My daughter will be graduating college in May 2021 which will release me from being required to remain in NC (in-state tuition). I will have been in NC for about 24 years at that time.

My wife and I are in our mid-50s and we're discussing moving to a more "rural" area to finish out our career and retire. Once of the places we're discussing is Maine (the other is western Virginia). However, my only time spent in Maine was for a week of SERE school. While the terrain was rugged and beautiful, I was too worried about "survival" to fully appreciate it at the time.

I believe PHPaul is in Maine but I think we have other members from there too. Guess I'm looking for the pros & cons, etc. Being from Florida originally and having been in NC for so long, I'm wondering if the first winter there would kill us. lol. But seriously, I know it would be a huge change from things we're used to (not much snow, milder temps, air conditioning, etc.) but would appreciate feedback from those in the know.

We're just beginning to look but if we do decide then i'll need to start job seeking at the beginning of 2021. In the meantime we'll keep doing our research, etc. to hopefully make the most informed decision we can.

thanks!

I only lived in Maine briefly, but loved it.

Late Spring, Summer, and early Fall in Maine are amazing.

Winter will be challenging. Especially since you've never lived in an area with cold temps and heavy snows, and you're getting older.

In what area of Maine are you looking?

I know there are a lot of factors that effect a move...but have you considered Western N. Carolina?

Why not both!

A small cabin in Main for the summer on a lake and a place in VA in the Winter time.

The Wife and I (early 50's) grew up in the upper mid west, we contemplated moving back for a while. We soon realized that we don't anything to do with the winters up there, hard pass

I'm from Maine originally- moved to Phoenix for 5 years, then back, and I still own a rental property there, and my mother and brother still live in southern ME. It is beautiful, but no way in hell would I move back there. Heat is more expensive than AC, taxes are high, property taxes can be pretty high. The roads are pretty well beat up due to the temperature extremes.

I love the old yankee bits, but it is changing. Portland has great restaurants and brew pubs etc. It will be up to you what you like. Maybe I am unhappy with the place because my childhood memories are too idealized compared to the reality.

I love Naples FL where we live now- great infrastructure, reasonable taxes etc. You may hate where we are now- it is a very personal decision as to where you wish to live.

Too many people from Mass moved up to Maine.

Most people, not all, but most, tend to want to get away from northern winters as they get older, not head toward them.

This is more than a bit of an exaggeration: Diary of a Snow Shoveler, but a guarantee you, you will eventually come to dread late winter, early spring in the north.

The first few snows are still magical, even after having lived here nearly my entire life, but round about March it starts getting real old.

Maine is fantastic, I go fishing and hunting up there every chance I get. Winters are tough, but my experience has always been the severity of the winter is directly related to one's perception. I love the snow, love the cold, and generally think that winter is beautiful, therefore I don't think the winters up there are all that bad. My wife on the other hand is a complete basket case when temps drop below 50.

Can you deal with Maines winter weather? Some areas average up to 100 inches of snow annually plus it gets colder sooner and warmer later than what you're use to in Carolina so long winters and short summers. I've been to Maine and Montana and absolutely loved both but I couldn't deal with the winter weather so I would never move there. If you can handle the winter weather in Maine I think its probably a good choice. With the current political situation in Virginia I would never consider moving there for any reason.

I’m a Florida boy too, moved to the mountains of NC as a teen, joined the service, went all over the world.

I’ve also been to Maine in the winter.

We live in TX now due to Mrs. Mikes job, but if we won the lottery we would move to the mountains in NC, probably around Hendersonville because of her sister. My parents live in Franklin, I love the NC mountains.

There is no way I’d move to Maine to live.

Maybe visit in the summer but I’d be gone for the winter.

You need to visit a cost of living comparison website and plug in your city.

