health, long term survival of any small Maine town. Or the sixteen counties, the state of Maine as a whole. Before it becomes “no job, no paycheck, no Maine town”.

    So how to inject more fire in the belly enthusiasm to combat apathy in a small Maine town?

    Love for the small Maine town threaten with extinction means “love will build a bridge, find a way”. A shift from over taxation, restrictive legislative rule making that strangles small Maine business. And state, county, local government officials developing more of a want to help, how can we attitude.

    Maine is known for moose, lobsters, lighthouses, crystal clean water, vast woods, memorable vacations. But on the dart board of business friendly, Maine is no where near the center. Hanging out on the very edge. A skinny, slim, narrow fringe of the outer region cork. That can all change when the light bulb comes on over everyone’s head. Especially tax payers fed up, that have had more than enough.

    And together a collective goal of changing that climate, business atmosphere happens quickly. So it is time for everyone to get to work. So the economic vital signs improve, show better statistics on the medical clipboard during daily rounds, review, scrutiny. Too many agendas of a few to fill part of it.

    Bickering, bruised egos and just not working together part of the disease too. But also a Christmas list of nose bleed high level of services that Maine just can not longer afford has to be chain-sawed across the board. It’s gonna hurt but not just in a few areas. Easing back the spending throttle completely has to happen. Because we’re losing altitude, falling behind the other states, And there are several Mt Katahdin’s showing up in the pilot’s windshield ahead. That we may not clear with our lowered landing gear with a blinking, buzzing out of jet fuel warning that limits the dwindling correction options.

    Like pruning a fruit tree, weeding a crowded, stunted vegetable garden section.

    Removing dead and dying wood, the over story in a dense woodlot. So the rest can flourish. To become highly efficient and productive, vibrant which is what all Maine towns used to be when left alone to just work hard. Do great things on the local level and shine brightly. New technology, a shift in job markets makes the terrain steeper, slippery and time sensitive. But the cost of doing business, the quick sand of red tape in Maine is overburdening the little red hen employer creating much needed jobs. Communication, surveys from the existing businesses in Maine will develop the check list of what needs overhaul, the overdue streamlining.

    The greater good of a small Maine community involves collaboration with other towns, school systems.

    To find shared problems. To hammer out common solutions together. Fiercely independent Maine town spirit is a beautiful and dangerous condition at the same time if not tempered. Reined in, modified and redirected. The correction starts at the bottom, the 108 small Maine towns. Not waiting to see change from Washington, on the state level trickle down too little too late. It’s do or die time. We have hay to make.

    Get involved, become educated on the issues, help in developing a plan of attack. Armed with fire in your belly. Maybe a distemper shot from a local vet for the apathy you may suffer from too. Kick yourself in the pants, stop shooting ourselves in both feet by arguing, being petty if not everyone shares the same “what to we do” suggestion. The initial frustration, sulking, discouragement has no place to roost. Serves no good.

    As all Mainers learn to see with more than their eyes.

    Not just the obvious visuals. But their wallet, heart, love and passion for their small Maine town way of life. Their kids that would come back if there was something to return to make a living, raise a family and to help continue for the next generation. Rev it up, throw it into gear. Develop fire in your belly but not the kind from Frank’s hot sauce. The stuff oozing out near your soul, places not many people get to see, that you may not know you have either. Until push leads to shove to knock it off stalled dead center.

    Pitch in, stay positive, help out.

    When you read, watch something in the news that does not help Maine move in the right direction, does not offer solutions but is discouraging negative or mean spirited, make a call. Correct misinformation on myths, half truths that get sensationalized. Send an email, write a letter. Pay a visit. Improving things any way you can starts with yours, my attitude right? The fire in our belly. In whatever way, shape, form it presents itself for a need in a small Maine town, village, burg, step up. Focus on your individual talents, where your efforts first. That snow ball into an entire community stepping up, triggering a town wide change that causes movement no longer mired in the mud in a new direction.

