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Maine, We Use Our Open, Glassed Front Home Porches.

Maine Home Porches Get Used..Talks, Snacks, Naps Happen Here.

Nothing hurts the look, style, taste of a grand old Maine house more than removal of the front porch.

The glassed and variety of open outdoor wrap around original porch structures make the “home sweet home”. The porches not just nailed on to Victorian Maine homes for simply show or curb appeal though.

Maine porches still get used, are a working part of a healthy home.

Turn off the television. Power down the ipod, lap top, Droid phone electronic device. Come sit a spell. My Mom used the front glassed, screened porch for her daily lessons. To prepare for the day with the beauty of her many flower beds in view as she studied scripture verses.

With song birds serenading due in part to well stocked feeders she tended. And with lots of sunshine hitting the porch due to it’s eastern orientation. The therapeutic setting complete. To open up her heart to commune, connect with her creator. No distractions, no intrusions on this daily exercise to spend time on the Maine home porch.

Afternoon naps, nodding off happened on that same porch too.

Starting a good book in the maroon and white sofa glider that begged for an oil can as you settled in or got up to leave it. Then laying it down for a little shut eye. Completely at peace, in your own little world feeling the sunshine warm your skin.

Company landed on the same porch in season. Evening talks on the Maine home porch were extra special. With family conversations continuing in to the night as parents switched on lamps to add a rosy glow to the summer living room gab fest. Maybe sampling some home made grape nut ice cream added to the communication. Double scooped on a generous slab of hot out of the oven strawberry rhubbard pie. That was not out of a boxed mix but from a recipe handed down from the last generation of cooks.

Family history porch stories were my favorite as the youngest of four boys.

Because I came in later in the game. Could not remember all the tales, experiences my older brothers could from being in those family events. Memories, being part of something bigger than ourselves is why the front porch was a special place. Part of daily life as free therapy sessions too before days of fifty five minute visits with a total stranger paid to listen.

The Maine home porch a super place to park it on a regular basis growing up. To help sort out problems or as a place to share joys depending on the day. Or as a working area to shell a fresh pail of pea pods. To remove the silk, shuck the ears of corn from the garden out back. With the grandmother supervising the operation. Sharing wisdom with a grandchild who helped picked them before supper. One that would end with fresh strawberries collected earlier to go on fresh baked short cake biscuits. With some whipped cream to complete the sweet treat.

Sometimes porch talks revolved around, about the farming year.

With predictions of the season being a bonanza or a “lean, just try to break even one” shaping up ahead. Breaking even was considered a good year because you got to do it again. You stayed on the farm. And survived whatever struggle the weather, the outside produce markets threw your way to see if you had a sense of humor. If you were built with the right stuff to persevere. And become stronger because farming, like life was not going to get any easier.

The front porch I grew up on had an old sofa bed with a cover. Had been moved from One Watson, Three Franklin Avenues to the farm on US Rt 2 outside Houlton Maine. The light green painted wicker rocker, upholstered darker green cushioned love seat extra seating options if the squeaky glider was in use. Pick a chair and begin the conversation, the family connection.

With the screens doing their job and windows raised, you felt almost outdoors.

Where all Mainers strive to be as much as possible. In winter the porch hibernated while the conversations moved in to the Maine farm home kitchen. Where a pair of rockers sat waiting near a glowing Jotul wood cook stove that warmed your bones. With help from a cup of fresh tea, coffee, a home made cookie to nibble on. While your insides, other parts were heated up and any chill removed.

Porches in Maine, not just for looks, show. Where time is spent through out life as family, the most important institution laughs, crys, shares setbacks and joys together. To weather the storms and periods of blue skies and sunshine in Maine. Find your place in the space of Maine.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

June 10, 2012
Rotary International District 7810 Annual Conference.

Good Weather And Music Add To District 7810 Houlton Maine Rotary Annual Conference.

Rotary is not just a humanitarian service organization helping third world countries to ease the stranglehold of poverty, disease and famine.

Rotary would be missed on the local level because of all the projects that the local Maine and New Brunswick Canada clubs step up to take on to improve a community’s quality of life.

District 7810 of Rotary’s International group is a Maine and New Brunswick Canadian group.

This year’s annual conference was hosted in Houlton Maine, home town of Rotary District 7810’s Governor for 2012, Leigh and Sandy Cummings.

