If you were born and bred in Maine, you’re probably one of the toughest readers we have. But, if you’re a transplant from away, don’t worry! Your decision to move to our great state means that you have what it takes to make it here. Whether you spend your days hauling lobster on the chilly seas or making sure your kids are up, fed and at school on time (with their homework done!) you know what it’s like to work hard and get things done. Here are 12 reasons why a non-Mainer wouldn’t stand a chance against us in a battle to see who is the toughest in the country.

  1. We know the value of hard work.

tommytex2001 / Flickr We’ve done it all our life and we’ll teach out kids the same.

  1. Nothing phases us.

Peter / Flickr Sometimes we go into Hannaford for milk and come out to find our car looking like this. We move on.

  1. We can live off the grid.

Ciera Holzenthal / Flickr With a rich agricultural and farming heritage, we know how to farm our own food and live comfortably.

  1. Our palates can handle a beating.

tami abigador pearson / Flickr We’ve had this stuff and lived to tell the tale. Some of us even LIKE it!

  1. We’re dedicated and patient, even in freezing temperatures.

Gwyn Fisher / Flickr We spend hours sitting atop frozen water to catch tiny fish. This often involves waking up very early.

  1. A giant Indian watches over us.

Kit / Flickr And we call him the “Big F Indian.” Don’t mess with us. Or our BFI.

  1. We “get up and fight!”

withnail80 / Flickr The famous “get up and fight” photo was taken when Cassius Clay fought Sonny Liston in Lewiston. It’s taught us all the be even tougher!

  1. Nothing keeps us getting from Point A to Point B.

Grace Allen / Flickr If we said we’d be there, we’ll be there. Even if this is how we get there. We’ve been through enough winters that we still consider this viable transportation. Who’s got an ice pick?

  1. We grew up living in fear…

Maine Running Photos / Flickr …of what our parents would find out about us at a Grange Bean Supper. Nothing toughens you up like that kind of fear.

  1. We can handle tough terrain.

John Hayes / Flickr The hardest stretch of the Appalachian Trail is in Maine. The “100-Mile Wilderness” is the stretch of the AT leading to Katahdin. We take pride in knowing that the terrain is just plain tougher up here!

  1. We can handle the cold.

Sam / Flickr With an average winter low temperature of 21 degrees, Mainers have learned to adapt.

  1. Even our skin is tough.

Susy Morris / Flickr We know the rest of the country makes fun of us and our idyllic Northern location, but we can laugh it off. This plaid is beautiful!

What makes YOU a tough Mainer? Let us know on our Facebook page!

tommytex2001 / Flickr

We’ve done it all our life and we’ll teach out kids the same.

Peter / Flickr

Sometimes we go into Hannaford for milk and come out to find our car looking like this. We move on.

Ciera Holzenthal / Flickr

With a rich agricultural and farming heritage, we know how to farm our own food and live comfortably.

tami abigador pearson / Flickr

We’ve had this stuff and lived to tell the tale. Some of us even LIKE it!

Gwyn Fisher / Flickr

We spend hours sitting atop frozen water to catch tiny fish. This often involves waking up very early.

Kit / Flickr

And we call him the “Big F Indian.” Don’t mess with us. Or our BFI.

withnail80 / Flickr

The famous “get up and fight” photo was taken when Cassius Clay fought Sonny Liston in Lewiston. It’s taught us all the be even tougher!

Grace Allen / Flickr

If we said we’d be there, we’ll be there. Even if this is how we get there. We’ve been through enough winters that we still consider this viable transportation. Who’s got an ice pick?

Maine Running Photos / Flickr

…of what our parents would find out about us at a Grange Bean Supper. Nothing toughens you up like that kind of fear.

John Hayes / Flickr

The hardest stretch of the Appalachian Trail is in Maine. The “100-Mile Wilderness” is the stretch of the AT leading to Katahdin. We take pride in knowing that the terrain is just plain tougher up here!

Sam / Flickr

With an average winter low temperature of 21 degrees, Mainers have learned to adapt.

Susy Morris / Flickr

We know the rest of the country makes fun of us and our idyllic Northern location, but we can laugh it off. This plaid is beautiful!

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