carguy looking for retirement location (Knoxville, Chattanooga: home, employment, purchase)

[carguy4sp]

My wife and I are looking for a retirement area and considering east TN.
We are old car hobbiest and looking for an area that promotes or tolerates our hobby. We would be interested in an area that is somewhat country living but close enough to a good size town to accommodate shopping needs. We would try to purchase a home with 3 to 5 acres something with a large barn or garage would be helpful.

We are just starting to look and about two years away from moving but we want to start to explore areas to narrow things down abit.

We now live in S.W. Florida and the housing market in in the dumps so we may have to wait for the market to correct before we move.

My wife is a creative artist for the local newspaper and she will need to find employment in that area which may force us a little closer to a larger town that I would like.

I would piddle with cars somehow to generate a few extra dollars.

Any suggestions, ideas or comments would be great.

Thanks
Rod Robbins

[jabogitlu]

Well, there are tons of car clubs in east TN, especially Pontiac and Corvette it seems. Pigeon Forge's "strip" holds tons of huuuuuge car shows every year, including lots of club shows. There are also some in east Knox (at chilhowie Park) and in Morristown. And you're only a few hours from Charlotte, which holds a very large (thousands and thousands of people) car show twice(?) a year.

In short, I think you'd fit. Most of the areas outside city limits have very few regulations so you'd not run afoul of the law by having parts cars sitting around in your yard or anything. You can live in the country and still be within 15-30 minutes of Chattanooga, Johnson City, and Knoxville.

[dcommander]

Elizabethton might be an area for you. They have a cruise-in in the downtown area during the spring and summer. The outskirts are still rural with some beautiful views. Elizabethton is growing with new shopping and restaurants but also close to Johnson City for more shopping, eating and employment opportunities.

Carter County Car Club Cruise In - Elizabethton, Tennessee (http://www.oldride.com/events/7238039.html - broken link)

Carter County Car Club - Home

[GrannyLois]

Yes Sir, you need to consider Carter County.

By the way, did you know that 2008 is the Celebration for the 100 year anniversary of the Model T? The celebration isn't here, though. It's in Richmond, Indiana.

We're going. Can't wait.