Watch videos of the highlights of this year’s very worthwhile Houlton Maine, Aroostook County Rotary meetings.

The local Houlton Maine Rotary club has been a big shot in the arm in so many ways. Rotary’s “Service above self” reminder is not a bad way to lead your life. Giving back to others to celebrate how grateful we all should be for how lucky, fortunate we all are.

Thank you Rotarians for all you do to help make local communities, around the world a better place to live, work and play. Consider joining a local Rotary club where you live and become a better servant.
Maine, get here quick as you can. See what you have been misssing.

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

June 9, 2012
Living In Maine | Ever Had To Pick Field Rocks?

Keeping Life In Balance, Maine Living Is Kept Real, Simple.

When you raise food, crops for vittles for other people’s dinner tables, there are plenty of Maine farming obstacles along the way.

Like life, weather is never predictable or plain and simple easy. Having enough of the proper seed is pretty critical, important too.

The rows and rows of fertile soil hills cultivated and hoed. With the right trickle of water to hydrate the growing operation. Fertilized with the balance of nutrients needed to get big healthy yields of food stuffs. Then harvested, wisked in to storage until the bin is peddled and emptied. Hopefully you at least broke even so you can do it all over again next spring as you survive on a Maine farm.

Some people get through life easier than others.

Despite twists, turns, set backs and log jams. Overall able to stay pretty even keeled, grateful. You know you have met someone with way way harder struggles to deal with. The death of a child. A major illness that goes on and on like a recurring cancer. But still possessing a positive, faithful attitude despite it all. And you think would you have the same viewpoint if it was you with the extra helping of pain and suffering added to your plate? Be so chipper if wearing the same moccasins?

Back to picking rocks, a job some not exposed to Maine farm work could equate to hard time wearing stripes on a prison chain gang.

I saw a Farmall red “H” pulling a rock cart in a field next to a Maine farm I own on the way to work today. What you get out of life all boils down to how you view it, live it.

Every year a new crop of field stones surface like clockwork. Some pretty big. Most easily picked under the hot sun and tossed in to the slow moving cart. With a full load dumped along a property line to better define it. Or used as fill in a roadway muddy section with poor drainage to create a solid base to travel over with farm machinery. Put to good use. For a win win situation. So farm equipment does not have to tangle with the rocks that cause damage in the planting, cultivating, harvest operation.

The field rocks on Maine farm land don’t just “ta da” go away.

They show up right on schedule and how you use them is the sermon here. To temper and enrich the way you look at life. Greater appreciation for what is good in life, the small things you are grateful for creates an abundant supply of overflowing joy and contentment. If you chose to want to take that approach. Were you taught to always look for the silver lining?

With rock picking, maybe you got to drive the tractor. Had a good crew to chit chat with and to forget the task at hand. Maybe it is such a feeling of relief when you are hot, sweaty, tired and dirty but there, done for another year. Heading to a Maine lake to cool off. Or thinking about a trip to the ice cream dairy bar as the treat that is the stick and carrot end of the exercise. And knowing the farmer needed your help. That you are part of something bigger than yourself.

How you were raised, what was talked about in and outside of the four walls of the family home.

The shape, make up of your world viewpoint controls how you filter everything coming at you in life. How you react to events, situations. And people like you and me that all come at you with tons of idiosyncrasies, quirks. But rising above the Dick and Jane, Ken and Barbie individual areas that can tick you off, frustrate removes the chains that hold you back from a rich life.

Expectations of others plane out when you take time to learn who they are, what they have been through. Understanding someone else happens easier when you think of someone besides the needs, emotions of just the person you look at brushing your teeth each morning. And shows a sign of maturity as you accept the way things just are for everyone around you.

Realizing what you think you want is not always what you really need in life.

Being a little red hen, can do, full of hope person can irritate an Eeyore. Beware, the postive attitude will not be embraced with open arms by all around you. But you either have it or not. Are built, wired, conditioned to get through the day to day the postive way. Don’t stop embracing what has caused you so much success in life because it bothers someone else who lacks it. Or just does not share the same view point or approach to life.

