Didn't realise I was supposed to post here (I suppose we might not have told Susan which area of Maine, of course!)

Anyway, we're heading for the extreme north of Maine, the sort of places where the signposts say 'Canada 5 miles' (no, I've not dropped a figure). Aroostook County, almost certainly - the others are too expensive for our budget.

The reason for the move is simple - my wife has severe, and worsening, allergies. The @#$% next door has installed (IMHO) a malfunctioning woodstove, everyone points to the local council as our only recourse, and they will do nothing "as a matter of principle". I guess they think your right to heat your home how you like trumps your right to breathe without chemical assistance.

So, we're basically looking for properties outside of the towns, hopefully where we have a couple of hundred yards between us and the nearest neighbors. No, we don't expect that much land for the money, we just want somewhere which isn't currently too well developed, and hopefully isn't going to be for the duration of Pat's and my lifetimes. My wife likes the idea of the area right at the top end (Fort Kent - Madawaska - Van Buren) I'd like to be a bit nearer the coast, say around Cary or similar.

If anyone has any advice, I'm all ears, as I can't think of anything specific I need to ask at the moment. I will be heading up to Maine to view properties next weekend (Jul 31) and be up there for that following week. Pat finds travelling difficult, so I'll be taking more photos than any sensible person should, and FTPing them back for her to look at each evening.


Brian.