Info. on living in Guntersville (Huntsville, Albertville: crime, houseboat, movie theater)

Guntersville Boomer · 01-23-2008, 08:01 AM

Hi, I am new to this web site but have loved reading so much about NE Alabama. My husband and I bought a retirement home in Guntersville 1.5 years ago and only get up a few times a year until I can retire 12/09. Right now living in Florida (Kissimmee). Way too crowded, crime on increase, changing demographics with large hispanic population, not that I am prejudice just never thought I'd have to learn to speak spanish to live in America. Everything that has been written about the pros of the area I concur with, folks are so nice, traffic is normal, etc.

I have noticed Keeper is from Marshall County so I thought maybe you could give me some information. Are we better to establish our doctors in Huntsville vs. Marshall County, what are your experiences with the medical services? Also, what vet do you go to, do you like them, what do you do if you need after hours vet care? Also, how would you recommend making friends if we are retired, not big into church going?

Thanks!

jsherman9901 · 01-23-2008, 08:47 AM

Not to discourage you, but there is a large and seemingly fast-increasing Hispanic presence in Guntersville and Marshall County, primarily due to the poultry industry. Don't be surprised if the Spanish language becomes more prevalent there in the next few years.

I don't live in Guntersville but do have family there. Based on their experiences, I would strongly recommend going to Huntsville for medical care.

Guntersville Boomer · 01-23-2008, 12:26 PM

Thanks for the recommendation on healthcare services, just seems better to go to bigger city. Yes, I have noticed the hispanics, mainly mexicans more up in the Albertville/Boaz area but I do have to say those I have run across seem polite and seem more on the quiet side. In Florida, the ones around the Kissimmee area are very loud when they speak, they seem to want you to know they are here and wow, what aggressive drivers, they just don't want to blend in, they want to stick out and be noticed.

Keeper · 01-23-2008, 02:25 PM

I lived in Tampa before moving here. There are mexicans in the area but most live and work in the Albertville/Boaz area. They pretty much keep to themselves and are polite. You won't find many living in G'ville. I know the problems in Central FL with hispanics and I haven't seen anything like what goes on there around here.

Marshall county North is the hospital near Guntersville. It is a good hospital for the size. My daughter was there for a week and received excellent care. There are some really good doctors in G'ville for primary physicans, specialist you would probably go into H'ville although my daughter's surgeon was from G'ville. I have a friend who's husband was there frequently and she swore by the care he got at the hospital.

My vet is in Arab, but there is another poster who lives in G'ville who has a vet that she likes there. I haven't had to call for after hour care but there is a 24 hr clinic in H'ville.

There is a senior center and a newcomers meetings in Guntersville, a good place to meet other ppl our age. SammieS goes to the newcomers meetings and I am going with her next month.
The senior center RSVP has a lot of activities.

What else can I tell you?

SammieS · 01-23-2008, 03:34 PM

Hi,

We recently moved from Long Island New York to Guntersville. We love it here and have not found a problem with the hispanic population at all. The majority of hispanics seem to live in Albertville.

As for doctors, for my family physician I am going to a doctor in Guntersville. He is an internist, young and seems to be very knowledgeable. He also is a transplant originally from Kentucky. I also had to go to the emergency room at Marshall County North and found them to be very competent also. My husband worked at a hospital on Long Island and we really were happy with the doctors here and the hospital. But, I am an ovarian cancer survivor and need to go to a specialist. I am going to Huntsville for that doctor and have a recommendation from my doctor from Long Island.

As for vet services, I have two dogs and there are several vets in Guntersville. We have taken our dogs to one of the vets closest to our home and am very happy with her. We also needed to take one of our dogs to the emergency 24 hour clinic which is in Huntsville and they were very good too. As for boarding, if you will ever need to board a dog, Keeper gave us an excellent recommendation.

Also, as Keeper said, there is a Newcomers Group run by RSVP which is just getting off the ground now and is open to all Marshall County residents. We went last month and it is a nice group of people and for now not everyone is a newcomer. Also the senior center and recreation center are gorgeous.

We have found our neighbors to be very friendly. In fact today we were invited to go with our neighbors to a Guntersville group that they belong to, all retired. This was also a fun group, mostly long-time residents but some new residents too. We had to be invited by a member but now we can go whenever we want and everyone was very welcoming.

Everyone is so welcoming and friendly, you won't have any problem making friends. If I can help with anything else, let me know.

Guntersville Boomer · 01-28-2008, 09:34 AM

Thanks SammieS and Keeper. I am glad you have good doc's in Guntersville, I'd sure like to have my GP local too. My husband is driving up today to our house to continue some improvement projects we have going on in the basement, just love having that extra room to spread out. My only wish is that it was 12/09 and I could retire now, can't wait until we are up there full time so I can meet some of the nice folks like you, thanks again for the information!

Guntersville Boomer

mattiebeme · 08-27-2008, 03:54 AM

Just want to add something to the Forum that Gunterrville just re-elected a Mayor yesterday. He is a health concious mayor..sported minded...and love execise.. a biker/cyclist.
He will make City of Gunterville to be a nice place for retirees and healthy living city.

If you like small town that has water and sport like boating, fishing, skiing, houseboating....and lay back life style..you would love this city..a little cold and quite in the winter for a few month but the rest of the year is hot and nice.

This city has several marinas, small airport ( you can have private airplane there) too. and very good school for kids.

In term of medical facility...I know they have two hospital...state of the art...clean and impressive care of patient. However, Huntsville hospital is only 35 minutes away,
I hope you'll love Guntervill.

OUTIN2 · 08-28-2008, 04:00 PM

Can I ask what led you to decide on Guntersville? My wife and I are retiring in 1/10 and are struggling to decide between this area and either the Knoxville- Nashville areas; anything that really pushed you to G'ville?

cathyromine · 08-28-2008, 04:03 PM

Hey

My mother owns a home on lake Guntersville -
Beautiful, Clean, Historic Town - All Conviences -
I love it...

Cathy Romine

Keeper · 08-28-2008, 05:34 PM

Knoxville and Nashville are both much larger than G'ville. There are only about 7,500 ppl in G'ville. Very small quaint downtown that has a few shops and restaurants. There are some really nice older homes, most have big lots. I saw one advertised in the paper with a waterview for less than 150K. Of course, the waterview may only be visible during the winter..

They have a large senior center that have lots of activities for the young at heart. You can volunteer to do numerous jobs, they take trips also.

There is no mall, no movie theater but there is a Lowe's, WalMart and a K-mart that is in Albertville, the next town. Plenty of restaurants around G'ville too.

For malls, movies you have to go to H'ville about 35 minutes away. I rarely go into H'ville, as I can usually find everything I need either in my town of Arab or G'ville.

I moved here from Tampa and I love living here.. So much cheaper than living in FL.