    Maine, big, beautiful, all natural, unfiltered. But needing a healthy local economy to keep each corner of Vacationland alive and well.

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

  • No Kicking Dead Horses, Maine’s A Better Place To Let Go, Move On.

    Unplugged, Recharging In Maine.
    Peaceful, Four Season Drop Dead Gorgeous, Maine. Breathe, See, Figure Life Out Here.

    The city couple have dreamed of opening up, running a small sporting lodge in Maine.

    But not one established, all commercial bought by mortgaging their soul. Giving up their first new born bundle of joy. Or handing over a duplicate vital organ or two to accomplish, pull off the feat. But starting small. First the Maine land. Then building a rustic, simple Maine log cabin. That will become the main lodge. And one by one auxiliary cabins as they can afford appear on the Maine land over time. Working like an in tune piano during a duet. A harmonious team with a shared desire, passion, carbon copy vision. Best friends that love the outdoors of Maine. Both watching the Maine dream channel. On the same page and working toward the common goal.

    But like the couple who also live in a different concrete urban jungle setting and chasing the almighty dollar to stay above water, another pair of Jack and Jill’s want horses. Lots of them. A Maine farm spread where they can have wide open space. A wood lot of their own to heat their old New England farm house. Gardens, canning and preserving happening. Weathered farm buildings to restore. Patch up, spread the resources of time and money carefully. To improve with what they have. But in head over heels in love for life. Together tightly, hanging on loosely. Raising horses in Maine on the farm with some special name. Like Sabbath Day Farm. Rolling Meadow Brook Farm. Something that means Heaven, Nirvana to both the peas in the pod. Living on love as the song goes. Got each other and that’s all that matters.

    As many acres of Maine land as they can afford from working two jobs a piece, going without the absolute necessary. To break free of the city’s strangle, life robbing stranglehold.

    Neither lazy and both anxious, jumpy, more than ready. To get out of the beltway of grid lock traffic cloverleafs. Of hot, frustrated, not so happy crowds of people in the six lanes around them during drive time stall, delays. Where the melt downs are not pretty. To get to a place with less people, bluer skies, brighter stars called Maine.

    A dream, both different but that happen in their heads first Maine. Patience to get here and take care of loose ends where they live but are not happy about it. Maine the target. Because everything is lower cost for real estate properties. And less layers of government regulations to restrict and put a kink in the happily ever after hose they want to unravel. To get to work with the daily graining, flakes of hay ritual of Maine farming. After cleaning out box and standing stalls. When turning out the growing horse collection is not possible. Times of a ground layer of Maine winter snow meaning “no go” on the rich clover, timothy to graze on, nibble until each steed has its fill.

    Sometimes the dream is for a waterfront property to use part or full time in retirement in Maine.

    But often the couple relocation is for a better place to live goal. To raise a family in crime free surroundings where no one is scared. Living in fear. When no gangs control the turf. And just going without, being starved for small home town values Maine is famous for provides the real kick in the pant’s motivation to make the move, relocation.

    And if life has been rugged so far, if relationships ran for a season not til death do us part, it is a place to regroup. Start new, fresh. From a complete mash up of their to date daily routine of no fun. To shake the life Etch O Sketch and have a blank canvass, clean gray screen. To paint with brand new full spectrum four season natural colors provided by Maine. If you can just get here. To experience the difference the place with the space creates. An unspoiled, unfiltered, uncrowded pristine area that is four seasons. Where you can hear yourself think. Figure stuff out. Letting go. Relax and enjoy life more.

    Kicking dead horses, hooked by mental barb wire and dragged around, roughed up by life in the bright lights, big city takes its toll.

    Causes unhealthy, life is flying by delays. Is why there is a place like Maine to simplify, remove the store bought things in your retail therapy approach to living. Replacing with the down to Earth, real living experiences that are healthier, richer. Nothing money can buy. Get to Maine, don’t keep her waiting. Come for a day, end up staying a lifetime in Maine.

