What's good about living in Memphis? (Germantown, Collierville: rental, chapel, houses)

[Northfielder]

Memphis is a lesson- a GOOD ONE

It's a lesson about potential, and how never to waste it-

Memphis teaches a good lesson in the pitfalls of human interaction-and how to successfully avoid conflict in a diverse community-

Memphis teaches a good lesson in how to circumnavigate politics

Memphis offers the positive realization that a person really needs to watch what one eats, and the need for activity and exercise- and that you can only eat so much bar be que

Memphis provides a great example of how important public education is to a thriving community

Memphis provides a positive example of community policing

Shelby County sheriff's office (and Memphis Police Task Force) is known nationally for it's interdiction efforts, particularly on federally subsidized highways and interstates. Their activity is highly publicized, and Memphis Police and Shelby County sheriff's deputies have been featured on highly rated shows such as 'COPS' many times. Memphis is a fertile area for training of professional law enforcement officers, including Homeland Security, TSA, and the US Customs Service.

Memphis exemplifies what a city can do with thoughtful urban planning and how to deal with suburban sprawl and white flight

Memphis provides excellent ER/Trauma care for its injured citizens and/or victims of violence/accidents-

Memphis City Schools, combined with Shelby County Schools continue to provide the State and federal government key, valuable and useful information on how to avoid gerrymandering, and associated opportunities implementing solid de-segregation plans.

Memphis is very often selected by major insurance carriers (auto, home, fire, etc) as 'case studies' in acturarial models involving many types of loss, especially motor vehicle 'loss', and potential claims.

The City of Memphis' drinking water is hailed as some of the best in the nation.

You can be proud by looking around on the interstate system that Memphis is a hub for shipping and transportation- the giveaway is noticing all of the tandem OTL tractor trailers you see each day, all day long on the perimeter highway. There must be unknown amounts and types of cargo being shipped from or through Memphis streets daily.

Speaking of shipping, Memphis is the home to Federal Express and Memphis has one of the largest sorting and shipping facilities via air and road in the world. If you're lucky enough to be close to the intricate flight paths routed all over the city every night you will hear, see, and witness a ballet of huge cargo planes with their landing lights on landing and taking off with orchestrated precision- it's amazing that this goes on so well 365 days a year, 24/7.

The airport is highly functional as well as a hub. The flights are dominated by Northwest Airlines, and you can get anywhere just about in the world at sometimes competitive rates- the lack of commuter airlines has insured stability for some local NWA employees by reducing bids for gates

For years Memphis has also served as a test market for every chain restaurant that you can think of- so residents have an enormous selection of great, yummy food from which to choose----Darden Group, OSI, Yum Brands, Brinker- you name the chain, Memphis has it- no need to ever worry about mom & pops or independents.

Memphis borders on 2 great, leading southern states, Mississippi, and Arkansas, both of which offer outstanding histories and cultures.

[Ferbdog]

SB Gal,

I moved to Memphis from Conejo Valley two years ago. I'd be happy to chat with you about this off line. There's A LOT you need to know before you make the move!

Email me at kferber at aol dot com. I'd be glad to help.

[Senor Boogie Woogie]

I am from Memphis, so I'll give it a shot............

1.) If you like basketball, Memphis is a hotbed for that. The Univ. of Memphis Tigers has been a top 10 if not a top 5 program for many years. Memphis also has the NBA Grizzlies. The Grizzlies are not very good, but there is only one way to go and that's up. I would of rather Memphis to have an NFL team, but that isn't going to happen.

2.) Housing here is reasonably priced, and there are some decent areas to live in. If you make a good living, one can save a lot of money here. Outside of Memphis, the public school system is not bad, and frankly Memphis City Schools gets a bad rap. Collierville, Germantown, Desoto County Ms., all have decent schools.

3.) The food in Memphis is really good and reasonably priced. BBQ, southern food, ribs, stuff like that. Memphis is somewhat behind the times on foreign food, but there are Vietnamese, Japanese, and Chinese and Mexican food abound. Then there is the catfish and the "soul food", if one is brave enough to go where the soul food is.