Don’t let anyone remove that or beat you down telling you there is nothing about you they like. No one else is you. Be you. Work to improve you. But others don’t define you unless you let them, trust them. And only if they are kind, gentle, loving and nurturing. Everyone is well intentioned right? Does the best they can. But measuring up, others should not be the end all to let you know if you do or not. Get on your knees. Answer to someone with higher authority, infinite power by surrendering.

Maine, we keep it simple. Look at things that happen around us a whole different way. Take it all in stride and consider it all joy. Find your place in the space of Maine.

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

June 8, 2012
Maine, Tell ME About The Sales, Income Tax FAQ.

Take A Swing, Crack At Learning More On Maine Income And Sales Tax Rates.

What does Maine charge for personal income and sales tax questions come up frequently.

Calls, emails and in person visits in our Maine real estate office prick the subject of “what is the individual tax burden of living in Maine”?

It’s a pretty big retirement, relocation, moving consideration to get the low down, A-Z on how deep in the pocket the tax considerations are going to dig. Because as a person retires on a fixed income, knowing all the colored items, the size of each on their personal money outlay pie chart is critical.

So here goes. Maine has a 5% sales tax. And 31.5 cent per gallon tax on gasoline, two dollar tax on cigarettes. The personal income tax rate in Maine is between 2.5 and 8 percent. Maine, any state has to have revenue to keep the doors of government open to do everything from repair roads, bridges, to providing public safety. And everything in between.

Maine is a large state with less people.

And individual families that live here embrace a simple all around approach to day to day living. Conservative, frugal, value received before hard earned dollars are spent thinking happens through out life in Maine. Do I need it or just want it talks with the guy or gal in the mirror mornings. And if it is needed, how to get the best deal with a business like approach of careful study before forking over the stack of green dead presidents.

The same “easy does it” when opening the wallet wide and “ahhhhh, yes or no” sputtered, uttered.

Taught to the kids which makes them an asset when they leave the nest and go out in to the work world. The same hard work ethic and careful spending impulse control a lesson the rest of the country could take a page from and apply.

And besides tax burden living in Maine, questions on health care facilities for ailments the retiring, relocating are bringing with them to Vacationland. You move to Maine not to make more money, but to get more from the funds you do have. To enjoy the natural, healthier quality of life here.

Maine FAQ Questions About Relocation, Retirement, Moving Video

More Maine individual tax revenue services information. What forms, regulations currently apply. To help with lingering questions as you may be toying with a new state to relocate, retire to like Maine. Come for a day, stay a lifetime. Find your place in the space of Maine.

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

June 7, 2012
True Mainers, Not Looking The Part But Still Wearing The Price Tags.

Paddling Your Own Boat, Raft, Canoe, Kayak In Maine.

You are in an open jeep with friends in the wilderness of Northern Maine.

With a pair of Old Town red and green canoes strapped to the top rack. A bumper hitch insulated container box packed with ice. Loaded with home made goodies to munch on. As you dine outside with one big fresh air, exercise induced appetite. Where the setting always provides an open picnic table with one jaw dropping incredible Maine view.

Two Maine moose so far and three deer, one black bear mom with a cub spotted.

You are in a neighborhood where the natives are all four legged, furry, not so social. On the dusty trail leading to today’s adventure. In the unspoiled outdoors of “T” this, “R” that unorganized territories of the Pine Tree State.

Where the owner of the large, hundreds of thousands of acres of timberland sends the property tax annual check directly to Augusta. Lacking any local muncipality to mail it to like the rest of the state.

Then something odd comes into view, your field of vision.

Conversation in the jeep stops. As you slow, gawk and wonder. A top of the line, flame red, heavily optioned BMW sedan is sitting along side of the roadway. Parked, empty, not what you expected to be smack dab in the middle of the heavily wooded pathway you find yourself on today.

That looks so out of place in this terrain that begs for something with higher ground clearance. Mud flaps, heavier, multi ply knobby tires that are not so low profile, aerobicised, painfully skinny. And needing a four wheel drive lever to throw into gear. Shoved forward when you go as far as you can go powered by two wheel drive. To do a 180 degree about face. To head back to civilization when the day is done. While there is still daylight.

Rather than making a desperate call to the Warden’s service to start the search for the name on the Beemer’s registration in the rich “Corinthian leather” dash glove compartment.

