Donna K. -- Orange City, FL
3/12/03 -- 05:55:13 PM
My heart is in Maine. I was born and lived in Massachusetts most of my life. In 1995, I moved to Maine, Bangor area and also lived there during the ice storm of '98. So, I consider myself a Mainer but as a friend of mine who is a true Mainer said to me "Yep, you're a Mainer now but you're not a native Mainer." LOL.
In November, 2001 I moved to Florida to help my then 80-year old mother care for my 88-year old aunt. Both of them are doing pretty well but I am miserable. I miss so many things about Maine. Surprisingly, I feel as if I never lived anywhere else. When anyone asks where I'm from I automatically say Maine. There's just something special about Maine and her people. I made good friends there, one of whom was just here for two weeks and had to return home because the pipes in her house burst. You know, there's a certain pride in being able to take things like that in stride.
I have my house here up for sale, praying daily for a
buyer so that I can get back to Maine. I have pets (cats & dogs) and
I tell them every day "we'll be going home soon." Even the vet
said this is the most expensive state to own pets in. There's no real
grass, no real dirt, no real anything. And, forget about Christmas - how
ridiculous is putting up decorations of snowmen and Christmas trees
covered with snow and sleighs? I pity kids who will never see snow or
laugh as they sled down a snow-covered hill in winter. No ice-skating,
no snow-huts, no snowball fights or "forts". Well, it
will all be over soon, I hope. I tell everyone here when I return to
Maine I'll kiss the ground and never leave again!!
*****************************
Jinny -- Laurel, MD
3/12/03 -- 12:05:53 PM
To Su`ud Arjawani Al-Hayes:
I was born in the County and lived there until I turned 21. Then I
transferred to U. of TX in San Antonio and graduated from that
university. I relocated to DC last year, and after this winter
(which I'm sure is nothing compared to this winter further North of
here), I just have to say that the cold is a real shocker.
**************************************
Wayne St. Clair ( wane9779@hotmail.com
) -- Roanoke, VA
3/12/03 -- 11:43:19 AM
Terri in Williamsburg Va. I born & raised in Roanoke
Va. I moved to Maine in 1974 when I was stationed there in the Coast
Guard. I fell in love with the state & Portland in general so when I
was discharged in Washington state I moved back. I lived there until
1991 when King George the first's recession got so bad I couldn't take
it anymore & I left. An act of desperation I have regreted everyday
since. I intend to move back eventually even if I have to move in under
a bridge to do so.
****************************************
Nancy Kaminester ( kammy@cox.net ) --
La Mesa, CA
3/12/03 -- 12:43:00 AM
I've been living in (ugh!) California for 20 years, but
I sure do miss beautiful Maine! Only thing I don't miss are the cold
winters!
***********************************
Terri -- Williamsburg, VA
3/11/03 -- 05:33:50 PM
To mottram
There are a lot of mainers stuck here in Virginia your just down the
road from Williamsburg so converse
***********************************
S. K. Johnson ( universeguard@hotmail.com
) -- York, ME
3/11/03 -- 05:11:45 PM
Maine has become a hunting
state with no consiuderation for the preservation or protection of
its wildlife. Cruel, barbaric canned hunts are eating up the last
remaining acres, and you must contact your reps. and senators to
pass animal, fish, lobster protection bills. Do something to
improve Maine, not add to its natural and wildlife destruction.
Serious stuff of which you can change the course in Maine.
********************************
Terri -- Wmsbrg, VA
3/10/03 -- 07:56:49 PM
To Wayne from Roanoke
What part of Maine did you grow up in? The name St. Clair sounds
familiar. I'am looking forward to my next visit to Maine,we're going
whitewater rafting and believe you me my cooler will have ample Italian
sandwiches. Also I must be a true Maniac but I'am looking forward to
movg back to those great winters and night skiing nothing like it.
***************************************
Ellic Mottram ( Mottrame@nicholas.navy.mil
) -- Norfolk, VA
3/10/03 -- 11:06:17 AM
Im a Camden schooner bum by trade, who made the mistake
of leaveing maine to get some pre college navigation skill from the
navy. now I find myself in virginia, a land void of some of lifes
greatest joys like diners, moxie, wild roses growing by the seashore,
& tourists who leave each year. As I dont get a chance to return to
my native land of midcoast maine very often i find myself constantly in
search of my fellew statesmen & stateswomen, i think that the only
people who understand mainers are mainers. and i would thouroughly enjoy
to converse with someone who makes sence
**************************************
Doug Nelson ( Maineac51@yahoo.com
) -- Yardley, PA
3/9/03 -- 12:45:31 AM
First to Jan & Steve Clowes - I got your email and I
will reply to get the details of the Patriots day celebration.
