12 Things Longtime Mainers Wish They Could Tell Newcomers
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Michelle
Author
It takes a certain type of person to call Maine home. If you were born here, you’ve surely figured it out by now. But if you’re new, we’d like to share a few things that you’ll find necessary to fit in. We hope you’ll see this list as a helpful handbook of gentle suggestions for making the most of your new home. They might not say it, but these are the things your new friends WISH they could tell you!
If you weren’t born here, you’re not from here. It’s a harsh reality to accept, but it’s real. But you were born in New Hampshire? NOT THE SAME. But you grew up visiting Maine every summer? NOT THE SAME. We’re sorry. But you’ll always be "from away." Our advice is to make sure you have kids born here. Then you’ll be just a little bit closer.
Not because we think you’ll need one. But because if you get a snowblower there’s a good chance we won’t have any snow this winter. That’s generally the rule for people when they finally invest in one of these machines!
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Portland is great, but if you want to know the real Maine get off the highway and onto the backroads. That’s where we live. Off Maine street, to the left and then another left. Often on a driveway that’s so long, we’ve given it its own name.
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It snows here. A lot of times that snow can be measured in feet, not inches. When you hear your first weather report with expectations of snow, don’t panic. Not because you won’t find it scary, but because everyone around you will know you’re not from here. Mainers take snow in stride.
You won’t think you need to buy it so you’ll walk out. And then later, you’ll go back. And guess what? Marden’s won’t have it anymore. So, trust us. You should have bought it when you saw it at Marden’s.
You’ve been eating them all your life in other states, but once you’ve had the ones in Maine you’ll understand what we mean. There’s a good chance you’ve never REALLY had a lobster roll.
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Winter is always coming. It’s not a catch phrase, it’s not funny. It’s something we’re always waiting for. Except when we’re fooling ourselves into thinking that summer will stick around forever. It won’t. It never does.
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When you come to Maine all your old friends will tell you they’ll come to visit. But be warned. Their visits will be on THEIR time and will never be before June or after August. Good news for people who hate houseguests!
Your car will spend half the year covered in salt and then another few months covered in mud. Get a car wash in June and ride that out until October. The rest of the year, just remember that we’re all in the same boat. Or, car.
It’s not cliche, but it might be expensive. So, our next piece of advice is…
If you want all that the Bean has to offer, but don’t feel like paying the price, earn yourself access to the employee store by falling in love. If you spend the rest of your life with an L.L. Bean employee, you’ll have access to the low prices and sheer exhilaration of walking in the doors of the employee store.
While you’re here, have you seen the newest hiking article? This one will take you straight to an abandoned castle!
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