So tell me about Maine..

[routestep]

I have a small camp about 12 miles north of Springfield. I now can stand in my driveway and look at the new windmills on the mountain.

Blackflies are bad, some people have allergic reactions to the bites. And they can pretty much ruin a good walk in your woods during June.

I don't know about lakes, but LURC requires a 110 foot setback from streams for cutting trees. Closer than that to a stream and trees can be cut with no greater opening than 200 square feet in the canopy. Hazard trees can always be removed.

My Building permitt was pretty easy to get but I'm North of Bangor and have a camp, not a house.

Maine is not a cheap state to live in. Taxes are high - Maine has ranked number one for  taxes in the past, don't know what its standing is for this year.

[beenthere]

State taxes ranked...

http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/total_taxes/index.html

Not sure if property tax is figured in, but personal income and sales tax shown.

Maine is at the top of the list with NY.

[ellmoe]

State taxes ranked...

http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/total_taxes/index.html

Not sure if property tax is figured in, but personal income and sales tax shown.

Maine is at the top of the list with NY.

   Thanks for the link. At the bottom of the page it says that it includes property taxes. How they calculate the average person's p. tax, it doesn't mention.

Mark

[stonebroke]

So at least NY is number one in something.

Stonebroke

[Brad_S.]

Stonebroke,
Perhaps you missed the report a year or so ago that said we had the number 1 disfunctional state government in America, so there are couple of things we're #1 at.

[SwampDonkey]

As far as Maine is concerned, I think they do quite well for being left behind. It seems their federal funding for different things keeps getting cut and it don't seem to matter what governor sits in office everyone seems to move right along. Some states would probably go broke, not that I have any one in mind or have enough insight to tell you, but just my gut feeling. I think the US as a whole looks at Maine, like many provinces look at Maritimers with a lot of false stigmas. I can think of a lot of areas of US and Canada that didn't get to where they are on their own feet with out big brother.

[Mooseherder]

There are many in the Northern parts of Maine that feel there are "2 Maines".
Everytime a Politician, Magazine article, or odd ball mention Bangor as northern Maine the folks 200 miles north of Bangor squeal foul. :D
This is especially true with a Northern Paper's editor who talks about it in every other editor's comments section. ;D (he is from my hometown)
Aroostook, known as the "County" is somewhat different from the Southern parts but probably similiar to Western Maine in many aspects.
The taxes on personal property equipment is the one tax that really makes me go bonkers.

[Paul_H]

like many provinces look at Maritimers with a lot of false stigmas.

Bill,

I've always had an admiration for the Maritimers,I think they are a hearty bunch.They just talk funny,that's all  ;D

[SwampDonkey]

This one types too much sometimes. Never says a whole lot though.  ;)

[pappy]

wkheathjr,

See if I can answer them Q's right , ;)


Ramblin's #1>>

LURC makes / rights all the land use regulations for the entire state and the towns ( organized and unorganized ) organized towns can add to it but they can't take away from it..
Start here with the "reference materials" heading; 
http://www.maine.gov/doc/lurc/index.shtml
A bit of a heads up with shore land regs, you can't build any closer to the water (lakes) than 125 feet and must be concealed by the vegetation from the waterway !! I think you can build closer to stream and river banks but you still must be consealed... Just read the shore land zoning rules ....


Ramblin's#2>>

Every town requires a building permit,, organized or not but in the unorganized towns you have to go through LURC and that can take some time so plan ahead,, you're dealing with the state gooberment  :(   ...... You'll also need to have a soil scientist do a perk test and design a septic system before they'll give you a building permit...
Most if not all towns don't have any regs for using a chain saw !! that's an aboriginal right in ME.  ;D ... You can cut your own trees saw them up and in most places build your own house with the wood you sawed on your own mill  8) ... With logging you need a state licensed forester to do a cut plan only if you're gonna sell the lumber ... I've read somewhere recently that the legislature has passed a bill for building codes are / or will be for towns with a population of 1200 people or more??  Don't hold me to that one though ?? 

Ramblin's #3>>

In my little town if you move more than a 1,000 yards of dirt you need a permit... Again that goes by town... So check with the town you're thinking of locating to... So be aware of the shore land zoning rules and regs i.e. lake front,river and stream flowages...

