MeInMaine Blog

Tag: living in maine blogs posts

  • Making The Most Of What You Have Which Is More Than Enough.

    houltonmaine

    It takes courage to map out a strategy when critics don’t often offer many or any solutions.

    Only recycle the list of excuses, negative factors on why this or that won’t work from past experience. Every day is a new one and vision to see the correct path to take means a state like Maine has lots of work to do. To make it business friendly. To adapt, evolve. To create the healthiest environment for more than just its wildlife. But creating jobs for its people that match today’s needs in society.

    Examining the cards you hold in the game of life is the first step.

    What pluses, face cards does Maine possess that other state’s do not. It’s hard working, dedicated people are the greatest asset, strength. An attitude of we can do it, have the right stuff is the foundation for anything else that follows. Believing in yourself is everything to keep from faltering, becoming apathetic or worse cynical, discouraged. Which is all counter productive to the lead, follow or get out of the way approach to fixing a problem. Adjusting to change in the way the state rolls means leadership. A shared vision of the direction to steer the ship. Unity, oneness, everyone in agreement and giving the heave ho of where Vacationland should go.

    FACT: Certain markets are far away for a product produced in Maine. Transportation costs are high. The distance is great when you are up here in the right hand corner of the country like a thumb stuck up hitchhiking to Canada. So is the cost of heating production facilities added to the rest of the overhead any business is saddled with in a rural state that used to put most of its economic eggs in the woods, agricultural baskets. With a tinge, hint of tourism to round it all out. And that used to work until everything changed. With the shift from pretty much mostly local to markets to ones opening up from far away. For jobs for our people, for consumption of our products or services.

    Lots of small adjustments, tinkering to make the big things start to happen.

    To stem the tide heading the wrong way. For starters a business friendly environment and if you need to know what it takes just ask an existing Maine employer. Tackle the list they one by one recite that shout out the same complaints, obstacles. Where it hurts when they cough, try to do the heavy lifting.

    Roll up your sleeves in the Maine legislature to remove restrictions, the wrinkles that harm doing business. Keeping the doors open, from being chained, locked, going dark. So people stay employed in Maine today. Business, making a profit is not the big bad wolf but the little red hen needed to steer Maine back on the path to prosperity. Not government tinkering with its fingers in the pie, pencil pushing.

    Let me work, give me a job, a purpose to earn my keep is the best medicine, shot in the arm any Mainer could ask for, find. To reverse outward migration of our young people that need employment means investing in business. To stem the tide of just a graying segment of the population lining the streets of our small Maine towns. Sitting in lawn chairs. Waving the red, white and blue during 4th of July celebrations as the local band plays the stars and stripes music.

    Reduce duplication of services, work hand in hand with a atmosphere of cooperation sought. When the independent spirit of a true Mainer resists that coming together collaboration. Has always survived pretty much self contained, to himself. The joining forces for the greater good of the Pine Tree state. Fighting, back biting, finger pointing are emotions that drain, set back the state’s momentum. Keep it parked, stalled and bleeding from self inflicted gunshot wounds. Seek, apply harmony as the salve to help the healing, reduce the swelling of big egos, to remove the purple bruises caused by frustration of just the way it is. With only ourselves to blame for ignoring the red flags waving, the missed cues that this was coming.

    Fierce pride needs to fuel the fire so that each and every Mainer says “what’s the plan, what do I need to do daily” to help advance the state.

    Knowing its takes time like a marathon. That there is a steep learning curve to change attitudes, opinions, faulty outdated thinking of what used to work that is antiquated. Not real world. And causing us to lose ground, get dragged in the tug of war to make ends meet.

    We have more than enough to take the state over the top and maybe already are in many areas. But the tone, slant, all forms of media journalism of print, sight and sound are the shot of enthusiasm, the slow drip IV on a daily basis of what it is going to take to get us out of our own way. To spark excitement, to outline solutions not tear down and discourage the progress. To create the steam and rise above. Be positive, be involved, be supportive of anything that advances Maine, the state we cherish, protect, admire.

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

  • You Are The Best Actor For The Part In The Script Of Your Life.

    farmplowing

    Who are you, no really who are you…what makes you tick?

    Never has the effort, process of “finding oneself” been more pronounced than today in society. How did so many people become lost, and who’s tending the day to day activities, minding the store?

