What's good about living in Memphis? (Bartlett: low income, real estate, new home)

[sb-gal]

Originally Posted by JoeCartpath

Well, at least you won't have to worry about wildfires, mudslides and earthquakes. Oops....scratch "earthquakes" from that list

Oh great now it's tornados and left overs from the hurricanes - yikes.

Originally Posted by JoeCartpath

I thought Californians drove everywhere anyway!

Many do, I live in a pretty small town and can get away with biking or walking for small errands. I still drive though - more than I'd like. I began biking to work last year when the gas prices hit $5 / gallon and it kind of stuck.

[sb-gal]

Originally Posted by bouncy_babe

"sell me on living there [Memphis]" ??

it's more affordable than your home, in CA, but compartively it's a 'hard' sell, or you would already be convinced !

if you have no roots in the MidSouth, esp Memphis, and you have lived your life on the west coast, (or east coast), you will find the adjustment painful by many measures

Yea, I figure I'll be kicking and screaming the whole time I'm there. I'd like to make the best of it though so I don't make my husband completely miserable.

I'm a little worried about the whole "Put together Southern Woman" thing. My best friend moved to Nashville 10 years ago and now she doesn't leave the house unless she's completely put together - yikes. Granted it could be an age thing too lol.

[sb-gal]

Originally Posted by joninclay

Sell me on living there (please).

Uh...well, the BBQ is world class. So there's that.

(Don't flame me, I'm just messin' around!)

I'm seriously looking forward to the BBQ - YUM!

[thenuegeye]

Judging by your comments, you seem like you really want to hear something positive. Outside of the low cost of living there aren't many pluses. Socially, this town sucks. I hope you plan on joining a church. If not, the people will think you're weird and be afraid of you. And that's a fact. And as for diversity, sure, Memphis is diverse. But the cultures don't mix and mingle outside of work. I won't tell you to make the best of it. It's impossible!! Just hope and pray that your stay here won't be long. The stuff you hear about crime is true. It's usually contained to certain areas so people unaffected accept it as a necessary evil since they don't have to deal with it. Not saying you will hate it. But it will be NOTHING like So-Cal. NOTHING!!! Don't allow the malaise to set it.

[JoeCartpath]

Originally Posted by sb-gal

Yea, I figure I'll be kicking and screaming the whole time I'm there. I'd like to make the best of it though so I don't make my husband completely miserable.

I'm a little worried about the whole "Put together Southern Woman" thing. My best friend moved to Nashville 10 years ago and now she doesn't leave the house unless she's completely put together - yikes. Granted it could be an age thing too lol.

Just move here with a good attitude toward the adventure, find a home you like and seek out things about the area you enjoy. You'll be fine. I know SoCal is supposed to be paradise, but lots of people move to Tennessee from all over the country and actually like it better. Well, except for the fact that the nearest beach is 400 miles away....

Don't worry about the "put together" thing. My wife doesn't. I think that's the exception rather than the rule. Everyone I know is very casual....but then I don't hang around with a lot of really rich folks

[JoeCartpath]

Originally Posted by thenuegeye

Socially, this town sucks. I hope you plan on joining a church. If not, the people will think you're weird and be afraid of you.

I've lived here almost 60 years, don't belong to a church and have a nice social life. Sure, I was raised as a Baptist, but I've probably been inside a church twice in the last 40 years if you don't count weddings. I've got a lot of friends...both churchgoing and otherwise...and I'm pretty sure they aren't afraid of me! Now, maybe they think I'm weird....but that probably doesn't have anything to do with the church thing....

[Pearlbob]

Just come here with a good attitude. The "southern woman" thing is ridiculous, unless you plan on joining the red hat society or something of that nature. Memphis has a lot of transplants from all over the world, due to the large medical centers here, and companies like FedEx and Autozone being headquartered here. While I get what you are saying, it's not true and you can live many years here without going to church or wearing pearls and brooches everywhere you go. (Or whatever southern women apparently do?)

It's sad that you think you'll be kicking and screaming coming here. That's not a good attitude to have coming into a new city. I wouldn't judge ANYTHING based on this forum. There are already a couple trolls who have "answered" your questions on this thread.

[Ginsaw]

I've lived here over sixty years and to my knowledge no such thing as "the put together Southern woman" exists, excepting maybe as some Hollywood characterization.

We're not really that different from everywhere else, and I say that having spent considerable time in southern Calif, south Florida and other parts of the country. There's something here for every taste and pocket book. There'll be plenty of parks and places to bike ride. You'll be able to get more for your money...more for less I call it. You can find some homes with really large lots and yards that would be hard to come by at reasonable prices in other cities. You'll avoid the overcrowded conditions of more popular places. And there's nearly every form of entertainment you could want in an inland city.

Fitting in is the same as anywhere else. There'll always be room for someone who likes people.

[JoeCartpath]

I've never understood why people who are apparently so profoundly miserable here (or anywhere else, for that matter) don't just move to another area? Are they just to lazy to go to the trouble? Do they feel that they won't be able to find work elsewhere? I just don't get it. Memphis has it's share of problems....but I wouldn't be here if I woke up every morning feeling as if I were imprisoned by the city. I may not stay here once I retire, but it won't be because I'm miserable here - it'll be because of the lack of mountains or a beach

[keekat]

<img src="http://www.memphis-tennessee-hotels.com/images2/memphis-pyramid.jpg">
move to midtown! the people there are awesome...when I used to live there it was beautiful too
central gardens was voted best neighborhood in memphis so definitely check that out too! good luck..Welcome to the Frontpage - Central Gardens