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

  • Used To Be “If People Don’t Have Jobs, They Can’t Buy Anything”.

    Maine's Economy, Needs Government Shake Up, Reduction.
    Fixing Maine’s Economy Starts With Weeding Out Lazy, Slackers, Maintaining And Creating Jobs.

    If nothing new is produced, and needed service providers are missing, there is nothing to spend money on if you do have any in your wallet or purse.

    That used to be the day to day reality splashed in white on the blackboard during economics 101 class. And what you were taught in your own Maine household growing up. Learned from around the supper table family conversations. On how the world runs discussions.

    Slowly as government bloated, as jobs became scare because employers shut their doors and headed to less restrictive, cheaper places to do business.

    A very unhealthy addiction started. Welfare was not designed for long term life support. It was to stop the bleeding, give temporary relief for lay offs, death, disease or a life event that left you deer in the headlights scared, dazed, confused. Especially if it was not just you cut off to fend for yourself. But you had kids, families with little ones. Elderly disabled members of the local population to care for that all needed everything from housing, beefed up education to nourishment, health care.

    Getting 3 hots and a cot but not at the crowbar hotel kind.

    Until recovery of the bump in the road happens. You got back on your feet. And that’s where your family pulled together, three generations lived under one roof for survival. Because it was the only option, charity started at home. Before Uncle Sam took over the role of support. As family values disappeared, disintegrated. Broken homes happened all over the place.

    But the public support continued permanently, for years and years like an IV memorizing drug. When lack of job opportunities matching their skills happened. Showed up looking for the able bodied workers in the household, but lazy happened about the same time. Why work if you could, there was nothing wrong with you. If the gain with a low paying job was below the bottom line of just staying on the public dole? Dole originally defined as “to give out in small portions; distribute sparingly”.

    The math did not add up even with self respect being fed into the getting up, going to work when the public benefits became so easy, pervasive.

    And common place when you cranked your head around and more and more instances of it popped up everywhere you looked. When they were more than tiny, just enough to keep your head above water as supplemental support to get by combined with your own efforts to do what you could on your own.

    Holding down a job, any employment until something better comes along. Or two part time jobs for now.

    Whatever you can get for work. Not feeling privileged, spoiled, entitled special. Bringing in a small paycheck but earned on your own and managed with the tenacity of a corporate FEO CPA bean counter. To stretch the dollar to the maximum. And developing survival skills to barter services to get what you need. Swapped with others to achieve a result that used to be only possible with money. That now you just don’t have as a spending option for settling up, for payment.

    Pulling yourself up by the bootstraps. Working, hustling for everything you got the hard way. Instead of holding out for the one and only job at a certain pay scale level that is not showing up, out there. Some become lazy and that is the new disability spreading. Have to work to get a free lunch is no longer true. And the folks that do work hard to pay their way wished others able to do so would pitch in, follow suit.

    Welfare used to be a last resort.

    Pride was something that kept the struggling older widow in a cold home with not much to eat from asking for help. Her rationale that someone else is worse off, more up against it and be grateful for what she had the order of the day. But now welfare is so easy and the various programs to sign up for are not called welfare. SNAP cards, free medical, lots of areas for public assistance that all cost taxpayer moneys that should be used for in other economic development avenues. To create workers equipped with the job skills existing businesses need to survive, prosper, expand.

    Or for tax reduction so John and Jane Q Public have money to save for rainy days. To spend on needed goods and services. Shopping hard, frugally and getting them at the lowest price possible. Managing their money better than Uncle Sam does. Close to home, empowered with independence, on their own thinking with choices and better impulse control to get value. Or keep looking until they do and not spend like a drunken sailor.

    Talked with a lady at the State Tourism office a couple weeks back and was told she fields lots of calls asking “where do I sign up for all the free benefits Maine is known for?” The callers had heard Maine is an easy mark for public assistance. For getting plenty of long term “free help”, “lots of programs” doled out for the “vacation” not “vocation” individual in the audience. The one looking for a free ride provided by someone else. Not how I was raised, were you?

