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Maine, Fly Over It Outside A Plane.

If you don’t live in Maine, then spending more time here is on your bucket list.

Sneaking in often for more of all she offers.
Maine. Being “High Up” Is On The Bucket List.

But above and beyond Maine, what else is on your New Year’s resolution list?

Learning to fly is one of mine. And no, not just from a cockpit but to “feel like a bird”. Not with a plane super structure and plastic around you but having the freedom beyond free falling. Arching your back and climbing. Lowering your shoulders and diving.

Far fetch and crazy? Not really. Your body is the fuselage with a little jet fuel and some back packs and a flying wing strapped on. Kept simple so you can adapt to a new “power” of movement besides walking, running, biking, hiking, skiing or other methods.

Watch What Eight Minutes Of Fuel Can Do Flying Video.

Yves Rossy is Jetman.

Whether over the Grand Canyon or Swiss Alps, the sensation to fly must be a detachment from Earth. Letting go and soaring. Gliding, high speed air travel when you are in first class all by yourself. Without the crystal stem glassware or heated towels.

No worries about leg room.

You have total. No cramps, charlie horses with knees in your chest for hours for you. No aisle or window seat options needed thank you very much. No lines with TSA agents. Your wing is your carry on. The in-flight movie is all around you. 360 degrees surround sight and sound and you are in it. You catch yourself laughing. Feel joy, peace, achieve understanding. Above the petty day to day drama of reality with all those people left behind.

Goggled eyes watering from the emotion, not velocity and due to the sheer deep down inside touched rush. An unknown sensation that you think must be one of a kind, the ultimate. But have no actually frame of reference or past carnival, Disney ride experience with this level of freedom. Or awareness. Yeah. Like an out of body, stairway to heaven like high altitude inner joy ride.

Not worked up anymore about the oil needs changing in the Jeep.

Or how many more payments on the house loan still to be made. Or anything other than total sensory explosion, over dose. Pegging, making the meter needle move. Above the roar of the day to day chasing the dollar. Pounding the pavement. You feel closer to God. You are.

If flying over Maine, around Baxter Park, Sugarloaf Mountain, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway or along the rock bound craggy coastline dotted with lighthouses and quaint harbor sea villages.
That’s what I want for Christmas. To look forward to in 2013.

What is on your bucket list of have to do’s before your days on Earth are done? For fun, to unlock, unplug in Maine. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year Me In Maine Blog readers, followers. Thanks for stopping in. Scanning the hunt and peck of recycled electrons that means no trees were harmed in this media presentation.

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

December 23, 2012
Maine Has Four Seasons, Don’t Waste Any Of Them.

Find Yourself In Maine. Small Towns Rich In Common Sense. Places Built To Last.

The answer to the right time to come to Maine?

As often as you can. Whenever you make time, need to for recharging, unplugging. Or just for answers to inner questions that just don’t get addressed when you are helter skelter, pedal to the metal out straight where you live now.

In nearly 33 years of listing, selling Maine real estate, over and over the underlying theme from out of state buyers of properties is this. Something is missing from their life where they live now. The buyer is looking for more than sticks and bricks. A whole new area, life setting needed. Because it is either too congested around them. They may have to travel too far to work to afford the lower cost area their home is in.

But the home owner is never home to see the kids growing up.

Latch key kids. Getting fat, lazy, and never happy. Whiners happen, are made. Or the cost to live in a sardine packed tightly urban area has just taken its toll in other stressful ways. Always bone weary, dog tired and all the city dwellers admitting they wondered what was wrong for a while. Were blind and thought everyone lived this way in the game of life. That it took some time to come to the same conclusion I hear over and over. Maine is different, special, unique and one of the last places out there to run away to.

The buyer of Maine property is seeing his or her life flying by. It is way past the time when they should have changed course and moved. Head to a place where man has not spoiled it by over commercialization. Where development is not a common place condition. Where permits, regulations, permission for this or that is not ham stringing a person.

