Maine

[Mainechick168]

I have to say I'm overwhelmed by the responses and good advice. I guess I was attracted to Maine for a good reason.
Plan is to come back with about 40k in savings... Not nearly as much as I had expected but there's been some major changes in life and that's why I'm leaving. Anyway

I've got two options, come back to the US and buy property, then ship back out on the next plane to save up enough to build a house when I return in a year or two. (up north looks good really cheap)
Or
Go back get a job and then find a good piece of property to call home and fix it up as I earn a living. (down south looks good, stable jobs)

Both have serious plus and minus aspects, lots to think about there.

Ashandvine, I REALLY want to take my little time capsules with me but even after contacting some university departments there really isnt anything to be done about live chickens.
My only option now is to "creatively acquire" what I need. Honestly though I really understand why there is such a strict ban on poultry from here.
The average chicken is riddled with everything you can think of and NO ONE cares, not even the consumers. Sad really, very sad.
Its honestly very obvious why many books and movies cite this area as the source of the next super virus.

CoopChick and Annabananaandfamil (thats a lot of A's)
I completely understand. I couldnt wait to get out of my town growing up. By the time I was 18 most people hadnt been outside the state and I had already traveled the nation north to south doing whatever I could or just tagging along with whatever crazy trip there was. Now I also have entered the “been there seen that phase.” The only good thing I can do now is to raise a family and give them the same opportunities I had. I just dont have that same desire to return to the roost though, gotta try something new and this is looking like the place.

I'll sure miss the convenience of the big city, but honestly its all pretty much the same inside. The internet has changed everything. I remember when I had to travel to Detroit to get a fortune cookie, now I can special order Japanese sake for just a few dollars more than I'd spend in Japan. Pretty **** amazing. So long as I can find a few open minded local friends to drink it with the only difference would be the language. (I'll defiantly miss that though, kinda fun being the show pony at the bar)
Jack in the box... you just had to mention it... Now I want some fat wedges. I cant even get a good burger in China, well for less than 40 bucks, fries are a dream.
After going without for so long my only concern will be overeating for the first 5 years.

I never understand people who move to a new place and cant let go of anything. It really defeats the purpose. Oh well, people are special. My house will be my way, but outside of that I'm ready to bend in the wind.

Mustardtiger, love the gif
I am partial to cowboy over hillbilly, thats for sure, but I'm darn adaptable and hillbilly was my origin. (born in Kentucky)
The part that I dont like about Wyoming is that whole middle part, no matter what you gotta cross it to go anywhere. That's a whole lotta nothing, gives you real respect for those early settlers the first time you see the plains in person.

Hoppy,
My only guess would be the land prices. I know online isnt the same as on the ground in housing, but its darn close. NH land seems to be much more expensive per acre. I'm willing to bet property taxes are considerably different too. No idea though, just a guess.

If you are willing to be a little bit far away from things ( major grocery stores, etc) Maine is a super spot. Being far away from things is not always a bad thing! There are pockets of open minded people too- and I like to think there are more "Hicks" than "rednecks" my own feeling is that although "hicks" might be a little backwoods, they are not intolerant. I'd qualify a bunch of my family as hicks- they hunt, fish, work outside, but are still quite open minded.

As far as taxes go, each community is different. Coastal is going to be higher. Most rural towns are less- but it does not take much to be rural- I'm not far outside of Augusta, and housing, land a taxes are decently priced.

If you are truly interested in farming, there are some programs being put into place to keep Maine's farm land as farm land- I think one program might be called "forever farm"... the state is kicking in some help for people who want to purchase farms/farm land as long as they promise that it will always remain agricultural.

 

[ashandvine]

After spending time abroad I learned just how much I appreciated food here; diverse and accessible and good quality. That is changing slowly but for now its still on the top of my list of reasons to love living in the USA.

I don't know that I feel like hillbilly is the right adjective here. Hick works.

If you plan to raise a family and a farm with good food available etc there are only a few places I would recommend and none of them are above the Bangor.

FWIW, come home, get an apartment or house to rent for a year so you can just get your Maine legs and and spend some time really looking/feeling out a place. Maine is known for being conservative as a voting entity but its also known to be nice in a way that the south isn't. If you want safety for your family then the south isn't where you want to be IMO. Poisonous bugs, snakes, gators, heat and road rage plus nasty cockroaches and lizards that live in everything including your wall outlets. I'd rather shovel snow. And ice skate and all that.

Drinking is big here so there's no shortage of people wanting to make a pony out of you.... watch that.

GREAT microbrews and lots of them! Mead just got legalized for sale by a company out of NH too-- good stuff too. I've judged it at comps before and know the owner.

AND MOST IMPORTANT THERE IS THE HUGE POULTRY HISTORY AND GOOD STOCK AVAILABILITY HERE! You know that's what is going to sell it lol

 

[Mainechick168]

After spending time abroad I learned just how much I appreciated food here; diverse and accessible and good quality. That is changing slowly but for now its still on the top of my list of reasons to love living in the USA.

I don't know that I feel like hillbilly is the right adjective here. Hick works.

If you plan to raise a family and a farm with good food available etc there are only a few places I would recommend and none of them are above the Bangor.

FWIW, come home, get an apartment or house to rent for a year so you can just get your Maine legs and and spend some time really looking/feeling out a place. Maine is known for being conservative as a voting entity but its also known to be nice in a way that the south isn't. If you want safety for your family then the south isn't where you want to be IMO. Poisonous bugs, snakes, gators, heat and road rage plus nasty cockroaches and lizards that live in everything including your wall outlets. I'd rather shovel snow. And ice skate and all that.

