re: Maine

I lived in the Bangor area for five years, so have a good ideas about the winters. First few years were okay. After 4 or 5 years I started to get a little depressed as winter set in.

Two years? That would be easy and probably fun if you get out in the winter and ice fish, ski, etc.

Some things I hated; 1) get your ice legs; slipped on the ice a couple times and landed on my back gasping, 2) if you have a house shoveling a driveway is very difficult, and you may need to pay to have it done, 3) many houses still use oil heat, which is expensive, 4) prepare to be bundled up; it is often necessary., 5) expect holidays to be very different, my kids went trick or treating in the snow one year and looked for Easter eggs over the ice.