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

  • The Building Lease Cost Amount 55% Less Than The Move To Augusta.

    Maine Moose Confusesd, Dazed, Lost.
    Loss Of 11 Jobs In A Small Maine Town Economy Hurts, Stings, Smells, Confuses.

    When you live in a big state like Maine, state government that is spaced out can make economic sense. To give small communities around Vacationland a piece of the pie.

    And because a quick shoot from the hip analysis shows it is a win win any way you cut it. Before applying a political filter to the once over to dull the blade of common sense.

    Case in point, the Maine Revenue Services Houlton Maine operation. Efficiently run, zip for turn over for the last decade. So the retraining process to get another new employee up to speed is not an issue. Zip, gone. Does not contribute to retraining inefficiency. That can happen in Augusta where leap frog from this to better jobs happens like a sport.

    With a 55% lower office lease amount to shell out, tweaking security, other measures cited as reasons to justify pulling the plug go away. There should be plenty of financial room to accomplished adjustments. Plus the IRS statutes don’t require what is casually dropped as reasons for the move back to Augusta for this kind of facility. Plus the current landlord I talked with is more than willing to go above and beyond what is already being done. But he has to be made aware of his part to keep the jobs local, making the state money. But that did not make the short and sweet too bad so sad news release. Just lump it under cost savings, belt tightening. It is not when a well run, in the black, revenue generating arm of the government has its head on the chopping block. And not part of the red ink areas that should be the targets of where can we save the state a buck.

    Jobs are hard enough to come by in a small Maine town in Aroostook County. So folks holding them take them very seriously.

    The “picking potatoes” work ethic adds to the above and beyond effort put into the pride of the day to day at these jobs. Valuable employees happen. Solid, dependable, and set up orginally because of a thinking at the time that Augusta Maine is expensive. And having all the eggs in one Maine capital area basket ignores the economical realities of outposts making sense. Being turned on to shine brightly through out the state of Maine.

    To share the work load through out the state and make Maine money. Spreading the wealth of jobs every Maine town struggles to create. To hold on to after they go online. And to get lower cost office overhead operations. A better trained work force with longevity that hangs on fiercely, appreciates the job they take very seriously. Performing it with passion. Fire in their belly to be the best, represent the state proudly. To provide expert courteous quality service consistently. And this office makes the money badly needed revenue. Why tamper with that? Look for the loss leaders, slack, duplication that is out there.

    The cost for leasing office space in Houlton Maine roughly 55% less than higher real estate values in Augusta too.

    wages for the same job can be lower in Northern Maine because it is cheaper to live here. Lower crime.Housing costs, insurance bills. And Everything is online and technologically connected. So distance away from your customer is only hinged on having a modern, Internet connection and loud and clear phone signal.

    So when the guise of “saving money” when reduction to five untrained people doing the work of 11 to 12 trained workers is touted, whoa. What? Pulling the rug out from under those workers, the wool over the eyes of anyone getting the spin with a pink slip happens, it stings. To replace trained, money making with five untrained and watch the revenue drop off? Hmmmm. Smells, confuses. Does not make economic sense from all levels when put under an objective bright light of scrutiny. With all the facts, discussion, back and forth examination.

    But no warning of the visit from the job executioner happened and now what? Lick the wounds, feel the void that ripples through a small Maine town. And figure you can not fight state government with an apathetic approach to the closure? Or call the powers to be to task to thrash out the closure with tenacity of a junk yard dog. To leave no stone unturned. To debate fully, completely the flawed logic of termination of eleven, twelve jobs in a small Maine community. For political not practical reasons. Mainers don’t waste money and take frugal living, spending to an entirely different level.

    Public input missing in the closure process does not add to building an abundance of faith supply placed into state government and elected officials.

