All my posts have been pretty kids focused and that's the real reason for doing this blog. But people have asked me, "What's life really like in Maine for you all anyway." Well, we left our good life in Evanston, not because we didn't enjoy life there, but searching for something new and in many ways a better way of life--certainly a simpler way of life.
There are five houses on our dead-end road and we know almost everyone who drives on it. We don't really have to lock our doors--although years of living elsewhere force me to. The post lady knows who we are and if were to see her in Hannaford's, our local grocery store, she'd likely stop and chat (I'm thinking she probably avoids peak hours in the grocery store for that very reason). We actually have more than 100 ft of yard (2 acres that were affordable and manageable).
Patrick's commute to work is 16 minutes -- peak hour or not. My commute is 12 seconds (unless I'm back in Chicago of course). I can leave our home, drive to the airport, and be through security sitting at my gate all within 30 minutes. The quaint, charming center of Portland (The Old Port), which sits on the Ocean, is just 20 minutes from us.
Lobster is plentiful and cheap.
Restaurants are good! People are extremely friendly and down to earth (no city attitudes here in Maine). The environment is a true concern and people don't just talk about it, they actually act.
We've had a mild winter, so I can't report that the winters are bad (yet). The sky is somehow bluer here and sometimes it feels so close that you could reach up and grab it. There are no street lights on our street or within the vicinity, making for some pretty incredible starry nights!
Personalized license plates cost only $10, so everyone has them.
Maine is slow to adopt, but funny in many ways. There are cities named after places from all over the world--perhaps to bring the world here. This is a real street sign.
Did I mention that I can get to the center of Boston in 1.5 hours? All good, right?
Well, we also can't walk to the convenient store. The nearest Target is 20 driving minutes away. No restaurants deliver to where we live. Jobs are difficult to come by so many people are doing what I am doing and leaving the state to find reasonable work.
It's hard to meet folks when you work from home, but some of the preschool parents have been extremely welcoming. It helps that we also already knew some folks here. Anyway, what I am saying is that it's all been pretty good. I am also suggesting through all of this that it's worth a visit. Patrick has been busy building a guestroom in our basement with future plans for a full bath. So come visit us! We promise lobster, strolls through the old port, shopping at LL Bean, hikes, and more....
