Crowe, you've gotta get back on the road again! I've been enjoying your informative and always courteous posts for a long time!
To the OP: I've live in New England all my life and find all your concerns to be part of the charm! We are moving south to NH and have a summer cottage in VT, and except for visits to relatives we confine our camping to the spring and fall. The weather is great, the roads are mostly unclogged, and almost all the beaches are free - and even in the fall there's good beach swimming and no beach crowds. Come see New England then!