    Personal days taken away from work and sick days used as one more way to play hookey from our professions. Work that satisfies is a job you never have to struggle a day at in your life right? But as labor becomes less fulfilling, more automated, the void to fill that space needs a sympathetic family, an understanding, supportive partner. And activities that energize, are plain downright fun, enlightening.

    That’s where Maine comes in on the time you log on the life treadmill for self improvement, the quality of living.

    The four season outdoor space to think clearly. To dial up your awareness levels of what is really important to a person in life. Your life. Not the one lead by the advertising marketing folks for an illustration of how you should do the two step, twist, line dance. But good old, one and only you. What’s it gonna be sailor, mister man, chummy.

    What defines you and the direction you need to take when change happens helps if you like where you live. If you are in the right place and just know it. Feel it in your bones, deep in your gut. And when more is expected of you on the local level in a small Maine town which all are, there is more a sense of contributing to the greater good. And less sitting in the corner and taken out of the game by your own devices or option to be selfish, all to your lonesome.

    The process of self discovery never ends.

    But the fear of the loss of living a life to its fullest gnaws at a person brought up to be an over achiever. Taught to expect not just good but great, spectacular. Over the top, as big as life and twice as frightening things to happen pretty much round the clock in their short stints on planet Earth. Our competitive society preaches bigger, better and be all that you can be. Whether wearing Army green or not. Having fun in Maine in the process.

    No one is keeping score. Stop. Oscar Wilde said “only the shallow know themselves”. The process of self discovery never ends. Because we continually grow, change and never cease learning. The weaknesses, blind spots, stubborn lines in the sand drawn by ourselves when we dig in. Stand crossed arm at a halt and dug in on what we call principle warrants examination. The limits, filters we apply to live that rob the harvest of all the experiences start and end from within. Not our surroundings. Not another person, not any woulda, coulda, shoulda’s.

    But the baggage, mortgage from earlier life paths that took a wrong turn can be viewed from another angle.

    No more regret. If you chose to glean the good from any event. Squeeze, ring out the juice of knowledge that is the take away if you study what was your role. Ownership of it instead of the default survival knee jerk of typical denial is slid on a slide under the microscope. The inner workings of your heart, mind, soul. You are that channel and how is the reception of the broadcast coming in on your small set of rabbit ears? Learn anything worth sharing? Let’s compare notes. Share the puzzle pieces each of us has earned, collected, possess that the other needs.

    Why you react the way you do and why can’t others be who they are on the same stage under the smoking hot lights and behind the orchestra pit? Scrutiny, critical and self flailing needs to wave the white flag. Come out of the foxhole into the sunshine, fresh air, to embrace a new day. Maine, the place to set the next scene in act two or three, whatever count you are up to in the life journey.

    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

  • Alignment, Isn’t That The Most Critical Life Adjustment?

    Maine Living In Moderation, Alignment, Balance Moving Forward.
    Uneven, Rocky Crooked Paths But Still Seeking Alignment. Balance,

    Lining up the bubble on the pop level you build with to make sure everything is on the same plane.

    The same altitude. Sanding off high spots. Adding a shim to give one side a boost, lift. Not leaving anything ee-awed, cockeyed. At an ugly angle climbing or descending. But even keeled the target condition. Level, one side no higher than the other, in balance. Isn’t that life gyroscope a balancing act of it’s own before introducing one by one the other relationships we need, find ourselves smack dab in the middle of in life?

    Then reaching the same plateau together in a place like Maine. Rural, simple, uncomplicated. But often not without taking vastly separate life courses, trails or detours before landing in Maine. To get to the place both arrive at right on time. From different directions, set of circumstances.

    In alignment with another person, in harmony starts, ends within yourself first and last.

    Each straight arrow flexibility added temperament created, improved from within first. Not only contingent on maintaining it if the other does, this, this and oh yeah, lots of that. And none of all of this laundry list of items, habits, actions. Very few of us are identical twins. No egg was split way way back when introduced to life as a brand new grasshopper.

    And responsibility for how you feel a choice you make and not being, playing a victim. Isn’t that lazy if you don’t take ownership? Putting the burden of how the day to day goes all shifted from inside you to heaped on the others. Folks in your life treated that way ignites, boils over with disastrous results and consequences.

    Finger pointing about you missed something is a bad habit to break.