Will it include a Red Sox game and highlights of the Boston Marathon?
Also, since my birthday is the 16th, do I get a birthday cake? LOL
On a sadder/happier note, I was "reorganized" out of a job
last month and will be relocating back to Monson by this summer.
Being laid off and almost 52 makes the decision to relocate a lot
easier. At least I got a great severance package and I don't have to
worry about finances for at least a year. I haven't quite figured
out what I am going to do until I can collect retirement, but without a
$1250 a month mortgage payment to get a roof over my head, I can make
half of what I did and still live very "high on the hog".
Or would that be Moose? LOL
I will be looking for a great opportunity or something that resembles
it. I think I want to work for me this time and not someone else.
Maybe I could sell Moxie, Whoopie Pies, whole belly clams, lobstahs, and
pine tree seedlings to everyone who will still be in exile.
I will be going "home" as I have always planned, just a little
sooner than my time schedule had called for!
I hope Gov. Baldacci can keep things in line until I can get back to
help him out! hehehehe!
On another sad note for all UMaine alums, I was home in February due to
a death in my family and in the Bangor Daily was a front page story on
the passing of Pat (forget the last name), the owner of Pat's Pizza in
Orono. What self-respecting Black Bear alum hasn't had a Pat's
pizza or two?
Another note, both the Bangor Daily and Portland Press Herald have
websites. Good way to keep up on what is going on back in the Pine
Tree State.
You can take the boy out of Maine, but you can't take Maine out of the
boy! That's me, just one misplaced Maineac.
And for those who think elsewhere is better, I have lived and worked in
Hartford CT area, North Jersey (Hackensack), Pittsburgh PA, Lewisburg
PA, Philadelpia Area, Orange CA, Hitchin England and Woodland ME.
Right now I wish I had spent the last 28 years in Woodland instead of
traipsing all over the place with a job that just slid me out the door.
******************************************
Cookie ( cookiecoogan@yahoo.com
) -- Ithaca, NY
3/8/03 -- 05:19:14 PM
Heard (I think) the Humble Farmer say once: "If you
can't take the winter, you don't deserve the summer." (You Maneiacs
might hear that in your grandfather's Downeast accent).
Anyway, I'm not commenting directly on what anybody here had to say
about the seasonal hardships of living in Maine. I often take the above
advice living here in the Finger Lakes. That lake effect snow ain't no
picnic. I'm glad I grew up in Maine because I know how to take it---and
I trust that every winter will---eventually---give way to Spring. What
we *don't* seem to have here is Mud Season.
****************************************
Terry -- Springlake, NC
3/8/03 -- 09:01:41 AM
TERRI/Wayne, your both right about
Marie moving to Maine, everyone should give it a try as I have said
in the Past, its very pretty and down home delightful. Maybe its
just me growing up the we did and the struggles with a very harsh
enviroment. Marie listen to everyone and give it a try. Please do
move there in the spring and not the winter..Very sorry to have
offended anyone, but being a Mianer, you got may gut feeling about
Maine. Good luck Marie. To Terri and Wayne, I hope you get
back to Maine soon...I may just buy a summer place on Belgrade
Lakes...
*************************************
Wayne St. Clair ( wane9779@hotmail.com
) -- Roanoke, VA
3/8/03 -- 12:01:37 PM
To Terri from Williamsburg Va. I know just what you mean
by a den of ignorance, after all you & I live in the buckle of the
bible belt. As for having to go home twice a year to keep your insanity,
I can relate. Living too sanely can lead to boredom, inaction & an
early death & what better source of life affirming insanity than
Maine & its crazy winters?
**************************
Terri -- Wmsbrg, VA
3/7/03 - 05:54:33 PM
To Terry from N.C. I was a littl offended about your
comments aboutliving in Maine all yearlong. I've lived all over this
country and traffic,cost of living, and even climates are everywhere.
Nothing and nowhere is perfect. I am planning on moving back to Maine
after 30 years (I grew up in Maine)there is nothing like it or the
people. Right now I live in Virginia it's like a den of ignorance, I go
home to twice a year to kee my insanity. So to the person named Marie go
for it move to Maine you will never regret it.
*******************************
Wayne St. Clair ( wane9779@hotmail.com
) -- Roanoke, VA
3/7/03 -- 09:33:17 AM
To Marie: First off I must say you also live in one of
the prettiest states in the union...I've spent some time in northern New
Mexico & was taken away by its beauty & would almost consider
living there.
