Pros: not having a ton of people means it's not as loud and crowded. Low traffic, and places like Portland have high enough population for it to feel city like without it being so God damn packed all the time. I like that I can get a sense of city life ND nature without having to travel too far.

Cons: less people means less opportunities. We just have less access to things, and it often feels like your options are stay here and work a trade/call center gig, or move out and find opportunity elsewhere. Less deversity means less variety, so things can get really boring. I often feel like I need to leave the state just to get a breath of something else every once in a while. Maine can get lonely. Finding community sometimes feels impossible here, and so the isolation can get to you. As an LGBTQ individual, I feel like there are parts of the state I'm simply not welcome. Basically no public transportation.

Honestly. I listed a lot of cons so I feel the need to say that I love Maine. I was born and raised here and I don't think I'll leave any time soon, but there are a lot of things I think the state needs to work on, but it feels like it's getting better, and more people are moving here so I feel hopeful