Journey to My Home on the Maine Coast

Lake in Skowhegan

2006-08-27T23:01:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since my last post. We have not done as much travelling around to look at land lately. However, we did pass through Skowhegan on our way to pick up a used swingset for the kids and we saw the most beautiful lake there that just so happened to be crowned by a lovely rainbow. Here is the photo:

Lincolnville, Maine

2006-08-12T08:31:00.000-07:00

Last week, Halis, Isaac and I took a day trip to Lincolnville, Maine. It is an absolutely gorgeous seaside community. Though it is further away from the Bangor area than we would like, Halis and I have been considering this area as possibility for our new home.

Our reasons for being attracted to this town are as follows:

1) It is not as commercialized as other coastal areas
2) It is still a working fishing village
3) The population is only around 2,000
4) It has a lovely beach
5) Housing prices seem lower than some other coastal areas
6) There are plenty of cultural events in the area

In 2004, Outside Magazine named Lincolnville, ME one of the America's Top Dream Towns. See the article here.

Lincolnville was also the featured in the Mel Gibson movie, "Man Without A Face". Halis, Meg, Isaac and I watched the movie last night so that we could get glimpses of the Camden, Rockport and Lincolnville area as shown in the film. We were not disappointed. The story had some flaws but the coastal shots were incredible! Check it out and leave me a comment about it here.

Tomorrow we are going to make a day trip to the Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport, Maine. This is another area that we are considering. We plan on looking at some properties while we are there. I will post about our trip later.

Looking Around

2006-08-10T12:34:00.000-07:00

I spent yesterday and Tuesday driving along the coast of Maine to look at properties that are currently for sale. I am in no position to purchase any right now but wanted to get an idea of what the going rate is for a nice piece of property along the coast. I looked at a couple parcels of land along the Penobscot River that leads out to the Atlantic. And I also looked at a few that were inland but still only minutes from the coast. And I am actually *sighing* as I type this because I felt so deflated by the prices of these homes and land parcels. Even shacks and run-down shanties are over $200,000 in coastal areas. It was a discouraging tour. But I gained some true perspective of what it is going to take to realize my dream.

Later in the day, I met this lovely woman at a gas station in the Skowhegan area (I was there on an errand). She told me to take a look at some lake front properties in Hartland & St. Albans. She mentioned Great Moose Lake and that her sister was currently building a nice home there. She thought that I might satisfy my want to be near water by living in a less expensive home on freshwater that was still in close proximity to the sea. Though I am certainly determined to live on or near the ocean, I thought I would take a look at the area she mentioned, if only for contrast.

So, Isaac and I headed to Great Moose Lake. And boy, it is gorgeous. Pristine water, lovely homes, wooded areas, a public boat dock, etc. I was very impressed. We took a nice drive around the lake and saw some incredible properties ... But none for sale. Just as I was about to turn the vehicle around to head home, I saw a small cottage nestled in some trees right on the waters edge. It was a very small lot in a quiet, private area. Very sweet. When I got closer to the home, I realized that it was in desperate shape. The house looks nearly ready to crumble. So, I began to daydream a little...

Maybe this house is in such bad repair that the price is low and I might be able to get it cheap enough to repair and re-sell or rent out for some income. Maybe I could be satisfied on a lovely lake before I get to my ultimate destination...seaside. Maybe Halis would love to live here for a while ... do some fishing... Maybe my Dad would love it and want to share it with us, thereby lessening our financial commitment ... etc...

So, I took some video of the property and headed home. As soon as I arrived, I jumped on the internet to find out just how much this house was going for ... thinking surely it would be less than $100,000 ... especially given its location and condition...

Well, how does $215,000 sound? Sounds like I have alot of work to do! But I've got some ideas.

Here is the cottage listing with photo.

Family Photo

2006-08-09T20:47:00.000-07:00

Here we are ... the Renshaw-Sirimoglu family.

Isaac, Halis, Jodi & our special friend Meaghan.

A Dream Realized

2006-08-09T19:55:00.000-07:00

My greatest dream in this life was to become a mother. Through adoption, I became Mommy to an incredible little person whom my husband and I have named, Isaac. He was born in my soul and has come to life through the love of two sets of parents ... one biological and the other intentional. He is most literally a dream come true.

And now that I know that all dreams are possible, I have set my sights on yet another life goal. I wish to live in a home by the sea on the coast of Maine.

I can see my home in my mind's eye ... just as I saw my son's face even before he was born. And now I believe. Now that my son is real to me ... now that his giggles reach my ears and his smile warms my soul ... now I know that ALL things are possible and any dream can come to life.

And so the journey begins. I WILL be living in a home by the sea within 5 years. My journey will be chronicled here.