Ramblin's 4>>

"What is weather like in north Maine?"

Summer at times 90's F and winta -40F plenty of rain and wind ta help cool it off even more in da winta,,, Scared yet ??  :D I've seen wind chills down to -96F below da donut.. 
Depends what you call northern ME ?? Some call anything above Augusta north,, get it right north to the real northerners of ME say the Lexis line (Northern Mass) is all the way up to Lincoln now : I say anything north of Patten is the "real" northern Maine... Bangor is not northern ME it's central  :D ... The state is somewhere around 400 miles long north to south so weather is quite different from one end to the other   

Yup we got weather, (up in the County that is) I've seen it spittin' snow in July and rainin' in January.. In reality though the "staying snows" will start in November and last till April with the lakes ice out in the beginning / middle of May... The  Fish River chain of lakes up this way just started icing over Friday night ...
To keep an eye on the weather up this way take a peak at this site,, I see it's 7 F and winds around 15 mph steady today,, yup it's December up in the County !!
http://crownweather.com/carpqiforecast.html


Ramblin's #5>>

"Tell me about snowmobile activities I was hearing about!"

If you gonna live up here and don't want to get "cabin fever" get yourself one !! and maybe an ice shack, ice traps, ice auger, lots'a warm clothing,  1200 gram Rocky boots , about 20 - 30 pair of gloves etc. , etc... ;) 

A few links ;
http://www.mesnow.com/
http://www.sledmaine.com/
http://www.hardcoresledder.com/forums/index.php?showforum=62


Just a few extra sense  ;)

"I do have a beach property "

Don't sell that to quickly as most folks up this way will trade,rent,beg borrow from you for a few weeks away from up here in the winta time  ;D might even keep the cost of you holding onto the place... :P

"slowly becoming unbearable for me I spend most of my summer indoor that I get sick of it."

Sounds just like the exact opposite for the winta months up dis way  :D

"I thought what better than to find a place that stay cool during the summertime so I can be more active like being outdoor and having fun than staying indoor in the AC."

That'll work just fine !! A place up north to get you outa da heat and a warm place down south to get you outa da big chill time... Sounds like a win win to me  8)

Flies:
They all bite !!!!  The nosee'ms will keep you up all night if you leave the lights on  ,, blacks flies will bite you all day long while working,, the mosquito's bite mostly in the evening at happy hour,, and the horse flies will torment you during strawberry picking time and the moose flies will get ya when you're out brook fishing... BUT !!! we don't have any ticks or dem slender slippery slider reptiles that could kill ya  8) just the cute lil' Garner snakes  ;) kids love em,, well the lil' boys anyway  ;D


"electric/water connect, Phone(DSL?), any cable service(High-Speed?), etc."

Nearer to most of the settlements will have access to these...

If'n ya got more ta know about just fire away ....



Salut, Peace,
Tim

[Mooseherder]

Pappy,  I'm sold. :D

[pappy]

Pappy,  I'm sold. :D

You're to easy  ;D Butt I new dat  ;) I also guts a bridge in the salt flats fur sale you interested?? 

[Mooseherder]

Pappy,  I'm sold. :D

You're to easy  ;D Butt I new dat  ;) I also guts a bridge in the salt flats fur sale you interested?? 

I'll trade ya some Mooseless swamp land.  ;D

[pappy]

Deal ,, maybe  ;)

Butt MH I still like the frozen variety better  ;) frozen swap is easier ta walk about on make me an offer I can't refuse 


I wouldn't trade the world for where we hang our hats    froze, flies, and forgotten works for me  ;) til the arthritis kicks in anyway !!! and then I might be in- ter-rest-ted in the salt water and to much sun 

nah they'll find me like Carlton H. with me dead frozen fingers  :D


may all your trees be prune pref and the flies ain't bitin when it's time for fiddle heading   ;)

salut and peace,
Tim

[wkheathjr]

Pappy, thank for very informative post and the bug situation doesn't scare me off..  My friend and I are drooling over the idea of moving up there but we figure to wait until around April to go up there and see the property for ourselves in person.  We felt it is more wiser to be throughout than to let the emotional get best of us and end up making a bad choice.

