I grew up in Texas and moved here a couple years ago after spending a few years in Denver (which I couldn't afford). I'd never even been to Maine or New England before moving here. Happy to answer any questions you have! The nature is plentiful, and basically the entire state is rural. It would be a stretch to even call Portland a city, but the great thing is that it functions like a city in terms of amenities. The ocean is beautiful, and the mountains aren't hard to get to either. Plenty of hiking all around the state. Winters are long but not as cold as many parts of the US.

Like others have said, rent will be higher but your wages will also be higher. Not enough to totally offset the higher cost of living, but I anticipate that as long as you're ok with having a roommate you'll be ok. As an ex-Texan, I'd say the relief of knowing the government isn't out to get me and my friends is very much worth the higher cost. I'll pay for peace and freedom. Maine is also the least religious state, which I'm sure you came across in your research.

I am speaking to the Portland area. I wouldn't recommend you go too far outside of Portland, given your reasons for leaving Kansas. However, I can say that conservatism in Maine is very different (less Christian) than you're used to. Can still be Trumpy though.

You could probably get a job at Walgreens here that pays $20 per hour. So I would expect to make slightly more than you do currently, but obviously rent will also be higher.

We're in Westbrook. Had two heat pumps installed last summer (one in the primary bedroom, one in the living room). Our plan is to test them out for a few years before removing the oil heat. So far so good! Our heat pumps have gotten us through winter on their own.

I hope you take the advice to go to SMCC. Going to community college for the first two years is one of the best decisions I ever made. I'm almost 30 and have zero regrets about it.

Isn't this an American thing? I've lived in TX, CO, and DC and never heard anyone talk in miles. Maybe just a coincidence in the states I've lived in.

I am from Texas and Colorado, and I'm still shocked that things rust. And how quickly they rust.

Genuine question- is there anything we should be doing about it? Our snowblower is only a year old and I noticed some rust on it. Is that a potential problem? Should we be storing it differently, or get something to remove the rust?

Try not to park in the same place too many nights in a row. It's best to rotate. Pull in as late as you can, and leave as early as you can in the morning.

Walmart, cracker barrel, and home depot generally allow overnight parking. Call the specific stores to ask permission if you don't see anyone else parked there. Usually you'll notice a bunch of vans and RVs parked at the back of the lots.

Other ideas - truck stops, rest stops, neighborhoods with a lot of street parking, streets near apartments, or apartment parking lots that are plenty large/ near businesses, and any business that's open 24/7.

That's awesome to hear! I love visiting in winter but last January when I went, it basically felt like a ghost town.

Basically the entire island shuts down. As in, you may be able to find an open coffee shop and a couple of open restaurants. But sure, you can drive around to the scenic spots as long as the roads aren't icy. You can definitely still drive along the coast.

If you can't pass the test, please do not go out on the road by yourself. You would be endangering our lives and yours.

Keep practicing (with a licensed driver in the car). What has stopped you from passing previous tests?

Agree with Arcteryx and Patagonia

In some cases that can be true (averages are simply an average, after all), but per the CDC is typically takes 36 to 48 hours to transmit. So if you're checking yourself every night, you're golden.

I love my Vitamix. Bought it refurbished 4 years ago. One of my best purchases.

I was so nervous my first year in Maine. Now I realize that it isn't that big a deal - prevention is easy. I just check my body at night before bed. A tick has to be attached for a few days before it transmits lyme, so as long as you check when you come inside you're easily in the clear. I don't bother with long pants or anything like that. I just wear what I want to wear, do whatever I want to do, and pull out the tick if I find one. My fears when I first moved here were completely over the top. 🤷‍♀️

I have a thin pair of liner gloves that work with tech. I wear mittens over them, and pull the mittens off if I have to use my phone. Not ideal if you need your phone constantly, but I'm so much warmer in mittens that I'd rather have warm hands most of the time than freeze all of the time like I do in gloves.