As for what Terry said...he is honestly correct in much of
what he said...it is overpriced, taxes are high, the job market can be
frightening & the winters are a bear BUT at the same time...at least
for me all I can say is life is a lot more than low taxes, affordiblity,
easy jobs & mild winters...some things are worth struggling for
& indeed sometime the struggle makes all the difference. I am from
the south & have been back here 12 years...I lived for 18 years in
Portland Maine...I let King George the First recession in the early 90's
scare me away & I have regretted it every day... since. There is an
indefinaeable something about Maine that if you are so inclined it seeps
into the soul & roots itself there until the place becomes part of
you. All these lost & lonely exiles on this website are prime proof
of it...I am not sure but I haven't come across another site for exiled
southerners or mid westerners for example...& part of what causes
the place to take such hold is the struggle...at first its like you
don't notice the difficulties, then later you fight, bitch & moan
against them, winter's a good example but eventually you come to need
that struggle & the very fact makes you feel even more alive...can
there be anything more heart stoppingly beautiful than early green grass
& crocus peeking out of the snow on a stark, asutre crystal clear
blue skied day in late March or early April after a winter that has
tested your very mettle? Go for it & have no regrets.
*************************************
Kristal Atwater ( jofeaky2g@yahoo.com
) -- Battle Mountain, NV
3/6/03 -- 08:18:39 PM
Me again,
two more months and the days are really starting to drag, i am going
insane, so close and yet so far.
no matter how many pic's i have of maine or how many sites i visit it
just is not the same, call me a crazy, but every morning i wake up and
look at the calender and expect it to be May.
I can't wait to show my daughter the state were she was born, after
being in the desert i think she might truly enjoy the change, at least i
no what my dog will think "oh my gosh i have died and gone to
heaven they have grass and tree's!" everyone of us can't wait.
you don't know what you got until its gone.
***************************************
Terry -- Springlake, NC
3/6/03 -- 07:56:25 AM
To Marie, I went back home last summer for two weeks. I
had been away for 25 years. Maine is one of the prettiest states in
America (summer/fall). But beware its also one of the worst states to
live in also..Don't let beauty fool you. Its very over priced, summer
traffic is hell, cost living is just out of this world and taxes are
just unreal. Jobs are just not there nor is the pay. I must give the
people my friends who stayed there all the cridet in the world as
Mainers are wonderful people. I grew up in Bath and I must tell you its
a little overpriced city trying to grow. The congestion of shopping
areas is really bad Its still a dingy little town. Maybe its me
listening to that downeast twang and the slow way of life....You must
really consider the Long very cold winters, Marie its just not worth
it...Go vacation and have fun, its a wonderful state to visit, and a
wonderful state to leave as the cold weather starts to come and stays
for long dark months. I hope I have not offended everyone from Maine as
you are wonderful and very stong willed people....
**********************************
Marie ( wisc62@hotmail.com
) -- Albuquerque, NM
3/5/03 -- 11:09:46 AM
I am this person, "your heart found Maine after a
lifetime of searching". And also get the looks of, "are
you crazy", "Why"? , It's so cold there. I know,
but since I was 18, I've always wanted to live there. I'm 40 now.
For the first time last September my husband finally took me there and I
felt like I had found home. Now as we are about to jump from the
Air Force after 20 years I am trying desperately to talk him into
settling in the Bath area. He said to find him a job there that
will pay him what he is worth then he would consider it. So if you
know a company who needs someone with 20 years military discipline/great
with people/still young 37/has his BS in Information Systems
Management/his MCSE/Acquistion schools/Systems Analyst. He is one
of those people who can get along with anyone and can make a great
success out of anything he does. Sorry, I hope I'm not considered
a windbag. But I loved the Maine people. They were genuine
and we loved it there. Thank you
*******************************
Su`ud Arjawani Al-Hayes ( Arjawani1@collegeclub.com
) -- Toronto, ON, CANADA
3/3/03 -- 09:06:58 PM
Su`ud Arjawani Al-Hayes (formerly Christopher Hayes) of
Auburn, ME. Just began my Ph.D in Religion at the University of
Toronto. Spent the last four years at UTexas and returning to
winters in the Northeast is a real readjustment.
*************************************
Jan and Steve Clowes ( jastmaine@att.net
) -- Milford, DE
3/3/03 -- 05:29:27 PM
April 19th Patriots Day celebration in central Delaware. The Delaware
Maine-iacs regroup. E-mail me if you live in the area and would like to
join us....Doug from PA, I have misplaced your e-mail address, please
drop me a note. Hope to connect with new folks and re-connect with the
old group. And only 11 days to my Maine trip :-)
*********************************
Chris Beyer ( cabincreations@ainop.com
) -- SHIN POND, ME
3/1/03 -- 09:28:25 AM
Been a bone chillin' month of February here in the Northwoods of Maine.
We are acutally
looking forward to the spring and warmer weather.....One of the many
benefits of winter..NO BLACK FLIES!!!!
This is a great site, keep up the good work !!!
******************************************