    Shoulda, woulda, coulda been smarter. Quicker to do this when that occurred causing the fine kettle of fish we find ourselves in now. Stewing, fuming about it. Creating a pool of venom to poison your life. Rob the joy.

    Instead wouldn’t a happy in themselves whole person not hold others hostage in any relationship? Making how the partnership goes not solely dependent on the other person’s performance alone. The tone, attitude of the day to day not hinged to meeting the others expectations only. Instead, choosing to work on the inside job list that all of us struggle to improve on and take ownership of as maturity sets in. For the good of the unity, couple. Strengthening it to weather future storms that will arrive right on schedule.

    Alignment.

    You see how important it is with your car tires. You need the wheel alignment and balance of each to be tracking true and level, even. Expensive if you don’t. Your poor aching back alignment critical too. You don’t need a scalpel making a new zipper in your back to end the pain and stiffness. Often one of your legs is longer than the other. Did you know that? Let’s put a lift in that left shoe.

    And make some other life adjustments too. Get off the couch, chuck the TV changer to somewhere you can not find it. Use it. Like whatta say let’s lose fifty pounds the builder, manufacturer of your body never intended for you to wear around. Not in the specs, plan. And voila, you are no longer stooped, bent over, folded up like a jack knife. But straight as a arrow. Pointing skyward. Tried, tested and true north. Like plants, trees seek to do no matter what the side hill surface or un-level rocky, barren terrain.

    Straighten out your life by little adjustments to maintain balance, a shortest course, to practice moderation. Maine is a good place to get your head screwed on correctly. Not matter what happened prior to landing, spending time in Vacationland. Get rest, understanding in the place with the space. A common theme in this simple living Maine blog post series of hunt and peck recycled electron displays.

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

  • Your Mental Health Provider Says Take Two Of These Daily (Maine Sunrise, Sunset..Repeat).

    Missing Anything In Life, Get To Maine.
    Take Two They’re Huge To Swallow. Maine Sunrises, Sunsets Cure What Ails You.

    Is too much of a good thing a bad thing, when you are lucky enough to live in Maine full time?

    Lots of people outside Maine chomp at the bit for that week long vacation. The long weekend where they scrambled to clear away some time to cross the big green bridge to get to Vacationland for some much needed rest and relaxation.

    The day to day people too close and not the happiest of campers in the urban concrete jungle. Takes it toll. Wears you down. Like battle fatigue. Or when you care take a loved one that is sick a long long time. Numbness happens, just going through the motions. And slowly the joy inside gets drained away. Your cup no longer runneth over. Heck it is not even half full and dropping. Like a sinking relationship that unravels where you see all the red flags, missed cues and the not so happy ending.

    Maine is not a place you have to have two pockets of cash or plastic cards with giant credit limits to tap into during your stay here.

    Low cost, no cost recreation outdoor in Maine is what the Pine Tree State is famous for, why folks make it a life time habit to return. Over and over, every chance they get. Come for our local delicacies of home made food in Maine too. Camping, pitching a tent, pulling in a pop up camper, fifth wheel home away from home is huge in Maine.

    Take two they are huge, choke you up when you are trying to swallow. To wrap your head around the sunrise, or sunset in the many dramatic settings in Maine. That are so foreign to someone not used to the space. The less or no people at all surrounding you like back in the land of cloverleafs, shadow causing skyscrapers, panhandlers and prostitutes, hustlers. Where crime happens around the clock and nothing new if a gang orchestrates another drive by shooting. Happens everyday and you stop noticing or just accept the dangerous surroundings as normal. It is not the way life should be. It is not Maine.

    Think of the way you open up, unwind and breath easy when suddenly you are on a Maine lake.

    Black fresh coffee or however you like it in your hand. A duck lands, quack quack quacks good morning. A pair or fisherman drone by to be the first on the Maine lake. With plenty of bait, a refreshment or two, some snacks and prepared for a day on the open water. Casting lines, wetting their hooks. And whining by your open deck in a laboring, underpowered heavy old boat inherited from a uncle with no kids. Who taught the operator how to fish when he was a youngster. And the tradition with his own children happens right on schedule.Gets passed down.

    Or biking to the top of Cadillac Mountain, skiing down the side of Sugarloaf’s Buckboard or Skidder snow trail. Traversing the tableland of Mt Katahdin after stepping up and over the last rock with an iron rung on Abol Trail. Or walking, window shopping in a quaint salt air rich Maine sea coastal harbor town. Pick your pleasure, set your course.