    Saving money, cost cutting, higher efficiency is a beautiful necessary thing if it really happens.

    Is the end result. Don’t see this pull up stakes and move to Augusta being that when the move is explored. Shaken done and the facts reviewed on all levels. From every angle top to bottom, side to side. Which is how self sufficient, independent minded Mainers loaded with common sense and 20-20 reality vision survive. Run their day to day life in Maine.

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

  • During World War Two, Local Maine Farmers Had Ration Coupons For Gas, Tires.

    Maine's Beauty, Needs Jobs To Keep The Doors Open, Taxes Being Paid.
    Maine’s Beauty, Needs Jobs To Keep The Doors Open, Taxes Being Paid.

    During World War Two, the entire country was behind the effort to achieve peace, preserve freedom.

    Rationing happened to divert the essential goods, raw materials to the war effort. One example, steel pennies happened so copper was more abundant for GI Joe’s oversea’s war theatre operations support. Same thing with rubber, petroleum products, foodstuffs. Rationing made sure priorities were in the right order during the do or die. Sink or swim. Victory gardens. News reels splashing on the lead in silver screen movie production too. As the red or black velvet curtain opened slowly. For a show but not before a black and white reminder of bigger picture war going on in the background of daily life.

    In our local Maine economy, as belt tightening and change in spending patterns take place to assure survival of the special small town way of life. It is not just about lowering property taxes. Or holding the line from last year. That is like applying a band aid to a gunshot wound. For something more serious going on inside the patient. Who looks like heck. Is bleeding internally, hemorrhaging. Just inviting a dreaded visit from the grim reaper.

    Falling behind in supporting, guaranteeing the all important economic income trail to provide steady, varied jobs is the bigger worry.

    Larger than life and twice as frightening than just lowering, or holding the line on one year’s property tax bill. Creating wealth, bringing in new dollars and not just recycling local ones at say another fast food outlet is not the foundation for long term financial health of a small Maine town.

    Embracing, deep appreciation for existing employers of all sizes is so important in a Maine small town. An attitude, positive approach to aggressively do everything in your power to preserve businesses already set up and running is key. Not just chasing, courting and sparking with a new job creator. And forgetting the horse already in the barn that is an economic engine key to the survival of a small Maine town economy.

    Tax incentives, retraining programs for changes in markets for what the employer produces.

    For the service provided all recognize, are sensitive to the bottom line of the small Maine business. Over regulation, layers of new, highly restrictive legislation don’t help the small Maine business keep its doors open. The local paychecks being produced and put back into the economy of a Maine town.

    Or to indirectly help the county and state government that depends on taxation dollars to fund, provide essential services. Being slow to respond to a small Maine town business’s needs or just not jump up and down concerned means an existing business will close its door. To relocate to a place where they are appreciated.

    It’s like dating, relationships.

    Not appreciated, not understood or able to work together for the common good of the partnership means move on. Had enough. Surrounded by an economic climate more favorable and sensitive to the needs of the small business providing all essential local jobs needed. Like the simple logic of no farmers, no food, the same dead serious reality of no employers, no jobs. And last guy or gal forced to leave the Maine town like it or not, make sure to turn off the lights on the way out would ya please?

    As government grows larger, as it becomes the only game in town for employment, the tax dollars generated to keep it afloat will dry up if small Maine businesses are neglected too long.

    Taxes raised to directly benefit small Maine businesses to maintain current jobs and add new employment should be priority one in Vacationland.

    Removal of obstacles in suffocating regulations, red tape and delays to be quick on its feet should be the goal of the Maine citzenry. The hope and desire of every tax payer in Maine. With no room allowed for apathy or distraction. And media education on economic development 101 geared for today. For a rural state like Maine. A small sparsely populated drop dead gorgeous state. That’s parked pretty far up the pike which means added transportation costs, and winter heating expenses.

    To add pressure on top of everything else staring down the double barrel of increasing obligations for a small Maine town employer.

