Yup. Plus everything is closed by 8. I can't even drive to get late night Chinese food for a craving. Best I can do is whatever they have at the one 24-hour gas station.

I don't want to discount people that have said they've had bad experiences with internet in the area, but it's certainly possible to get fast and reliable internet. I haven't been through a winter here yet, so maybe my gauge of the reliability will change.

I'll have to check out that restaurant, it's right around the corner.

I do think in a slightly perverse way the economy does play a role drawing people like me because it's made for one of the last places you can get coastal housing in New England on a middle-class income.

I've tried to figure out how to write this without sounding like a jackass, so here goes: The house and land I got, with its ocean view, would be a multi-million dollar property back in Mass. I got it for less than I'd seen one-bedroom condos listed for back there. It's a ridiculously strong draw for people who don't mind the remoteness and aren't reliant on finding local work.

I write online education software for biology and human anatomy courses. How about you?

I'm down in Machiasport, only been living here since July, and I've got gig speed spectrum that's been very reliable.

Otherwise I agree with everything you've said.

I know there's drug problems, and I've seen a couple people who've clearly been using, but it's nothing compared to when I was living in MA.

I've really enjoyed the remoteness, just me and my dog, but definitely not for everyone.

All that said, I work a remote tech job, so I won't pretend to know what it's like working local and living on that kind of income.