Years and years ago, when my husband and I were living in Indiana (long story) - we shortlisted placed we would like to live and eventually decided on Boston or Portland Maine. We drove out to see the cities - drove through the night as we could not afford a motel (remember those days.......?). We went to visit the law school in Boston and no one was kind to us (to say the least) -- we drove up to Maine and visited the law school here and everyone was so welcoming..........! It was a no brainer to decide to live here and we have never regretted it.

However (point of thread) my husband is convinced that Maine winters are a story put out by the state to keep the tourists away in the winter-- he argues ( I think rightly) that it is no colder here than many places - try Indiana) but - because of the legend -- THERE ARE NO TOURISTS HERE IN THE WINTER........