Is Nashville for my family, input please?! (Franklin, Portland: fit in, hairstylist)

[Charlottect]

Please provide me with some honest info to make my family's move the right one.

I am 32 and about to finish a biology degree (with honors for what that is worth). My husband is a hairstylist (one of the good ones). We have five children and one on the way. Currently, we live in Franklin Springs, Georgia, which is not our cup of tea to say the least.

When I graduate in May we want to move, but where to? Now, I LOVE Chicago IL, but there is no way we could ever afford to live there. I passed through Nashville before and thought it looked neat: bigger city, nature, clean, and safe. My husband and I do not like Country music though.

What we are looking for is a place where we will be able to find affordable housing, nature and big city together, and though we happen to be white we like a bit of diversity in our community (in Chicago people in restaurants were happily conversing in a dusin different languages, it was really nice). Where we live now you are either black, white, hispanic, black acting white, or white acting black, and I cannot stand it.

I spent the first 21 years of my life in Denmark (Scandinavia not Carolina), and moving to the US's deep South has been such a culture shock and still is 11 years later. Any ideas where we should go?

Oh, I love snow, my husband prefers the warmth, and all our children love swimming and nature. Musically we prefer noisy Brooklyn rock. Thank you, anyone, for responding. Charlotte.

[alleycat]

Just an initial quick thought . . . yes, you would probably be happier in Nashville than where you are now, but you would probably be even happier somewhere else. I'm not sure where that would be offhand; maybe Austin, TX or even Atlanta.

[Charlottect]

Atlanta only has the CDC going for it. The city has become violent, dirty, and expensive. We have considered Austin, Tx though.

[alleycat]

I guess the question for you is what city is most like Chicago in the lower part of the country.

It's not the warmest (or the driest) part of the country, but Seattle might work for you.

[BNB]

Originally Posted by alleycat

I guess the question for you is what city is most like Chicago in the lower part of the country.

It's not the warmest (or the driest) part of the country, but Seattle might work for you.

You might also consider the Portland, Oregon area of the country...beautiful, more diverse, but also a bit wetter.

[Charlottect]

Okay. Our friends and family (well, my husband's family) are spread all over the country, so distance is not an issue when considering a new possible place to call home. I really did enjoy Chicago, but boy was it expensive. We payed $24 to park some places.

[alleycat]

By the way, I wasn't trying to talk you out of Nashville. I just think it might not be enough of a change for you. It would be like 50% different and it sounds like you'd like 100% different.

[hml1976]

I agree with alleycat. I grew up in Toronto and while I've learned to love Nashville it was hard to adjust. We're actually moving to Portland, Oregon for my husband's job...sounds like it might be a better fit for you too.

[UNT_Eagle]

You might enjoy looking into the Dallas/Fort Worth area.. I am originally from there and it has become a huge metro area over the years with everything you could think of. The housing market there is actually doing well there; plenty of nightlife, and scenic areas as well.

Coming to Nashville, I've noticed a difference in the attitude of some locals here. Alot of things tend to take forever here; business, travel, etc.. If you don't mind that, you'll fit in fine.

[Mike in TN]

Just my opinion, but I don't think Nashville will be your cup of tea either.

I would recommend looking into metro Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN. Although it's relatively expensive as well.