Reply #35: My wife and I have lived on the lower Eastern Shore [View All]

[Dees]

for about nine months now. She is from Baltimore and I am from the St. Louis area and that is where we lived up until moving east.
My thoughts on Maryland. You're right about the congestion. Wow! I suspect it is mostly caused by the topo of the state and not enough pavement in the Bal'mer area. But generally Maryland roads are good in good shape. Real estate prices are just insane. Services are good and taxes are moderate. Food is expensive. We travel to Salisbury to do major shopping and there is little relief there. As best I can determine salaries and wages here really don't make up for price you pay to live near the ocean either. Baltimore city public schools are a real mess now in that they have a serious budget shortfall of 70 million this year. The governor is a Repug. He's so so. He seems to be proactive though.
I find the people (natives or as I been reminded over and over "locals") friendly and decent. However there is a serious amount of provincialism here. There is no need to beat it to death, it sells itself. I am amazed how few people here have ever lived anywhere but here their entire lives. There IS a country beyond Frederick. I also consider crab cakes a waste of good seafood.
I like Assateague Island, Western Maryland, the Inner Harbor, produce of the Eastern Shore, the Atlantic Ocean, friendly people and Lombardi's Pizza.
Be prepared for a state that is very heavily regulated and bring lots of money.