4.) There are the casinos in Mississippi, which are only about an hour from the downtown area. A lot of musical acts pass through the casinos, acts that might otherwise skip Memphis altogether.

5.) "Back in the day" Midtown was a decent place to go party with a lot of small bars and clubs, restaurants and musical venues within a short distance. It's really the only part of Memphis that has somewhat of a "big city" feel to it. However, it is also somewhat close to the "bad areas" of the city. To a New Yorker, or someone from L.A. Midtown is small time, but it is good to stay safe if out drinking at night. Overton Square is OK too with a lot of cops patrolling the area.

6.) if you like hunting/fishing/outdoors stuff, Memphis is not that bad of a place to live with a lot of open land and hunting/fishing areas abound.

[cwzuck]

Glad to see some folks mentioining the positive stuff.
If your'e looking for a church home that enjoys the casual side of things, check out Hope Presbyterian in Cordova. They don't view themselves as a rest home for the redeemed, rather a hospital for the struggling. I moved there from the legalistic Baptist church I had been going to and really like it.

If you give it a chance, Memphis is a great place. My ex wife, who left Memphis after 20 years of self imposed misery to go back to her native New York (and her boyfriend) came down here last year for our son's HS graduation. Unfortunately she made the comment to one of the guests that "I had a good life in Memphis and blew it". That's proof that the grass isn't greener on the other side of the fence, it's greenest where you water it. Give Memphis a chance, there's a lot of good here and it sounds like you have family to help you make the transition.

Good luck. Remember, Memphis isn't the end of the world- California is a LOT closer!

[elphabastwin]

I'm not going to lie to you: It's going to be a shock to your system.

I say this as a born and raised West Tennessean who NEVER fit in while growing up and doesn't even now. But familial obligations are keeping me rooted here for a bit longer.

What the poster said about church is absolute truth. In fact, I was just complaining about this yesterday when someone asked me where I went to church. I find it rude to even ask what religion a stranger is, but the fact that 95% of the people here EXPECT you to be a Christian will be maddening if you are not. The only way anyone can truly understand this is by being anything other than Christian in this area.

I no longer offer any information about my creed and when people ask, I ignore. I simply just act as if I've never heard them speak. There will be questions you receive from people that most people in Cali would never dream of asking someone who they weren't close to. That's the main thing to get used to. Once you find a way to circumvent the frustration from this and find a way to deal with these people your life won't be golden, but it will become easier.

Anyway, that's my two cents.

[JoeCartpath]

I can't remember the last time anyone I met asked me about my religion or what church I attended. I'm sure it's been at least 10 years....probably 15. Maybe I just look like a heathen.....

[strumpeace]

Originally Posted by JoeCartpath

I can't remember the last time anyone I met asked me about my religion or what church I attended. I'm sure it's been at least 10 years....probably 15. Maybe I just look like a heathen.....

Same here. I live in Memphis 3-4 days a week (in Little Rock the rest of the time), have done so for years (minus a period last year when I worked exclusively in LR), and have never once been asked about my faith.

And considering how nuanced my personal faith/religion is, had I answered such a question one time, it would have taken me a few hours to do so, and I doubt anyone would ever ask again.

[JoeCartpath]

Even on the rare occasion in the past when I've been asked "Where do you go to church?", I'd just answer "I don't". That normally resulted in the conversation taking a different path

[redwine]

Originally Posted by 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.

Haha, I love your honesty! But you are so very right!

[redwine]

Church is like a second home over here. I work retail and EVERYBODY except me wants to be off Sundays so they can go to church. I always volunteer working on Sundays. I told my manager I work every Sunday because I don't go to church and he was really exited about that.
I have been asked why I don't go to church and I just tell people the truth, I am not religious and raised that way. One lady I work with thought I was going to hell if I didn't start praying....what can I say....thats the south for you but I still love it here.