Ugh!!!!! We are looking to move but can't decide where. Help!!!!

Shygal · #21 07/12/06, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ET1 SS

We have only recently moved to Maine, so no surprises here, I would urge you to look at Maine.

I found very cheap land. Forested, river-frontage with easy access to I-95.

For many here the economy sucks. But others are prospering! It takes all kinds, and is largely up to an individuals abilities.

Homeschooling is completely unregulated, and schools are happy to help.

We joined a local organic farming group who sponsors their own fair.

http://www.mofga.org/

Lots of folk living off the grid and using horse-teams or oxen-teams to work their land. [Not me

]

And of course, lobster!

It did surprise us though, we expected to find lobster cheap. But it runs about the same prices as anywhere in New England. $14 gets you a nice lobster dinner. The trick is knowing someone who runs their own pots, and getting off their boat when they come in.

Good luck!

And May God bless you.

What is the growing season like there?

donsgal · #22 07/12/06, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordy

..................Never been to Branson , Mo. , but I'd think they'd serve lots of Booze while all those hardshell BaptistS listen to that Toe Tappin music . So , wouldn't Branson need lots of Bartenders ??? Just a Thought , fordy...

Naw. The only music show that offers liquor is Andy Williams. I guess they figure that alcohol doesn't fit in with the whole family atmosphere. Which is silly IMHO.

donsgal

MarleneS · #23 07/13/06, 09:05 AM

We are not drinkers, so I could be wrong. We also live 20 mins. from Branson, Mo. Branson is famous for it's family orient entertainment. To make a point, last New Years Eve, we went to a show and dinner at one of the largest theaters there, after the meal they brought out what looked like tables ladden with champagne, complete with champagne glasses - etc. -- it turned out to be sparkling grape juice.

I liked Ohio - other than the Unions Attitude about employement. Unions are not a big concern in the Ozarks.

Hugs
Marlene

ET1 SS · #24 07/13/06, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shygal

What is the growing season like there?

Where we are is Hardiness Zone 5A, and has about 120 days to it's growing season.

hanlonfive · #25 07/13/06, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melissa

I think if I had to move away from Ohio, that the climate would be a major factor in my move. Homesteaders generally try to raise their own food and for that you need adequate rainfall and nice temps. I would not want to live where it was so hot you had to have air-conditioning or so cold that you have to have heat 8-9 months of they year. I would want a place where you can cut your own firewood and where there is a change of seasons. For that reason I would probably stick with the states close to Ohio as they seem to be similiar to our state. I always thought Kentucky would be nice too.

Melissa, it's funny that you mention Kentucky as hubby has family down there and has always loved it. LOL He was raving about KY last night for some reason. <grin>

Kelli

hanlonfive · #26 07/13/06, 10:57 AM

Thanks Catspaw.................ah you have family in Newark, eh? I'm about 45 minutes from there

hanlonfive · #27 07/13/06, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ET1 SS

Kelli-

You want:

Because:

Each of these things is a variable.

We have only recently moved to Maine, so no surprises here, I would urge you to look at Maine.

I found very cheap land. Forested, river-frontage with easy access to I-95.

For many here the economy sucks. But others are prospering! It takes all kinds, and is largely up to an individuals abilities.

Homeschooling is completely unregulated, and schools are happy to help.

We joined a local organic farming group who sponsors their own fair.

http://www.mofga.org/

Lots of folk living off the grid and using horse-teams or oxen-teams to work their land. [Not me

]

And of course, lobster!

It did surprise us though, we expected to find lobster cheap. But it runs about the same prices as anywhere in New England. $14 gets you a nice lobster dinner. The trick is knowing someone who runs their own pots, and getting off their boat when they come in.

Good luck!

And May God bless you.

Thanks Galen!!!!

mpillow · #28 07/13/06, 11:08 AM

Keep in mind that land prices/housing costs more often then not reflect the health of the economy....

Maine may seem cheap but wages are low...winters are long(heat $$) but the change of seasons is quite worth it....IMO

BIL wants to move to Maine on military retirement....he'll get $2000 a month and there is no way (due to eating out/driving around/ Jones' lifestyle) he could "live" on that....IT MAKES ME WANT TO PUKE!
They spend $1000 a month on food(family of 4)....thats our entire budget for food,taxes,utilities,and insurances....our real estate is paid for as well as vehicles...

hanlonfive · #29 07/13/06, 11:35 AM

Wow! $2000 a month............I would feel like a queen. LOL <shrugs> Some people's perceptions on life are way different than others. <grin>

We were recently in Maine.............although I liked it hubby complained about it.

Kelli

mpillow · #30 07/13/06, 12:39 PM

Where in Maine???....I ask because southern Maine is quite diff. than Northern...

I haven't been south of Gardiner since July 2000

hanlonfive · #31 07/13/06, 04:24 PM

We were in Augusta, Bangor and Bar Harbor

Kelli

ET1 SS · #32 07/13/06, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpillow

Keep in mind that land prices/housing costs more often then not reflect the health of the economy....

True.

Quote:

... winters are long(heat $$) but the change of seasons is quite worth it....IMO

Good point.

We do get all four seasons.

