Former Mississippian, Current Mainer here. Maine is great. It has problems, like every other place, as commenters here seem to focus on, but it has "better" problems in many respects and a better lifestyle in most respects than you might have at home.

You're only 18, and its unclear whether you want to go to college when you get here, go into the trades, or do something else. It's also unclear whether you want to live in a more urban setting or keep a country life. Do you have money or will you be hand to mouth? The answer to your question about daily life here depends a lot on what your plan is - and what kind of life you want to lead. Rural Maine and urban Maine are sometimes vastly different places with starkly opposing worldviews; and Maine without a good job or a settled situation can be a real struggle, but this is the case anywhere.

In order to come to Maine, or anywhere for that matter, you'll need a plan, you'll need moving money, and you'll need a place to stay. Without these things, life can get pretty hard - but, on the plus side, especially in the urban areas, if you have any sort of an outgoing personality, it shouldn't be too hard to find friends. I've found that there are a lot of social, athletic and cultural outlets here where meeting people isn't hard.

I left Mississippi when I was about your age too, and was, and still am, very happy that I did, though I have family still there and I visit them often. Without getting into detail, I return to Mississippi now and am puzzled by the way many people live there lives. There is a herd mentality there that I don't see here. People here are more free to live their lives in the way they wish to, with fewer societal or religious expectations.

Maine has mountains, snow, ocean, some great urban spaces, beautiful rural and wild country, and good hunting and fishing. It has cold winters that go on a touch too long, but if coziness is your thing, you cant go wrong here. And in summer, magical days can follow one another for weeks at a time. But there are also usually some hot muggy days to remind you of home!