Maine is simple. The friendly people are not but the setting is natural, easy, real. Not spun, not chrome and glass. Not pretentious or snobby. But instead evergreen fragrant with the sound of crystal clean splashing water. With views of landscape, waterfront and wildlife that were not meant to be wasted.

The location, the spot on the planet you are at governs everything that happens around, to you and your family.

Lower cost living means not so much worry about the mortgage hanging around your neck. Debt is not how we run our households in Maine. Stepping up the payments to not have that mortgage trumps the need for something new and shiny. The effort, expense to impress the neighbors or cause envy among your peers is replaced with pitching in to local small town events. Small Maine home town values. What you are after? Maine is the way it used to be everywhere else but sadly is not anymore.

We are involved in the local fabric of our towns in Maine.

Instead of standing around like spectators or paying admission to attend an event, we work them. Are part of the experience which is richer, more complete because we are in the planning, the behind the scenes. And active in our communities. Feeling connected to the folks that live here. Pride swelling for the local home town in Maine and all the folks in it. We share their successes, pray about their set backs. We need and lean on each other.

Where do you live now?

Do you feel something is missing? Anxious, jittery, restless and don’t know why? The way you spend your time now. All store bought past times or over indulgence of something you know is not healthy for you to cope? To handle it all? The “crutches” you use, throw them away and consider relocating, moving to Maine. Forget any stories from folks that have never been here about polar bears, igloos, dog sleds for travel. That’s Artic Circle. Not Maine.

Get here part or full time. Watch how your life begins anew. Start living. Because if you are standing still, stressed out and all around not so healthy, in the pink, there is another way. The place with the space. Maine. Get here quick as you can. To find out what has been missing.

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

December 20, 2012
Maine, Don’t Think You Need To Have A Week To Sample ME.

Maine Lighthouses, Collect All 60 Or So. Make Time To Get To Maine, Don’t Stay Away So Long.

For folks lucky enough to live in Maine, we don’t have to stockpile several days off to enjoy all she has to offer.

Any season, when you live in Maine or find yourself motoring through the big state, you can swerve off I-95 on the way through. To sample some of her essence. To spend small amounts of time that you can schedule into your trip. To as Jimi Hendrix would croon “stand next to her fire”.

Yesterday dropped my oldest son Alex off at Logan International Airport to climb aboard a silver bird flying to Denver Colorado. After working him pretty hard on carpentry projects around three properties with lots of buildings, it is time for return to winter job at A Basin Colorado Ski area.

But on the way back from Logan to Houlton Maine no reason why a little diversion can not be GPS factored, dialed in.

To sample another Maine lighthouse, this time able to check off the list Nubble Lighthouse in Cape Neddick, York Maine. Have been collecting visits, photos of Maine lighthouses.

When you are handy to Maine, like sampling one long, never ending outdoor sensory life buffet.

Snacking on her visual, audio delights that hit all five senses. Summer when the beaches of Maine are low vacancy space wise is fun, special. But so is a visit to the same spots during a different season. The eye candy, special moments alone without sharing them with the tourist crowd, can be pretty powerful, special too.

After dropping youngest son Elliot off at Logan Airport following last year’s Christmas / New Years college break, was lucky to make the same type course deviation. To take in, shoot a video for Portland Head Lighthouse that is actually in Cape Elizabeth. The youngest flies in for his senior year college break soon. And on his return, will hit and share another lighthouse in Maine adventure with you the loyal, trustworthy Me In Maine Blog post reader. Promise.

Maine, so much more than moose, woods, crystal clean lakes and rivers. Like air and water, vitamins and prayers, make sure to fit in time to spend with her. To learn from your special place in her space, visit Maine soon. Don’t stay away so long.

Maine, Cross The Green Bridge, Hit A Maine Lighthouse Along The Way North Video

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

December 15, 2012
Not A Revenue Problem, It’s A Spending Habit Foreign To Living In Maine.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Embrace the happy memories of Christmas.

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

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

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

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

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

Sugar Gliders, Small, Quick, Caught With Cool Whip

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

November 30, 2012