Maine is second only to Florida when it comes to the number of residents aged 65 years and over, according to Bankrate, and a rising number of retirees are moving there.

“Stronger hurricanes are happening more regularly in Florida and the politics have been highlighted of late and some people just don’t want to be around such conservatism,” said Angela Heath, a gerontologist in Maryland. “Seniors are exploring other coastal communities."

Chris Avery, 71, and his wife, Kathryn, tried Maine as a potential retirement destination after vacationing there in 2013. “We bought and renovated a Victorian sea captain's house in Rockland with the idea of turning it into a vacation rental-by-owner property,” said Kathryn Avery, 60. “We split our time between Lakewood, Colo., and Maine with an eye on Rockland as a place to retire permanently.”

But after spending a year in Rockland, the Averys are on the fence about their desire to permanently retire in Maine.

“There are portions of the state that have very little infrastructure,” said Avery. “You can't get broadband, you have no wi-fi and sidewalks in some areas are so narrow that they cannot accommodate a large number of slow-traveling pedestrians or wheelchairs and walkers.”

Some 20 percent of the population of Rockland are seniors and 28 percent of seniors are military veterans, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The state is buckling under the pressure of becoming a go-to retirement destination.

For example, Meals on Wheels is popular among the elderly nationwide, but the non-profit organization will need to raise $150,000 to cover the cost of delivering 30,000 meals in Knox County, according to Avery.

“The elderly often don’t have transportation to travel to the grocery store, but Meals on Wheels will deliver directly to them, which is a huge advantage,” she said.

Meals on Wheels delivers some 100 meals a day Monday through Friday, according to Liz Schuh, executive director of MCH Inc., which manages and operates Meals on Wheels in Knox County.

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