maine

Moving to Maine, Updated and Expanded 2nd Edition: The Essential Guide to Get You There and What You Need to Know to Stay
$16.95
My wife and I are considering moving to Maine when we retire. We've visited several times and love the environment, the people, and the ocean. Of course, we haven't spent so much time there that we really know all about Maine. This book was very enlightening. A smallpopulation (relatively speaking) keeps the Taxes high (the highest in the nation). But we live in New York State which is the next highest tax burdened state, so that's a no brainer.
The real reason we are thinking about Maine is the need to be away from the "maddening crowd". The population of Maine is just over 1,300,000. Compare that to the population of NYC at an astounding 8,363,710 and Maine is incredibly private.

So it's not for sure and this book is very honest about the good and the challenging regarding living in Maine. But,not unexpectedly, the author has a predilection for Maine.

Recommended if considering, but I suggest that more visits and talking to the "natives" would be more helpful in making a decision.

Fodor's Maine Coast, 2nd Edition: With Acadia National Park (Fodor's Gold Guides)
$16.95
We recently went to Maine and used this book as a reference. It was a great help. It recommended restaurants with helpful reviews, and gave us inside information of several historic sites of Maine.

A Year In The Maine Woods
$18.95
I've read several of Heinrich's books and have never been disappointed. Some reviewers compare him to Thoreau, favorably or not. While in certain places he does evoke thoughts of Thoreau, that is not what he is trying to do, contrary to what some reviewers seem to think.

As a word-class biologist and naturalist, Heinrich approaches his story of life in the Maine woods from two vantage points. First, as a scientist/naturalist, and then as a long-time resident of the area of Maine he calls home. The two themes are interwoven with a seasonal view of life in his cabin.

Unlike Thoreau, who was an amateur nineteenth century naturalist and literary philosopher, Heinrich has the advantage of being both a keen observer and a trained scientist, albeit one who grew up surrounded by nature before receiving his academic research training as a physiological ecologist. While some might find the detail he presents in places to be too much, those who really wish to learn about combining the powers of observation with scientific insights will be richly rewarded.

I must take exception to the reviewer who termed this book an "ego trip".
Heinrich is hardly parading his vast scientific knowledge for the sake of seeming erudite. The man has garnered numerous scientific and literary kudos, for both his research and nature writing, so I suspect he hardly needs to engage in an "ego trip" by trying to ape Thoreau. In fact, given his vast knowledge of biology, I would say that he strikes a good balance between telling a personal story and presenting scientific facts and insights in the context of his experience.

Having spent a few years in the area of Maine that Heinrich loves and writes about so well, I think that he does a wonderful job capturing both the nature and the lifestyle of rural Maine. If you are the type of person who enjoys taking walks in company of expertise, you will enjoy this book.

Can't Stop Won't Stop
$12.98
This album blew me away when I first heard it. Now I can't stop listening to it, and when I'm not listening to it, I have it stuck in my head. By far one of the best bands/albums in my music collection. I've been a fan since their EPs, and they've just been getting better. Here's a quick run down of songs that stuck/still stick out at me:
"Everything I Ask For"-Great way to open the album, get everyone dancing.

"Girls Do What They Want"-The lyrics are so fun and, again, great for dancing.

"I Must Be Dreaming"-Basically the title track: "Tell me that you love me/and it'll be alright/Are you thinking of me?/just come to me tonight/You know I need you just like you need me/Can't stop, won't stop, I must be dreaming".

"Count 'Em One, Two, Three"-A song off their EP The Way We Talk. My favorite off the EP. I'm so glad they put it on their album.

"You Left Me"-This has to be my favorite song, not only for the lyrics (which are amazing) but the music. This song sounds so different from all the other ones, different in a good way, which makes it that much more amazing.