One Year In Maine – Lessons Learned, Our Exterior Transformation, & Anecdotes
·
Yesterday marked 1 year since we moved to Maine and it has been the most life-giving year of our lives. From fulfilling our adventurous spirits to pursuing a different way of life, Maine has unveiled a new level of joy within us. If you’re new here, I shared why we moved to Maine in this article. We will forever remember our lives as “before Maine” and “after Maine.” And with one year under our belt, I thought I’d share a personal update, the transformation of our exterior, and lessons learned from life here in Maine.
The Transformation Of Our Exterior In One Year
In terms of home projects, our exterior was the first area we addressed, and it continues to be our primary focus. Since I knew the most noticeable modifications would happen in the first year, I wanted to capture the changes, big or small, in every season. From the overgrowth in our first summer to a clean slate and new exterior paint color in fall. A new front door and a blanket of snow decorated our house in winter. A freshly planted row of hydrangeas signaled spring. And new grass, full blooms, a stone wall, and a flagstone walkway welcome us this summer.
While the exterior and landscape feel like a big step in the right direction, we’re far from done! In fact, we’ve consulted with a landscape architect to create a design plan for our backyard. Next week, I’ll be sharing the full plan and a look at what we’ve done so far. Stay tuned!
Things We’ve Learned Since Moving To Maine:
- Folks who live in Nebraska are called Nebraskans, and people in California are called Californians. But only people who were born and raised in Maine can call themselves Mainers. We are, as the locals fondly call us, “transplants” or “from away.”
- In the Mid-coast region, hotels and chains aren’t really a thing. You won’t find Target or Starbucks within an hour drive, but you will find a bustling general store and half a dozen family-run coffee shops with the best pour over in town. The same goes for hotels – inns, B&Bs, and cottages are the primary source of lodging. We absolutely love it this way!
- I don’t know what it is about the weather, but 50° feels different in Maine. Maybe it’s the sun or the lack of wind, but you wouldn’t be underdressed in a t-shirt on a 50° day. Which leads me to my next point…
- Everyone warned us about the brutal winters in Maine. Now that we’ve experienced our first coastal Maine winter, I’m pleased to report that it’s incredibly wonderful! If there’s any reason for complaints, it’s not due to the cold. It’s the extra month of winter that’ll get to you while everyone else is celebrating spring. But in terms of temperature, it was warmer on the coast than it was in the Midwest….plus lots more snow!
- We thought our Nebraska house (built in 1920) was old until we moved here. When houses from the 1700s are still proudly standing, anything built in the 1900s is basically a new build. The history and architecture here is a designer’s dream!
- Lobster rolls are cold. That one took me by surprise.
- Nature gatekeeping is very common in Maine, and after living here for a year, I can understand why. While there are endless beautiful spots to explore, we have seen firsthand what can happen when tourism overcrowds places that were once quiet and peaceful. So when locals find a beautiful, quiet spot, don’t be offended if the location is kept under wraps. 😉
- Boats are so easy to come by, it’s comical. Chris has found nearly a dozen sailboats (in great condition) for as little as $3,000. (Of course, there’s also a yacht near us listed for $650,000…just a smidge over our budget. 😜) It’s only a matter of time before Chris pulls up with a boat in tow.
Here’s to one year in the most magical place we know!
DO YOU WANT
The Inside Scoop
Where behind the scenes, exclusive advice, and candid conversations are sent straight to your inbox every week.