Suggestions for a cooler greener place to relocate (Chattanooga, Johnson City: house, transfer)

[Happyintheforest]

My family and I currently live in the Phoenix Arizona area and are planning on relocating this Summer. The Arizona heat gets to me and makes me feel on the verge of a heat stroke some days. We want to live where it is cooler, but not with harsh winters that we are not used to. We have lived in the Albany Oregon area before and have thought about going back there. I miss the greenery and cool weather there. My husband is a garbage man and transfers with his job, so luckily we can move lots of places around the U.S. In Oregon we had to deal with the rain, but I loved it. My husband didn't like working in it everyday. I was always soaked. Yes, even with appropriate rain gear. We have considered other places back east like Chattanooga Tennessee, but are worried it would be too hot and humid in the Summer. We want somewhere green, with beautiful trees, but not so pricey that we would be house poor. We would like to stay under 250,000 for a home with at least 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. Are there any suggestions or ideas on towns that might make a great home for us? My husband and son love to fish, hunt and go camping. My daughter and I love going to flea markets, thrift stores and craft stores as well as book stores (new and used). I really want cooler, greener, but not too expensive. I actually love the rain and my husband does too as long as it's not everyday for 8 months out of the year. Any suggestions?

[dogsandart]

Chattanooga does get pretty hot and humid in the summer, and the summers are long. It will be cooler than Phoenix, but it's all relative, so the question will be if it's cool enough for you. It was too hot for us, and too conservative, so we moved away after 16 years there. We wanted our kids to have better choices for in-state colleges, too.

[An Einnseanair]

Sorry I missed this post earlier. Yes, it is much cooler in Chattanooga with regards to actual temperature, but it is also more humid. A temp of 95°F with 90% RH and no wind will feel just as hot as 110°F with 10% RH and a slight breeze.

But that condition is only during the heat waves. It is better here than Arizona. And much, much, greener.

[knucklehead_vol]

Why not consider Johnson City? Another concern you may want to consider is allergies. Yes the heat is tough in Arizona but the HUGE mountains and non humidity are nice too. I remember being there and the temp was in the 80's. I couldn't believe it. That was my first experience out west.

[CleaverJune]

I too am in the Phoenix area and I will be moving to the Chattanooga area (in the next few months,) for work. Having lived in the south not long ago and in Phoenix now, I can tell you that ANYWHERE will have more humidity than what you are used to in Phx. Part of the reason things are green in Tn is all that lovely year-round moisture. (Be it snow, rain, or humidity.) What you have to figure out is do you prefer dry or wet heat. Personally I'd rather have the humidity. The Phoenix sun feels like its pounding you into the ground and with how easily I get heat exhaustion, it just doesn't work well for me. Yes it feels hotter at a low temp due to humidity in TN, but the sun doesn't feel like it's beating you into the earth in quite the same way.
In North Ga (where I lived in the past,) I never had heat stroke or Heat exhaustion. In PHX Ive had it 2x this year. I find that I feel cooped up & housebound all summer in Phx just trying to escape the heat, and though humid in the south, I still feel like I can go enjoy the outdoors. I know that I get a lot more year round exercise out of PHX. I think that you will find it the same way.
Fair warning though... The first few weeks of living in that humidity coming from PHX will be a bear. But you can get used to it pretty quickly.

Hope it helps.