[beav39]

maine is a great place to live,been here all my life !yes taxes are high and winter is tough but its winter .as far as set backs you need to be 250 ft back from any pond or lake to build.this is a state law.towns however,have there own rules and may require different set back.you can cut your trees,if they are for your use you do not need to to be certified,if you plan on selling you timber to local mills most will want you to be.it is 500.00 to take the class.please feel free to ask more questions i am pretty well up to date on current building.codes and such       scot

[thecfarm]

I can cut wood and sell it to any mill without being certified,because it is my land.Or could a few years ago.If I was to cut on someplace besides my own,than that's a whole different story.Have to cut a number from the state to report any timber sales.Very easy form to fill out.

[Brad_S.]

Am thinking of buying a land up there..  wooded land with access to lake. 

4) What is weather like in north Maine?  When does it start snowing? How long does it last? How bad can it get?  I used to live in Rochester NY and I can remember the winter being brutally but I have no experience living in the country during the whole winter.  I might have to be ready to leave for south if it get bad for me the first year  :D.

5) Tell me about snowmobile activities I was hearing about!

wkheathjr, did you make a decision yet?
I just got back from a 3 week stay in northern Maine and I am here to tell you it was not fun. Take the worst winter you experienced here in Rochester and double it. High temp one week straight was 0°, snow was hip deep, starting the trucks was a daily crapshoot and the fuel in the ATV gelled even with additive. Hard enough to work in that weather, but then we had to tiptoe across the countryside so we didn't mess up the snowmobile trails which run everywhere. I think there are more sleds than actual people up there. I have to hand it to you Maine inhabitants, you're better men (and women) than I.

[pappy]

Yup one sled ain't enough we got 3 and there's only two of us  ;D ( actually one is an antique)

It has been rather cool last couple months or so up 'round these parts and here's some proof. 

The in / out ther mo meter inside the house   :-\




da dial one hangin' on the shop wall..  :-\




and the in / out digital one inside the shop... 80 degree  difference  :-\





Needless ta say that our wood pile took hell this winter... It's gonna be real close for the house this winter... I don't see any "Gore Warming" up in these parts..  :

[Nancbee]

wkheathjr,
I was born in NH but it wasn't my fault. I've lived in and around Bangor, ME all but 4 of my 50+ years of my life. My husband and I have owned 2 cottages on Beech Hill Pond outside Ellsworth for 20+ years. Let me tell you about living in Maine!
I HATE Winter! But that's only since I've discovered how much I love to play golf.

The spring and summer in Maine, although shorter than NC, is glorious with warm to hot days of 70s and 80s. We might see a week of 90's in late July, early August! Living on a lake in the summer is warm days where you swim, boat, fish, and enjoy the sunshine and cool nights (50's and 60's) where a blanket isn't far away. It's a wonderful life for families. Maine is quiet, full of friendly people who care about their neighbors but understand about privacy, too. People care about the land and the protection of water quality, etc. Again, they appreciate privacy, too!

It's great to live here but I'm ready to trade places with you in NC from Dec thru March!

[SwampDonkey]

Yes, even this morning was another big fat 0 on the thermo-ma-bob. But it is now almost 20 F, it sure warmed up fast since 8:00 am....geez  :-\

I'd never give up this place for anything though. I'm not in Maine, but all that separates me from there is a treaty. ;D

[Tim L]

You bein born in NH wasn't our fault either!

[Nancbee]

Didn't say it was! It's the old Maine joke about the definition of being "from away" If you're not born in Maine, you are always "from away" no matter how long you live in Maine.

If your cat had kittens in the oven, would you call them biscuits?

[Tim L]

If a man speaks in the forest and no women hear him is he still wrong?



Remember me? We rode a plane to Houston years ago. Thats how I subscribed to Sawmill & Woodlot.

[Nancbee]

Yes, I do remember you. And of course, yes, you would still be wrong!

Smart man wakes in the morning, turns to his wife and says, "Yes, dear, you're right, I'm sorry." Then he's set for another day!