    Remember the advice of the health care provider on your end who says, no pushes you to Maine for what ails you. Get outdoors and have some fun. Learn some answers to life’s puzzle outdoors. Where we all collect pieces one at a time, over the long haul. Don’t keep her waiting.

    Maine, simple, real, honest, natural. Get here quick as you can.

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

  • Cartoons Not Just Saturday Mornings And The Breakfast Menu Works All Day Long.

    Natural Maine Flowers Are Prettiest.
    Discovering Wild Maine Flowers On A Trail Walk Prettier Than Store Bought Cut Ones.

    We live in a time of more is available but have turned the corner to simpler is healthier, easier, less hassle.

    No longer are the choices for ice cream just chocolate and vanilla. Or grape nut was a crowd favorite years ago all because all there was for flavoring. Seasoning when the crank started.

    Something really special was not the norm, unpredictable. Did not happen all the time. The real diary cream that was sold not consumed by the farmer was carefully poured. Mixed and wrapped in an iced cylinder to rotate by hand. Take one or the other flavor and be glad there is any new ice cream at all to enjoy kids. Did not occur often. Limited selection caused less chaos or scrambling to provide a larger array of choices too. No stainless steel three door Frost Queen with a full armament of Ben and Jerry’s Chunky Monkey or Cherry Garcia at your beckon and call. Do you think our problem is too much of a good thing and being spoiled? Expecting the whole nine yards as a given, a right, automatic privilege with money to burn to make it happen?

    And cartoons not just on television Saturday mornings.

    Their own channels, pick your pleasure. Any time. Not just one day a week. And like restaurants that only offer breakfast similar to how McDonald’s still does, with set, limited just over certain hours. Slowly all that is being blown open. Stripped away.

    Because people want, can pay for a longer run of what they want. And because the set time available for when it was offered does not always dove tail with their busy lives. They started to miss out on the short windows of opportunity they always made time to catch because it was hit or miss. Snooze and lose. But now it is we may doze, but we are always open. In business, recreation, anything. Available when you are. Like twelve minute speed dating.

    Round the clock, twenty four hour availability of a product, service is expensive to pull off. Especially when adding the extra stress of just in time inventory. Businesses have to be lean, mean, well run and without slack or wrinkles. Or they cease to exist. Their doors get nailed shut, interiors go dark. They get gobbled up, swallowed whole by other fish.

    How did it happen?

    The shift from what made you happy being home made, natural, easy does it moderation. To drive through quick, want it now and step on it. No matter the cost. Hurry. Learning how to relax out in natural surroundings was easier when most people made their living outdoors. Heck not that long ago, 96% of Americans were farmers. Owned a patch of dirt or worked for someone that did. Breaking even was considered a good year. Money was taken out of the equation as the end all fuel to drive the consumption. Grown your own, not peel off a couple twenties to buy what you make your own. With a squeak squeak of an overloaded wire shopping car headed for the express lane of nine items or less.

    It was not a case of ignorance is bliss. More a combination of not having a slew of other options or the extra money stuffed in the pocket to exercise them. So more reliance on your own wits. Perseverance to obtain something you wanted by a beefed up do it yourself skill set called into action. And the take away a feeling of self sufficiency.

    Not died to the dollar. And a greater awareness of the natural beauty around us. And gratitude that so much was good in your life. With the counting your blessings exercise performed several times a day as a constant reminder. A habit that all you had was more than enough. Especially if the people around you were healthy, alive. That was enough.

    When we started pulling away from family first, needing each other for support and a helping hand, replaced with the financials to buy whatever we want, something happened.

    There were missing elements. The joy of being in the moment, all caught up with our chores and space, time created for less leisure, it was more delicious. Intoxicating. Than having the world is your oyster at your finger tips, your beckon and call. Think money corrupts, creates less sensitivity for others? Christmas is available all year long in stores dedicated to the big Ho Ho Ho day.

    Daily I hear the same whine, complaint that life is flying by and the person out of state is feeling left behind.Trapped, and not happy. For a long time they did not know what was missing. Where they are has to change because too many pushy, honking, hollering people that don’t have smiles on their face. Too much non stop pushing and shoving. Delays, deadlines, rush rush rush. It’s not healthy.That’s not Maine. You’re not you unless you squeeze in more time in a place, with the space like Maine.

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