I live on an island off the coast of America - ask me anything

[catofdoom]

As requested @IdaBWells

There was a thread before but I can't find it. When Mumsnet has its brain fart a few months ago I could never get back in to my old account.

I live on a little island off the coast of Maine. I moved here after living in London for 15 years.

It sounds like a significant number of important services are paid for by the wealthy summer homeowners - the community fund for healthcare, the nursing home, the pre k and school - do islanders worry that this support isn't guaranteed? eg if the summer homeowners sold up the quality of life would deteriorate?

Oh my goodness OP, I cannot tell you how much I love this thread! I've always had some weird fascination with America. It looks and sounds incredible, very jealous.

@catofdoom, there really isn't!! It's nice to know it's so well appreciated elsewhere

Thank you for sharing more pictures, it looks such a beautiful place to live. I'm not sure I could cope with the winters though!

This is very interesting. Thanks for posting!

@catofdoom, I think this is your original thread
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/AMA/3293045-i-live-on-a-little-island-off-of-america-ask-me-anything

I love hearing about your island home. Hope you’re feeling a little better in yourself now.

Omg- it’s idyllic! I’m so jealous

@themouldneverbotheredmeanyway I don't think anybody really thinks about it.

The majority of summer people have been here for generations and show no sign of leaving.

Occasionally someone will sell their house but it's sold to someone else pretty quickly.

It's been a summer holiday island forever. Even native Americans would come out and spend their summers here, we have lots of shell middens at the local beauty spots!

@topoftheworld1 I'm still surprised by the country.

You could travel it for years and still find new things all the time. It's so diverse.

@JengaNonConfirming they are tough. Just looking at these pictures is making me twitchy and nervy!

I'm not sure I can grow old here, the fear of slipping on ice is huge.

@Atalune @dellacucina

@ElGuardiandenoche thank you!

I am thanks. Not much to do but grin and get on with things sometimes.

We don't have healthcare. The deductible would be so high and it would cost so much we just can't afford it

Can I ask about health insurance - I thought low income people were covered under Medicare? Or is it Medicaid? Or is there an income which isn't low enough for state support but healthcare isn't affordable still? What kind of income range is this, where people don't qualify but struggle to afford insurance?

I thought having healthcare was compulsory under Obamacare, or did I misunderstand?

Also is maternity care funded even if you don't have healthcare? Are children covered for free? And what about the emergency helicopter - is that community/ state funded or do people need to pay for it if medical emergency?

@themouldneverbotheredmeanyway

There is a free healthcare in our state but earn too much to qualify. Unfortunately it doesn't take outgoings (mortgage, debts) in to account.

It is compulsory so we get fined every year. Nothing like kicking people when they're down.

Maternity care isn't funded. That's a big part of why we had ds at home, just 3 months prenatal care at the hospital hit $10000.

Children are also not given free healthcare if you earn above a certain amount. DS had a foot issue when he was born and were still paying that off nearly 6 years later.

The emergency helicopter would be covered by insurance but if we ever needed it we would have to pay for it. Same with an ambulance.

When I broke my foot a couple of years ago the bills were out of this world. But, still less than our insurance for the last few years would have been.

The last time we looked we'd be paying about £1000 a month with about an £8300 excess/deductible before the insurance even kicked in.

It's frustrating because lots of people we know don't declare all of their earnings so they get free healthcare.

Also it doesn't take in to account assets so a certain family member has two very fancy cars and a dressage horse that's stabled in a fancy stables with a trainer twice a week and gets free healthcare because they're 'struggling'.

I know comparison is the thief of all joy etc etc but it's really galling to see people not declaring half of their income and getting totally free healthcare when every time we're sick we have to weigh up- is it important enough for the doctor.

Rant over.

Wow I've loved reading this thread. Your home looks idyllic and I am so jealous! Thank you for doing this

PS I just googled the Rothschild house.. OMG!

@CoolcoolcoolcoolcoolNoDoubt that's the one dh grew up in in the Winters. Funny to go from no electric or water to that every 6 months!

Hang on are you related to a Rothschild???

I want to see THAT house

That healthcare situation would terrify me @catofdoom.

@Atalune lol no! DH's parents are very good friends of theirs. And have worked for them for a long time.

DH grew up sailing the East Coast with them as they have kids the same age as him.

@Boscoismyspiritanimal it's pretty horrible.

@CoolcoolcoolcoolcoolNoDoubt that's the one dh grew up in in the Winters. Funny to go from no electric or water to that every 6 months!

Oh wow, that's crazy! I can't imagine what that would be like.

I really think someone needs to make a film out of all this haha.

@catofdoom it must be surreal after being used to the NHS.
If you had a blog I’d definitely read it! Your life reads like a heartwarming drama I’d watch on a Netflix

This is absolutely fascinating - my favourite thread in ages. What kind of wildlife do you have living on the island?