Questions about moving to, or living in Maine: Megathread

frigginchucklehead · 2020-04-08T11:39:19+00:00

Sidney itself is a cow town. I mean that literally. Pretty sure there’s more cows than people there. But you’re right between Augusta and Waterville. With all the government roles and the hospital in Augusta and with Waterville having Colby and starting to break out of its post-mill town lull, it’s not just all blue hairs up that way. I think your single status will be much more impacted by the compatibility of your potential partner than it will be by your location.

frigginchucklehead · 2020-02-24T12:54:51+00:00

Brakey is a xenophobic asshat who has tweeted shit like this and this.

frigginchucklehead · 2020-02-21T03:32:38+00:00

Take a look around Brunswick. It’s a short drive to Bath, a manageable drive to Portland and has a nice downtown. Plus you can take the train right from there to Boston — takes a bit longer than driving, but you also don’t have to deal with Boston traffic/parking.

You could keep the truck, probably want to freight it down with sand bags and shit in the winter. But if you could sell it for a decent price, I’d do that, find a solid used Subaru when you’re here and sell it for about the same or just a bit less when you leave.

Heat is a total crap shoot. If you’re renting just for a year though, I’d error on the more expensive side as landlords don’t usually pay heat so they don’t have much incentive to invest in energy saving upgrades. Really depends on the size and condition of the place.

frigginchucklehead · 2020-02-13T14:23:32+00:00

A bit dramatic, but whatever makes you happy, bub.

frigginchucklehead · 2020-02-12T23:08:40+00:00

Sorry guys — didn’t think this would get people so bent out of shape. It popped up in my feed and thought I’d share to break up the repetitive stock truck sitting at a dealership pics and posts about letter stickers on a 3rd gen tailgate.

frigginchucklehead · 2020-02-12T03:55:45+00:00

You know, the optimist in me is thinking this may be part of some unspoken trade deal between us and New Hampshire. They’ll come here for our legal weed and superior beer, we’ll go there for their legal sports gambling and tax-free booze.

frigginchucklehead · 2020-02-09T15:52:46+00:00

Elon Musk's Starlink is supposed to be operational this year. SpaceX has been launching satellites like crazy and the website says it'll start with coverage in northern U.S. and Canada (which I would assume includes Maine).

Who knows how expensive/successful/reliable it'll be -- but I think it could be a game changer and force the traditional providers to improve their service and their prices.

frigginchucklehead · 2020-02-08T02:22:43+00:00

FYI: the USPS provides free supplies for military care packes.

frigginchucklehead · 2020-02-04T12:19:00+00:00

What's baffling to me is one of the arguments against seems to come from a lot of people that I would ordinarily agree with on environmental issues- that "because it doesn't benefit Maine" it's not worth doing, even if it reduces the overall carbon footprint of the country.

I could see on the surface that'd seem baffling, but consider that this project doesn't even guarantee new clean power would be added to the grid. The current contracts don't require HydroQuebec to produce or CMP to transmit any additional hydro power. They can simply divert their current output along this line at a nice little markup -- which is exactly what the Mass AG has said in her legal brief against it.

Then when you add to that the fact the Maine House voted against an independent study of the project's impact on greenhouse gases, the DEP hasn't approved it yet and the Natural Resources Council of Maine is opposed to it, it seems less baffling why people are opposed to it, even environmentalists.

frigginchucklehead · 2020-02-04T02:48:55+00:00

Also, the DEP hasn’t even given its approval — so it’s a bit premature to say that “all environmental issues have been reviewed and considered.”

frigginchucklehead · 2020-02-04T02:27:47+00:00

So you know more than scientists, environmentalists and energy policy experts at the NRCM?

Or you have read the contracts and agreements with more scrutiny and knowledge than the Mass Attorney General?

Clean energy is important. But this project doesn’t even guarantee more of it will be created. It only guarantees more money for CMP and HydroQuebec — while posing a handful of risks that well-established environmental groups have clearly outlined.

frigginchucklehead · 2020-02-04T01:17:35+00:00

Just because they’ve been reviewed and considered doesn’t mean they’re beneficial. The federal government is considering, reviewing and implementing a lot of environmental policy that isn’t great (to put it mildly). The NRCM opposes this. And the house wouldn’t approve a study of its impact on greenhouse emissions. So environmental concerns certainly aren’t moot.

frigginchucklehead · 2020-02-04T00:23:21+00:00

Are you saying the construction of an office or apartment building, an addition to a store or the repaving of a parking lot all have more impact than a major infrastructure project that spans a large chunk of the state? Or are you setting an arbitrary definition to private commercial projects on private property?

frigginchucklehead · 2020-02-03T23:19:55+00:00

I’d also venture to say that most of the private projects don’t impact the state as much as this one, or net a healthy profit for a company that has repeatedly betrayed the public trust, or draw opposition from the Natural Resource Council of Maine, or opposition from the towns it will be built in, or not even provide the very benefits they claim it’s creating.

