The best place to live in Maine.

[2ner]

I always thought it would be nice to go back to Madawaska. I love the St John River Valley's uniqueness and remoteness (vis-à-vis the rest of the United States, but not Canada). It's about the only place in the States where you can live in French. Edmundston, NB, the local metropolis, is right across the river. About 95% of Edmundston locals are native Francophones as are most people on the Maine side. Plus, you have access to millions of acres of undeveloped woodland, including along the Allagash River. The main downside are the winters... and that is a major downside. Can't escape winter anywhere in Maine. Ever since I left the state, I have become soft when it comes to winters.

[maineguy8888]

Originally Posted by 2ner

I always thought it would be nice to go back to Madawaska. I love the St John River Valley's uniqueness and remoteness (vis-à-vis the rest of the United States, but not Canada). It's about the only place in the States where you can live in French. Edmundston, NB, the local metropolis, is right across the river. About 95% of Edmundston locals are native Francophones as are most people on the Maine side. Plus, you have access to millions of acres of undeveloped woodland, including along the Allagash River. The main downside are the winters... and that is a major downside. Can't escape winter anywhere in Maine. Ever since I left the state, I have become soft when it comes to winters.

It really makes you appreciate just how tough they were in the old days. They had no warm cars in the garage, ready to hop into. No modern clothing with thinsulate etc. Houses were harder to heat. And so on.
Yet they survived and even prospered......

[2ner]

Originally Posted by maineguy8888

It really makes you appreciate just how tough they were in the old days. They had no warm cars in the garage, ready to hop into. No modern clothing with thinsulate etc. Houses were harder to heat. And so on.
Yet they survived and even prospered......

Mainers have a well-earned reputation for being hardy, hardworking, and thrifty (historically speaking, that is). In the South and in the pre-air-conditioning "old days", they had to contend with oppressive heat and humidity. They got a reputation for being slow and lazy.

That Aesop's fable about the grasshopper and the ants comes to mind...

[maineguy8888]

Originally Posted by 2ner

Mainers have a well-earned reputation for being hardy, hardworking, and thrifty (historically speaking, that is). In the South and in the pre-air-conditioning "old days", they had to contend with oppressive heat and humidity. They got a reputation for being slow and lazy.

That Aesop's fable about the grasshopper and the ants comes to mind...

Yes, what a choice they had to make down south! Leave the windows open in the summer, which might give you a bit of air movement but allowed in all the bugs, etc. Or leave them closed and roast even more.

[Jellybean50]

I didn't read all the comments yet - but we moved from rural southern NJ to coastal Washington County Maine in April, and we love it here.

My only complaint so far is that it was too hot this Summer! And too humid!

(Edited to add: the people have been great, and everywhere we see and hear that there are not enough people to fill the jobs. Don't know if maybe they are not good-paying jobs or only temp jobs, but this is what we hear.)