1- 'Almost wint-ah' is okay a chance to get things ready;
2- 'wint-ah' is cold but bearable;
3- 'still wint-ah' is a drag waiting for warmer temps to begin planting;
4- 'road construction' is here at last.

Soon it will be 'almost winter' once again, we are enjoying the 'road construction' season while it lasts. Fortunately we have lived in areas with much more severe wint-ah.

Quote:

... BIL wants to move to Maine on military retirement....he'll get $2000 a month and there is no way (due to eating out/driving around/ Jones' lifestyle) he could "live" on that....IT MAKES ME WANT TO PUKE!
They spend $1000 a month on food(family of 4)....thats our entire budget for food,taxes,utilities,and insurances....our real estate is paid for as well as vehicles...

LOL

I moved here on my military retirement. I get $1200/month. We have been able to buy land, buy materials and build a house. We will be doing much better once the house is done, about 2/3 of our budget now is going to building. We have two kids.

mpillow · #33 07/13/06, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hanlonfive

We were in Augusta, Bangor and Bar Harbor

Kelli

Hey so you were in "big towns" lots of meth and tourism and politics where you visited.....to live in Maine you need to like privacy....those places that give one that are the best quality of life....

We are 30 min to Augusta and 45 min to Bangor and 10 min to WTVL....still private...

Galen(ETS) is in a better place but we are working on it...we already own 2 pieces of heaven on Earth in Maine.....but we live in China for job proximity....
We can eat the animals we name with pride

And grow a bithchin' garden. This year we planted a new orchard in Lexington.....

All is well because we are careful w/ money and don't move every 7 years as non-military.....and we do things ourselves

BTW our camp would sell for more than our house.....

A good investment to say the least!

ET1 SS · #34 07/13/06, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hanlonfive

We were in Augusta, Bangor and Bar Harbor

Kelli

May I ask, what did DH find un-appealing?

sullen · #35 07/13/06, 08:45 PM

MPillow, can we visit when the Common Ground Fair starts? Thats the only time I head up that way.
We should have a Maine get together. Then you guys can tell everyone I really am 6 feet tall.
But back to topic, Maine is a good place to buy land and never want to see another soul again. Except the feed store. But I do wish the growing season was longer. But the plant sales! Cheap plants are great!

Jillis · #36 07/14/06, 06:00 AM

My 2 grown step children live in northern Maine, up in Patten area.

It is beautiful!

But the bugs are much more numerous and fiercer than here in northern VT farm country...lots of wildlife...good prices...

I would seriously consider moving to the area except there are no Tae Kwon Do classes, no dance classes for my kids. Also, my dh's ex-wife lives there too!

Perhaps that is changing, however...we have so mnay friends and good connections here in northern VT. Just a few shirt years ago, prices on land and homes were fairly reasonable here...now they have gone sky high...

mpillow · #37 07/14/06, 07:26 AM

Augusta is not a "pretty" city by any means and Bangor is just about the same only bigger and now with a racino

....both have set free alot of their AMHI (now Riverview) and BMHI patients to wander the streets...because of budget cuts/poor care.

I havent been to Bar Harbor in YEARS....but I do know that Summer is not the time to visit such a place.....can you say tourist trap? Plenty of jobs in the Summer there though.

Prettiest city in Maine??? anyone?

gilberte · #38 07/14/06, 07:41 AM

T5r7

mpillow · #39 07/14/06, 08:07 AM

I was thinking Lake #9 fly-in only

ET1 SS · #40 07/14/06, 08:53 AM

I just can’t say enough about the MOFGA fair. DW and I fell in love with it, and we get their weekly newsletters too.

Bugs: [specifically mosquitoes and black-fly] are an issue. They each come through the area in two separate waves, which gives them separate ‘seasons’. Last year the black-fly here were thick, but this year they seem to have skipped my area. Yay!!! I spray the standing water and ponds, which does seem to help keep the thickness and veracity of the mosquitoes down.

I can’t think of a ‘pretty city’. I have traveled most of the planet. I don’t think that I have ever gotten off the freeway when driving through Augusta. I just have no desire to see another ugly city. I have gotten off onto a county route just before I got into Augusta, but then running directly over towards Unity / Belfast area.

I live ‘near’ Bangor. DW works in Bangor. I can’t think of anything in Bangor that is pretty.

The local town has a small hardware store and grocery, etc. Which is fine for when you need a bolt or screw; or to grab a small list of groceries. But for large quantities, or selection, or even better prices, we end up doing our bigger purchases in Bangor. The city serves a purpose by having that huge shopping mall complex, so Burlington-Coat, Circuit City, Computer Renaissance, Sears, Goodwill, Home Depot, Blue Seal Feeds, Nature’s Way Organic Products, Costco, Wal-Mart, and tons of others, are all bunched together with two off-ramps.

But I find that for ‘farming’ stuff, I have to find a more rural hardware store. The mindset in Bangor’s Home Depot and True Value hardware, is still ‘urban’. Paris Farmers Union in either Corinth, or Newport, or True Value out in Ellsworth or in Corinth, are better for their actual selection of farming and forestry stuff. Also DW was able to find lye in the smaller rural hardware stores, but the urban ones will not carry it.