Arundel, ME

[ken mcclure]

Who can tell me anything about Arundel, Maine?

[Donn]

Looks like a happening place:

http://www.wellschamber.org/july_events.htm

[rickprose]

ken,
arundel's a little bit of nothing set inland between kennebunkport and biddeford, with route 1 running through the middle of it. the landing school of boatbuilding is actually in arundel, though they keep a kennebunkport po box to make it sound more upscale than it is. it's your basic southern maine hamlet made more liveable by the fact that you're close to the coast. 40 minutes to portland, 40 minutes to portsmouth, nh and an hour-and-a-half to boston, roughly, depending on traffic. an hour-and-a-half to boothbay harbor, so too far away for me...

[Chris Coose]

Ken,
That bunch of Cape between Wells and Biddeford is really quite beautiful. There is quite a bit of undeveloped land and the architecture of the buildings and roads has strong New England appeal.
It is located between Maine's longest and only sandy beach stretches. The beaches are developed but accessable and quite nice. I can't say much for the cruising on this cape but it does look interesting. Best Maine cruising begins after Portland. Lots of Striped bass fishing along this stretch.
Southern Maine is building in population but not at a scary rate. Any real estate investement is a certain goldmine. Especially where there is recent talk in putting in a casino down in the Kittery area.
Going North or south from this area for culture or recreation would be a big attraction. It is the gateway to the beauty of Maine. Portland, IMHO, is one of the nicest little cities in the world (Shhhhhhhhh). South to Boston or even NYC is easy.
You can leave your car and house unlocked (shhhh)90% of the time. People generally mind their own business and most communities have strong healthy centers. Very few strip developments. (Though it is amazing to travel into Freeport and see the effects of L.L. Bean mentality). Keeping good schools is generally the focus of town budgets at town meeting time. Civic boards and committees have openings and welcome those "from away", for the most part.
As I see it over the years, Maine has been effected by later 20th century trends but nobody bought it hook, line and sinker. We remain geographically isolated and winter keeps out the spleeny. Moving to Maine and raising my children here was and continues to be the best decision I've made. I could imagine that it might have cost me some in career advantages and income, but that is more about me than anything. Didn't seem to hinder the likes of Jon Wilson and others.

[Greg H]

For a good read in historical fiction:
Arundel by Ken Roberts
---G

[ken mcclure]

Ah. Many thanks for the replies. Greg, I'll look for that book.

Looks like SWMBO won't go for the permanent move to Maine, but she did agree to work on getting a vacation property there. Now all I gotta do is earn enough to pay off this house and buy another! :eek:

[Wild Dingo]

And build Eun Mara right Ken????? But then thats just a little something for you to do in all your spare time isnt it!! :D

Take it easy
Shane