Mass FL exodus? (Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga: rental car, apartment complex, rental)

[hiknapster]

I just want to clarify that not all snowbirds are from New England. In the Fort Myers area they are mostly from The Midwest. Those are often the people that we see going up and down I-75. My husband once saw one of his old customers, a retired gentleman in his mobile home, who recognized my husband and started honking his horn!

I don't know how many retirees we are going to attract from that area. Right now, housing is about the same here as it is there; sometimes it is cheaper there. There are tons of over-55 housing that really caters to them.

But if younger people are looking for better opportunities, schools and friendlier folks then Knoxville would be a better choice. Crime is lower, too and I don't miss the aggressive "me first" attitude.

[Kitties of Domination]

Let me further clarify. This has been on Kingston Pike, not the interstate. I am a delivery driver and thus see quite a few of these pulling in and out of apartment complexes or parked at the complexes. Also, many are not very old at all. More middle age with kids and young adults. I know how to spot the snowbirds and many of these cars don't fit the profile. Another telling sign is the number of cars I see daily with Gators stickers or front plates and Knox Co. tags. This is primarily in the Bearden and Cedar Bluff areas. Also, this trend began last spring/summer and has been continuous since.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by Kitties of Domination

Let me further clarify. This has been on Kingston Pike, not the interstate. I am a delivery driver and thus see quite a few of these pulling in and out of apartment complexes or parked at the complexes. Also, many are not very old at all. More middle age with kids and young adults. I know how to spot the snowbirds and many of these cars don't fit the profile. Another telling sign is the number of cars I see daily with Gators stickers or front plates and Knox Co. tags. This is primarily in the Bearden and Cedar Bluff areas. Also, this trend began last spring/summer and has been continuous since.

Well, good for them! It's nice to see people escape from there.

[gailli]

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

I see a scary amount of FL tags even here in JC. I think that east TN is being marketed (where?) as "the" place to move to out of Florida.

Unfortunately.

I take offense to the "unfortunately" I too am a FL native but moved to Tenn because of the mountains, the views and the scenery and the weather. I would not like to see it commercialized like FL with the huge retirement villages either. But, I do love it here and when I went back to FL in Oct to vist and I realized it is not my home any more :Tennessee" is my home now and I'm proud to be here.

[William Sold]

Tennessee" is my home now and I'm proud to be here.

Gailli,

We're proud to have you! The number of Knoxvillians that are true born and raised is dramatically smaller than it used to be. All of the different cultural differences and niceties from all the other areas are pleasasntly wrapped in with the Southern charm of Knoxville, and I for one like the diversity of inhabitants. I'm sure what jabog meant (I hope) is that "unfortunately" the marketing to designated areas would or may lead to over development of planned communities, and not a reference to any actual Floridians themselves.

[gailli]

]William, you are probably right and I didnt mean to sound mad about the statement "unfortunately" as I agree, I would hate for a mass exodus of Floridians or a mass from any where coming into East Tn and over populating it, then it would be ruined just as my home state of Fl was and the reason I left for TN from FL, it would be a terrible shame

[MrsMtnsOnTheMind]

I don't think you are going to see retirement villages pop up in TN like we have in FL. Elderly people are very sensitive to cold and they prefer the warmer temperatures of FL than TN. They might move up into N FL, where I am but I can't see them going any further North. I think the influx is going to be families that just aren't making it in FL any more or just don't want to be here.

[gailli]

Originally Posted by MrsMtnsOnTheMind

I don't think you are going to see retirement villages pop up in TN like we have in FL. Elderly people are very sensitive to cold and they prefer the warmer temperatures of FL than TN. They might move up into N FL, where I am but I can't see them going any further North. I think the influx is going to be families that just aren't making it in FL any more or just don't want to be here.

I think you may be wrong in that description, I am 65 and DH is 73 and we love it here, almost every woman in my Red Hats Group is from FL and they are all over 55 not to mention all the other friends I have found that are from FL and they are all Senior Citizens.

[MrsMtnsOnTheMind]

I am talking Century Village Retirement Communities, not a small villa here and there or individual retirees.

They have Red Hats Groups there? How cool.

Gailli, you are not elderly.....you are still a spring chicken.

[orlandoyankee]

Well, I guess my car was also one of the ones spotted with a FL tag on it in TN. We just got back from spending several days driving and exploring the Chattanooga area, Oak Ridge and Bristol/JC/Kingsport. I gotta say that I have really fallen in love with TN (especially JC area). I, for one, do intend to retire in TN in the not too distant future. And, I like things in TN just the way they are. If it was overrun with gated communities and deed restrictions, I would probably look elsewhere.