    In a state that gets poor marks. Known to be expensive, not so business friendly for any entity desperately trying to keep it’s head above water to create badly needed jobs. So future generations don’t move away as the only option. Can be gainfully employed. Raise families, serve on local boards and be involved. To stay in Maine full time. Not just visit on a week’s vacation like many do. To contribute to the unique nature, special flavor of one of Maine’s 108 small towns.

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

  • Duplication Of Services And Embracing Technology In A Small Maine Town.

    Maine Small Town Living Is Frugal, Low Cost.
    Overspending In A Small Maine Town Is Not A Long Term Option For Survival.

    Maine is a large state off the beaten path loaded with unique small towns.

    Over 100 communities in Vacationland struggle daily with increasing costs to keep the lights on, doors open and to stay out of the spending red ink. To preserve the special character of each Maine town faced with the same financial challenges.

    When local, county and state governmental services overlap, the small Maine town does not have the luxury of ignoring duplication.

    But due to the fierce independent nature of small Maine towns, brainstorming for new ways to work together for the same end result done more efficiently can be a touchy subject. And there are road blocks to who has what role in the implementation of the new and improved approach to remove slack and meet legal mandates, obligations for safe level of services.

    Take law enforcement in a typical small Maine town. Where crime is 46th lowest in the state of Maine compared to the rest of the nation. If state police budgets are strained, when county government spending is threatened with needed tax increases and local town departments continually scrabble to find additional cost saving measures, all share a similar mission to serve and protect. But within a certain size collective budget. Joining forces to avoid overlap, duplication of services is critical for the survival of the small Maine town way of life.

    Not exactly titillating Maine newspaper reporting fodder to carve out an ongoing space in the newsprint or a segment on a local broadcast to cover.

    Just like Maine school budgets. But crucial for improving the bottom line spending in a small Pine Tree state town. And when already being done, don’t keep it a secret for the morale of the local Maine town taxpayers. Who easily could jump to the conclusion there is waste a foot in departments where the local hire wears a gun and a badge. Or administers the reading, writing and arithmetic life skills.

    What is already being done by the three layers of governmental agencies toward the goal of saving money but together providing the same or better level of service is big local news. If a headline read “Local Maine gas guzzling police cruisers turned off, left in park”. And the story went on to explain that video cameras around the small Maine town streets being monitored at HQ for anything fishy. And when a call comes in, or something looks out of place, the cruiser is dispatched. Not roaming up and down the streets the old fashion wear and tear on equipment way. But using the portal already opened and streaming on Maine town traffic light intersections.

    And speeding not longer hit or miss with radar in a cruiser in the right place at the right time. Technology allowing rock solid evidence you went through an intersection at three digits caught digitally and no way to wiggle out of it on a technicality in the after the fact process. Uncovered by a local legal beagle to get you off removed and clogging over burdened court dockets. You were speeding, pay the fine, ease up on the lead foot simple.

    And a series of small adjustments generated with suggestions from folks within the every town, county, state government departments sought out and implemented.

    Like in the small Maine town schools, what is the bunker oil guzzling class room temperature in the dead of winter? And maybe Jimmy and Jane have to wear more than a t-shirt to avoid being too cool in school. When the temperature is 68 and not 74 degrees. And each degree racketed down translates into thousands of tax payer dollars.

    Or Maine school superintendents are a shared resource, not full time. Same with town managers. Two days a week here, one day a week there. And only a phone call, email away for a question that comes up for greater efficiency. With video conferences to keep up with changes in the fast moving field of education that is no different than any industry today. That needs to be lean and mean to survive and be highly effective. Stay afloat.

    Ways to save money, it’s what frugal Mainers do in their own households constantly. And should not be lost in what happens in running municipal, state, county facilities. It’s not being cheap, it’s survival and how property taxes keep from being raised higher and higher. Which chokes the economy of everyone, small business to individual alike in the small Maine town. Threatening the small Maine town way of life natives enjoy but fear losing.

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