The survey by the Penbay Pilot as to why people are moving into the area now is an interesting one and I look forward to the responses. Likewise a lot of other people have also noticed the significant number of out-of-state car plates in the area; especially from New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts.

I remember that in the early 1970s people were fleeing from urban congestion and/or the urban violence and racial tensions of the 1960s to the less congested, safer and less expensive rural areas of Northern New England; more specifically, relocating to the rural communities of Knox and Waldo counties. They were often referred to as “back-to-landers”. Some others called it “white flight.”

They often did not have much money and would work at low end jobs; or if they did have money, it was sometimes from a trust fund, or from a professional job, or their parents would send them money.

Many of them are still around, albeit older!

However, this new group is arriving in nicer vehicles, and are not back-to-landers but come with enough money or resources in which to purchase a first or second home in the very expensive Midcoast area.

Rodney Lynch lives in Rockland