Month: January 2020

There is something about New England that has always fascinated me. I am captivated by scenic small towns that have beautiful Main Streets with unique little shops and restaurants covered in fresh snow. Maybe I watch too many Hallmark movies but these towns seem so peaceful and are a respite from living in an urban metropolitan city for years. Nevertheless, I decided I would research New England and see what places caught my attention.

Maine , Rhode Island, Vermont or New Hampshire?

The areas I chose to look into were Providence RI, Burlington VT, Portsmouth NH and Portland Maine. I researched cost of living, weather, real estate prices, things to do, restaurants and neighborhoods in the four areas. After researching for a year, I decided on Portland Maine because it seemed like the perfect fit for me.

Real Estate and the Vibe of Portland

The first thing that surprised me was that real estate in Portland was almost comparable to Washington DC where I currently live. If you look outside of Portland, the prices do begin to decrease but I wanted to live in Portland. Suburbs are like suburbs everywhere and I wanted to experience the uniqueness of the city. Portland seems to me to be a smaller version of a big metropolitan city without the constant hustle and bustle. It has just enough of a city feel while still having small town characteristics. Because it is on the coast, it doesn’t receive as much snow as you would imagine.

Food and Beauty

The restaurant scene is phenomenal and Bon Appetit magazine named Portland the 2018 Restaurant City Of The Year! There are many different neighborhoods each with their own attributes. In Portland, you either live On Peninsula or Off Peninsula and I wanted to live on the peninsula. In making my decision, what attracted me to Portland was the metropolitan feel even though it is a small city, the fact that it does snow alot but not as much as you think it does, the restaurant scene (going out to dinner is one of my favorite things to do), and the stunningly beautiful scenery.

Weather and Health

The most import reason for choosing Portland was its weather. I suffer from extremely debilitating migraines and the weather is a big trigger for them. Hot humid weather causes my headaches to be incapacitating and the humidity in Washington DC during the summer is legendary. Cold weather is much better for my disabling migraines. Portland might have two days of humid weather in a year and the temperature rarely goes into the eighties during the summer making it perfect for me.

The Next Phase…

Continuing my research, I contacted real estate agents and began receiving condo listings. I spent a year working with real estate agents to find the right place to live. My next post will continue my journey…

In preparation for living in Portland Maine, I worked with three real estate agents. All three sent me the MLS listings of condos for sale in Portland. As time went on, I decided on one agent to help me find a place to live and her name was Grace. She was a godsend to me and guided me through the entire process. If I was interested in a condo, she would go to the property and provide a walking tour via Skype. At one point, I flew to Portland and Grace met me at the Jetport and drove me around to see some properties plus gave me a driving tour of the city. It was a cold but sunny day in January and I was very excited.

You Tube and Deja Vu

Over the months, I was going onto You Tube watching all of the videos I could. The ones I enjoyed the most were with people driving through the streets of Portland in their cars giving tours. The videos made me feel like I was really there and gave me a real feel for the city. When Grace was driving me around, I had feelings of deja Vu. I was recognizing streets and landmarks as if I was there before, all due to watching the You Tube videos!

Buy and Sell

The entire time flying back to Washington DC, I was thinking about everything that needed to be done to make this move happen. I had to coordinate selling my condo in Washington DC and also buy a place in Portland at the same time. My DC condo sold in ONE DAY and I decided on a condo in Portland. Mid January to Mid February was a whirlwind and before I knew it, Sophie and I were driving on I95 North toward our new home. Filled with mixed emotions, I felt happy, nervous and sad. After living in DC for 23 years, it was going to be quite a change. We arrived in Portland on a cold winter night and snow was coming. That night, we stayed in a hotel called The Inn at St. John and the moving van came in the morning.

Rosemont, Bonobos and Fresh Approach

I didn’t know anyone in Portland but I knew I would make friends. An introvert by nature, I enjoy being alone so not knowing anyone didn’t seem like a problem. The condo I bought was brand new. It was off of Brackett Street in the West End and the neighborhood seemed very nice and comfortable. Rosemont Market and Bakery was on the corner and Bonobo Wood Fire Pizza was across the street from Rosemont. A neighborhood grocery store in the middle of the block called Fresh Approach became my favorite store. And a few blocks away was the Maine Medical Center.

Getting Situated

I met my neighbors below me, a very nice older couple who had just moved from New Hampshire to Portland just a few weeks prior to my arrival. They had a dog which made me happy that Sophie would have a new friend right in our building. Starting back to work in a week, I needed to unpack and become comfortable in my new surroundings and my new city. I was living in Portland Maine!