The lone out of its element, awkwardly parked car out of place. Not in it’s normal element in the bright lights, big city. Near the swanky, way overpriced snarky dealership that deals out the German imported highly engineered vehicles. More designed for an autobahn highway inspired by Hitler. Not the dirt trails with massive mud puddles that you hope have a solid bottom as your “ford”, “portage” them in Maine’s willywags.

Climb In, Hang On, Maine White Water Rafting Video

My youngest son is leading white water rafting trips in The Fork’s area of Maine this summer.

Before he goes back to Colorado for his senior year of college this fall. And he says he sees lots of folks that have been to LL Bean. Brand new, state of the art camping, hiking, rafting items. Many still with price stickers, just unwrapped before he decides where to put the party of paddlers in the big raft for today’s adventure down the Dead, the Kennebec River.

One yellow helmeted newbie rafter raises his hand when asked are there any questions. After the safety rigamore verbage that is much like the stewardess that holds up the belt, shows you how to work the latch. And what to do with the seat cushion if over water. How to slide on the air mask if it should suddenly appear, be dangling in front of your tray that hopefully you left in the upright position.

The nervous rafter asks are we going to get any water spray?

If he is large sized, he is going up front. If all the weight is in the back of the raft, tail drag is not doing to help navigate the boat around the rock hazards to deliver the passengers in tact to the eddy out for lunch on the river.

And yes sir, you are going to get some spray. Very wet to give all that new expensive gear that transforms you in to a white water rafter enthusiast, afficionado overnight to end up totally soaked. Walls, sheets of water are going to hit the larger guys, gals in the front of the raft. It is a given. Paddle hard until instructed to reach down for the short rope. And you hear the yell to “hang on”. And to remember if you are catapulted, swepted off and out of the boat, to keep your legs up so they don’t get broken.

Maine, the real natives don’t have all the price tags, latest high tech equipment but enjoy the state year round. Not just a weekend, a string of days called a vacation taken just annually. Get to Maine for a day, end up staying a lifetime. Find your place in the space of Maine.

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

June 6, 2012
Maine, Experience Her Without A Motor, Bike Pedaling.

Bikes, River Boat Travel, Anything But Just Cars Big In Places Like Amsterdam.

When you travel, the prominence of bikes as a mode of transportation is evident.

You and I groan about the price of gas as it spikes up, dips down below four dollars. In other areas try six to eight dollars a gallon in a country not so flush with cash, resources as the United States.

US gas prices have nose dived to the lowest level in 90 days at the time of the hunt and peck process of this morning’s blog post. The U.S. average regular gasoline pump price of $3.59 a gallon yesterday is down 35 cents from the 2012 high of $3.94 on April 4, according to AAA, the largest U.S. motoring group.

My average commute to work is 32 feet from home to the job as a Maine real estate broker.

It is handy to have the family home parked in the same door yard where the property listings are peddled. And with the Internet, our “office” is shifting to more and more on line, not fixed based positioned.

But back to bikes… and how they are gaining popularity in Maine.

Before you stratch your head thinking what about use in the winter and if they make studded snow tires for bikes, Maine does have three other seasons.

With a little better planning in the mornings, riding your bike to work in Maine that is 97% small rural town living just makes sense. Health wise, in the pocket book you sit on or the purse your carry. And environmentally. As the demand for gas continues to weaken, the dependence on it will lead to lower prices at the pump too.

As a kid in the country of Maine, houses next door were not “reach out and touch” close.

Getting to town to mow lawns for spending money. To hit an afternoon movie matinee, to the park for little league practice or visit with school friends was a big deal.

I remember a potato picking earned 3 speed, gold banana bike with a leopard patterned long seat and the feeling of pride as I tooled in to the parking lot of Lambert School. It was neat to be riding around the downtown. Being trusted by parents to bike in to town a whole new experience setting.

Biking Maine’s Acadia Carriage Trails Video.

Biking in Maine is growing in popularity. As a more conscious population thinking preventative health care measures becomes way much more aware. But besides recreational pleasure riding, saving some gas money and feeling better all the way around make biking a win win situation. Since 1992, the Biking Coalition Of Maine has worked hard to steadily improve the healthy habit in Vacationland.

Have ordered a bike hitch rack and not taking a banana bike out on the open road.

But exploring Maine’s many byways pedaling. Without need for a motor is an excellent consideration to add to your leisure time options list as you explore Maine. Find your place in the space of Maine.

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

June 5, 2012