Drinking is big here so there's no shortage of people wanting to make a pony out of you.... watch that.

GREAT microbrews and lots of them! Mead just got legalized for sale by a company out of NH too-- good stuff too. I've judged it at comps before and know the owner.

AND MOST IMPORTANT THERE IS THE HUGE POULTRY HISTORY AND GOOD STOCK AVAILABILITY HERE! You know that's what is going to sell it lol

Again, we are secret twins! Same thoughts at the same time! I might be a little bit of a hick.....

 

[PollyC]

My poor roosters look likw they have been in a battle! Frostbite all over the combs and wattles, no mater what i slather them with.

My Roosters have frostbite also, I tried the vaseline but the hens just ate that off so I was told to use A&D ointment. It worked, the girls would not eat it and he has gotten better. My big rooster will loose some of his wattles but with this cold we have had not much else we can do.

 

[Chambertin]

I also like Hick.

Perfect definition for people who can blend in just about any enviroment without a second thought, are open to new ideas, but love working and living out where the soil has a smell to it.
A Good smell, the city has plenty of smell to its land.

You're right about renting a place first, but I'm so eager to get out of here buying online right now is hard to resist.
Gotta slow down, put things in perspective and get a good plan for moving the eggs.
Only problem is I have to put them all in one basket!

Back to the job search, take care everyone

 

[buckabucka]

I like Maine for the quirky creative people. Plus I hate traffic and enjoy the outdoors and really like having 4 seasons.

I like all the stuff going on in Skowhegan, like the old jail being converted to a grain mill, trails by the river etc. I think Maine is fairly diverse in some ways (not so much in other ways).

 

[lazy gardener]

I also like Hick.

Perfect definition for people who can blend in just about any enviroment without a second thought, are open to new ideas, but love working and living out where the soil has a smell to it.
A Good smell, the city has plenty of smell to its land.

You're right about renting a place first, but I'm so eager to get out of here buying online right now is hard to resist.
Gotta slow down, put things in perspective and get a good plan for moving the eggs.
Only problem is I have to put them all in one basket!

Back to the job search, take care everyone

I do hope you're not talking about buying property on line!!! That's a good way to get into a heap of trouble very fast. Photographs can be very deceiving and there can be a lot of structural problems (in housing) and a lot of environmental problems that you wouldn't be aware of unless you are actually able to visit the site and the community. For example: I once knew a person who moved here from out of state. She had recently had some metabolic changes, and was convinced that because of this, she had developed an obnoxious body odor. Needless to say, she was less than a mile downwind of what the locals call "stink mountain". This is a local land fill that is so hot the snow never covers it. So, if you were looking for land... and there is a lot of nice land around stink mountain, you would never know what you were getting for your money unless you actually visited, and asked a LOT of questions.

 

[CoopChick719]

After spending time abroad I learned just how much I appreciated food here; diverse and accessible and good quality. That is changing slowly but for now its still on the top of my list of reasons to love living in the USA.

I don't know that I feel like hillbilly is the right adjective here. Hick works.

If you plan to raise a family and a farm with good food available etc there are only a few places I would recommend and none of them are above the Bangor.

FWIW, come home, get an apartment or house to rent for a year so you can just get your Maine legs and and spend some time really looking/feeling out a place. Maine is known for being conservative as a voting entity but its also known to be nice in a way that the south isn't. If you want safety for your family then the south isn't where you want to be IMO. Poisonous bugs, snakes, gators, heat and road rage plus nasty cockroaches and lizards that live in everything including your wall outlets. I'd rather shovel snow. And ice skate and all that.

GREAT microbrews and lots of them! Mead just got legalized for sale by a company out of NH too-- good stuff too. I've judged it at comps before and know the owner.

AND MOST IMPORTANT THERE IS THE HUGE POULTRY HISTORY AND GOOD STOCK AVAILABILITY HERE! You know that's what is going to sell it lol

I agree Hick not hillbilly.

LOVE that we don't have all of the nasty poisonous things listed above!!

Drinking is big here so there's no shortage of people wanting to make a pony out of you.... watch that.

 

[Chambertin]

I do hope you're not talking about buying property on line!!! That's a good way to get into a heap of trouble very fast.  Photographs can be very deceiving and there can be a lot of structural problems (in housing) and a lot of environmental problems that you wouldn't be aware of unless you are actually able to visit the site and the community.  For example:  I once knew a person who moved here from out of state.  She had recently had some metabolic changes, and was convinced that because of this, she had developed an obnoxious body odor.  Needless to say, she was less than a mile downwind of what the locals call "stink mountain".  This is a local land fill that is so hot the snow never covers it.  So, if you were looking for land... and there is a lot of nice land around stink mountain, you would never know what you were getting for your money unless you actually visited, and asked a LOT of questions.

TOTALLY AGREE
Real Estate is one of the most difficult and important purchases in life.
NO way I would ever buy online, but those photos are just so tempting. Saw a couple spots that were exactly what I dreamed of (exactly whey they use those photos!) and just getting a little too dreamy.

I've learned from others tales and self venture that nothing beats feet on the ground and a good prodding into the soil, woodwork, and neighborhood. There's so much out there that sometimes the seller isnt aware of. Other times, its all just under the surface and they're trying to pass on a mountain of stink and trouble.

Good advice and I will be feet on the ground before I buy anything.

 

[chickinpecker]

Anybody have word on poultry swaps this year?? Tractor supply's maybe? If anyone gets info let me know...I can't wait for spring time!!!