Move to Maine??? every passing day you will find this to be true:

[movintime]

Originally Posted by maineguy8888

I have thought many times about getting a gun (used to have one). Mostly for sport shooting.

But I never get around to it. A New Year's resolution: get one!

[UpTheCreek]

Originally Posted by Submariner

I grew-up in California and I hunted a bit. But I never carried in public there.

Here in Maine, we have bobcat and coyote on our property sometimes. One time while hiking something attacked my dog, I am not sure what it was. It bit her tail and clawed her rump. After that I began carrying when I go for hikes.

We used to walk our dogs up a trail to a water tank. This was in the very middle of a 5,000 home, planned community in San Diego, mind you. First dog walked around the corner and big scuffle. Second dog went around the corner with me chasing behind. Once I got there, I caught a glimpse of a mountain lion running back into the brush. Dog had some scratches but okay. I packed heat after that surprise! Never saw one again though. Used to see plenty of coyote, but they weren’t a problem.

[UpTheCreek]

Originally Posted by movintime

Hey, movintime! How was your Christmas? White, I know.

Cold enough for ya?

[AustinB]

Originally Posted by maineguy8888

I don't doubt what you've been saying. Hell, I'm as local as it gets, and I have been in a few Maine towns that even weirded ME out a bit!!
If you can get beyond that "first layer" of Maine natives, you're golden. You will be treated like gold. But getting beyond that first layer can be a bit tricky sometimes. (Unless you live in a place like Portland, where half the people are from away anyways).


Oh, and you touched on the origins of this dynamic. Way up here in the County, where survival was EXTREMELY hard 150 years ago (even 100 years ago), locals HAD to know that any people coming in were made of the right stuff. There was little room for error, if you will. (More recently, over the last 50 years, there have been a number of horrific murders perpetrated here by outsiders......by scum, if you will. I am NOT saying that locals don't ever do the same thing, but it's a pretty peaceful place; so crimes like this by outsiders really impact people. Another point: thousands of people who served at Loring Air Base ended up settling right around here. They really like the area. Also, the Amish have moved in recently.....they really like it here. I do know things might be different in some parts of Maine).

Don't go to the coffee socials in New Sweden.

[FlowerPower00]

Originally Posted by TheCoolMoose

"Difference is here, everyone knows your business in Maine. Maine is like one giant neighborhood.

Good luck with your perfect and stellar life. I hope Maine toughened you up a bit."

Toughened me up a bit. What does that mean? Does that mean I shouldn't be outgoing with you folks? Does that mean that I should distrust Mainers?

Here's a good example of what im talking about that outsiders have to "take shat" from the Mainers if they want to stick around. Ive said my piece, and its all true. Im not trolling. For the most part like I said, the OP is correct.

The mainers think I need to learn selflessness and benevolence, but it is the mainers who are predatory and hateful with their jealousy toward outsiders. Distrustful at best, predatory at worst.

There is a general vibe in this state of 'F the outsiders.' It's just reality. Has anybody seen the movie Deliverance?

I am not even from here. I will take it over the places I have been for that matter.

[FlowerPower00]

Originally Posted by TheCoolMoose

But, it has probably been like this since the state first started, and complaining about it is useless. Its just something people from out of state need to realize.

I can infer early Mainers hated the outsiders coming up from Massachusetts and the rest of the colonies. Probably considered them snooty, boston city boys.

Maine used to be part of Massachusetts....