As a military wife I have moved many times.  Many... many... times. We are now retired from the Army...and I say "we" because a military spouse is just as much at the mercy of the military as his/her enlisted spouse... and blissfully happy in our own corner of Maine.  But even though we're done with moving, I still remember the stress involved with selling our home, packing up the household, and heading off to a new life.

Arriving in a new town can be very daunting when you're not familiar with the area.  There are so many unknowns.. like where's the best place to live...to shop...to eat...  Which dentist will be gentle with my kids' teeth..who gives the best haircuts...which grocery store has the best produce...when to plant tomatoes...the list goes on and on.  All things that you take for granted after living in one place for a long time. These questions may seem trivial, but when you've left behind yet another house, another group of friends, another life basically, these unknowns only add to the stress.

I've found there are 2 ways to deal with this:

1. Trial and Error:  Not the recommended method. I can't tell you how many bad haircuts I've gone through before finding a good stylist in each new town. Or how many soggy pizzas I've tossed out in frustration before I found the perfect crust. So using this method will cost you money as well as brain cells.

2. Word of Mouth: This, my friends, is the way to go and the reason for this blog post.  The best way to find out insider info about a new place is to ask around. Ask your new neighbors, ask your new coworkers, ask the mailman.  People like to talk about good experiences they've had, and they LOVE to talk about bad experiences they've had!

So, if you're planning to move to MidCoast Maine, I'm gonna "square you away"..that's Army talk for "help you out"!  This is the first post in my new "Barb's Best" series. I'll clue you in on the cheapest place to buy fresh lobster...the grocery store with the ripest bananas...the salon that WILL give you a good haircut...and the pizza place to RUN from..  These will all come from experiences I've had, food I've eaten, etc.  I might have to try a few more restaurants, but hey..I'm willing to make that sacrifice! Remember that these are my opinions....  But what better way to find out about an area than to ask someone who lives there?

Check back to find out the best Salon in MidCoast Maine!