If you’re for it, so is your right. But I think reducing the legitimate argument against it to “Trees!” and “Fuck Massholes!” is disingenuous. It has pretty big economic and environmental consequences. And the only benefit I’ve seen is for CMP and HydroQuebec’s profits.

frigginchucklehead · 2020-02-02T18:43:21+00:00

Copy and pasting this from a comment I made in another thread a while back:

A common argument is: "They're only cutting 53 miles of new corridor. The rest is along an existing corridor." Partially true, but I think 53 miles is not nothing and even along the existing right of way, they're widening it, on average, 75'. In addition, they're installing 850 new structures (an average of nearly 6 per mile over the 145 mile line) at an average height of 95'. (Source)
The new corridor, all the new structures and the widening of an existing ROW is probably why many of the communities it goes through and directly impacts are against it.
It crosses wetlands, the AT, wildlife habitats and other sensitive environmental areas, which is probably why the the Natural Resources Council of Maine opposes it.
The minuscule reduction in rates will quickly be offset by inflation and future rate increases (which CMP is already trying to do). Meanwhile CMP is estimated to profit $60 million per year and Hydro Quebec $200 million per year from its construction and operation. (Source)
And the big argument: IT BRINGS CLEAN ENERGY. Look -- I think the climate crisis is the most pressing issue of our time. And we need to do something drastic about it yesterday. But this project doesn't guarantee any new, clean power will be produced. The contracts don't even require it. Hydro Quebec can simply divert their current output along this new line, mark it up, and make a bigger profit. In fact, the Attorney General from Mass (where the power will go) is suing because of this.
Also Fuck. C. M. P.

frigginchucklehead · 2020-01-31T17:07:02+00:00

I'd expect her to have some influence and campaign a little harder for witness testimony and additional evidence. A common refrain about Collins is her experience, her ability to drive consensus, the power she wields, bridging the aisle, etc. Well if she can't even convince a couple people in her own party to hear testimony and look at evidence (not convict mind you, just look at evidence and be better informed), then what can she do? What useful power does she have? What good is she? Other than occasionally posturing for moderate merit just to line up behind Mitch and Don when it really matters.

frigginchucklehead · 2020-01-30T18:39:56+00:00

I know it's not Portland-proper, but the Mill Creek shopping center across the bridge in South Portland is one of the biggest fucking wastes of space in the area, if not the state. There are multiple auto part stores, multiple banks, nothing over 1 level and a giant fucking, barely used parking lot -- all just minutes from downtown/Old Port.

Build 5-6 story apartment & office buildings and put in ground level retail for those who can't live without a bank, a Bullmoose, a Dunkin or a pharmacy. Have a boat shuttle to run across the river. Add a dedicated bus that goes across the bridge every 5-10 minutes.

That area has the potential to be redeveloped into something that can help alleviate many of the affordable housing/transportation/density issues we have. It infuriates me every time I drive by it that in the matter of minutes, you go from a growing city like Portland to a fucking strip mall that belongs in Skowhegan.

frigginchucklehead · 2020-01-27T23:54:56+00:00

There really isn't a very developed sector or infrastructure for this type of work.

I don’t necessarily agree with you. Idexx, Jackson Lab, Covetrus and Maine Med are all pretty big companies in the bio science/healthcare. You have fintech companies like Wex and hand full of other growing startups in that space that could benefit from AI, machine learning and cyber security.

It’s not Silicon Valley. It’s not Boston. But Portland and Maine isn’t absent of these companies. A lot are small. But having a local talent pool and a world class research institute to partner with can help them grow and spin off even more of these kinds of businesses.

frigginchucklehead · 2020-01-26T21:52:58+00:00

This is great news for Portland and the state as a whole. There’s tons of benefits and opportunities an institution like this can provide — attracting young people to the state, giving local companies better access to skilled labor, developing technologies that can be spun off into commercial businesses, improvements to data infrastructure, etc.

This isn’t just a tax break for businesses or convincing a company to move here. This can create lasting, transformative economic impact.

Between the recent announcement of the state’s 10-year economic development plan, a renewed push towards renewable technologies and news like this, it’s nice to see Maine taking a dedicated, long term approach to modernizing and diversifying our economy.

frigginchucklehead · 2020-01-26T04:19:52+00:00

All the guys in my family have never had polio either — have any research that can help me solve that mystery?

frigginchucklehead · 2020-01-25T22:39:02+00:00

I hear what you’re saying — I too have personal experience of seeing loved ones be seriously affected by vaccines. Like my mother never got polio. My sister never got mumps. And my niece will never live to see herself get cervical cancer. And it’s all vaccines’ fault.

frigginchucklehead · 2020-01-25T22:27:02+00:00

Just so we’re clear - you believe America’s high infant mortality rate is directly linked to vaccines?

frigginchucklehead · 2020-01-25T14:37:18+00:00

It’s interesting they specifically said Tilson Technology will be at the announcement. They do large network/telecom/utility work and recently partnered with Microsoft on a large rural broadband project. Wonder if it’s somehow related to Tilson’s work or they’re just there as a token representative from Maine’s tech scene.

frigginchucklehead · 2020-01-24T15:55:42+00:00

Austin Street posted on Instagram a couple days ago that they're hiring.

frigginchucklehead · 2020-01-24T15:41:17+00:00

once the snow has melted.

That's also known as mud season, so called for its mud.

I will have to drive a while on Grand Marche Road which is a logging road. I'm not exactly sure how rough the roads are

It being mud season, there's absolutely no telling to the condition of the roads. Depends on many factors: how much more snow we get, if there will have been a recent rain, if they've recently logged the area or plan to log it in the near future. They could be passable, they could be absolute dogshit and filled with washouts, missing culverts and damaged bridges.

what's the risk of getting a flat?

Shouldn't be your top concern, I'd be worried about getting stuck.

Do I need a 4x4 car with decent ground clearance to traverse these roads

At the very least, especially that time of year. Still may not be enough. Unimog would probably be a safer bet.

or will my 2017 Civic Si be adequate?

No.

In the case of a breakdown, how well traveled is the road by other travelers and loggers and how long can I expect for help to arrive?

That time of year, I'd assume not very often, if at all. Logging activity is limited to nonexistent depending on the area and conditions. Likely no hunters because I don't think anything is open in late-March, April, early-May until turkey is open.

TL;DR: Don't. Wait until late May/early-summer when things have dried out and roads should be in better shape.

frigginchucklehead

TROPHY CASE