I just did it for Wilson nc(where I used to live) and Portland....I’d need to make more money in ME than NC...and god knows what the taxes are like there...plus heat in the winter

I spent two years in Northern Maine (Aroostook County) decades ago at Loring AFB (closed in the early 1990s) and enjoyed it. I considered retiring to Maine but my research raised a lot of flags: high taxes, availability and quality of healthcare (real concerns as you age), a weak economy (traditional industries declined over the years), high cost of living (heating for example) and a marked change in the political climate. Maine is a very large state, so there are marked differences as you go from Portland in the south to Caribou and other points further north. There is no question, though, about the scenic beauty. This year I moved from Virginia to coastal South Carolina. I had lived in Northern Virginia for over 40 years. Much going for the area but increasing taxes, high cost of living, congestion, and a marked change in the political climate in recent years suggested retiring elsewhere. Weather was a factor for both Maine and Virginia: as some of us age, we feel the cold more and prefer a warmer climate. Good luck with your search.

Mosquitoes are pretty overwhelming, and then in the inner parts of the state have black flies in the spring. those are brutal.

Ensigmatic stated it right- snow is magical in the beginning. then you need to shovel to get out of the house, down the driveway, and through the snowbank just to get onto slippery roads to get to work, or grocery store or wherever you need to get.

to see a good side, look for the Zach Zamboni episodes that Anthony Bourdain did- showing the snowmobiling community. that, ice fishing and skiing are great winter activities. I loved smelt fishing with my family.

The long season consisting of early Fall through late Spring would be a big negative for me. Also when I've been through in the Summer it seemed to be pretty buggy. Maybe it was just the times I happened to be there I don't know. The coast is beautiful though, in Summer.
Western VA has a wonderful climate especially once you get around 2,500' and up. Eastern WV is nice also.

WHERE in Maine? Climate at/near the coast is entirely different than upstate.

Taxes/politics/social situation is entirely different South of Augusta than it is North and East (with the exception of Bar Harbor).

Job market, such as it is, is mainly South and West of Augusta.

Retiring here is one thing. Needing a full time job with decent pay ($50k/yr or more) is an entirely different ballgame.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ_Boston:
Mosquitoes are pretty overwhelming, and then in the inner parts of the state have black flies in the spring. those are brutal.

There, too, eh?

Yeah, if it's anything like Michigan, particularly northern Michigan, mosquitoes and black and/or deer flies can be overwhelming. The mosquitoes are annoying (and, these days, can carry some pretty nasty diseases), but the black and deer flies--Jebus. When those bite you'll think somebody grabbed a fold of your skin with white-hot needle-nose pliers. They HURT.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ_Boston:
Ensigmatic stated it right- snow is magical in the beginning. then...

I've spent time in many regions of the country. I still love Michigan, but I can see someday wanting to get away from the winters--and I thought I'd never hear myself say that.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ_Boston:
the inner parts of the state have black flies in the spring. those are brutal.

Biting black flies and pine sap droplets are the only downsides to Maine springs/summers.

I left New England after 25 years and will never regret leaving.

High cost of living, high taxes for little to show for it, toll roads on the Maine Turnpike

the winters can be harsh, the people are moderately unfriendly and a lot of New Yorkers and other socialists have turned it in the wrong direction

A good friend of mine lived in S Portland working at the semiconductor fab and he could not wait to leave...he ended up moving the day he put his house on the market and never looked back

I'd never, ever, ever move back

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Biting black flies and pine sap droplets are the only downsides to Maine springs/summers.

Oh, yeah, the pine trees.

If you have pollen allergies best first find out of pine pollen is one of them. In areas with a lot of pine trees the pine pollen can get so dense you wouldn't believe it unless you'd seen it with your own eyes.

One morning, reviewing the previous night's surveillance footage I kept seeing the cameras triggered by what appeared to be fog. Turned out to be pine tree pollen blowing by the cameras in dense clouds.

You mentioned Western VA as a possibility as well and that would be my vote. I grew up in NH and while there are some definite positives I like the pace of life better here in SWVA. The medical community is good and getting better and the Cost of Living is probably lower here as well.

Be happy to answer any questions if you get serious.