Welcome to_________now go home

I'm from Montana. Most native Montanans do not like Californians. They come to the state to escape the rat race and instead bring it with them. They drive up the costs of land and housing so that many native Montanans can't afford to buy. I have seen many bumper stickers telling Californians to go home.

I have lived in Maine for 4 years. In that time, I have found that many native Mainers feel the same way about 'people from away' particularly those from Massachusetts. If you are 'from away' you always will be, now matter how long you have lived here. I have seen a bumper sticker that says "Welcome to Maine, now go home". Maine is Vacationland, it says so on the license plates. Tourist season brings a lot of money into the state and many businesses rely on the tourists. If you run a retail business, a resort or hotel, you are happy to see the tourists, they equal sales. If you have to drive any where you are not happy to see them, they clog the roads with traffic. People from Massachusetts also come here and buy land and houses and drive the costs up.

I have to wonder if all states feel the same way about out of staters moving in.

Marginal Way

In the four years I have lived in Maine I haven't seen much of the state. Before this weekend I had only been to the coast 2 times. Saturday we got together with my boyfriend's sisters and went to Ogunquit to walk the Marginal Way. The Marginal way is a walking path along the rocky coast. On your left you have the coast and on your right you have expensive homes with well manicured lawns and flower gardens.

Spring's Promise

Well the weather here in Maine has been fairly nice lately, unless you count the rain. But I'm not going to complain about rain just yet, at least it isn't that dreaded white stuff aka snow.

Everything is starting to green up nicely. The trees, although not full, are leafing out and soon we will be able to plant flowers and vegetable gardens.

We have already been out playing croquet and bar-b-quing and are planning on going fishing Saturday.

But, maybe you are wondering about the title. Spring's Promise is that the hot lazy days of summer will soon be here. Days of swimming in the lake or walking along the beach looking for seashells. Days of camping with friends or just laying about the back yard in a hammock or lounge chair. Days of enjoying the flower garden that you have decorated so nicely with little garden figurines.

One thing we can always count on is that Spring will keep her promise.