Please compare southern living to upper midwestern living (Memphis, Dover: home, to buy)

[IngleDave]

I agree, ac. I understand concerns and questions, but am a bit perplexed by the stereotype-casting that goes on so often. LD, this is a generalization, not really directed at you, so bear with me. We appreciate your concerns and apprehension, moving is scary.

I sometimes must look askance at some of the questions we're asked about the south and its lifestyle. America is a homogenized mess of a place where differences are often no longer looked upon as interesting, but as flaws. People are so much more alike nowadays (thanks to television, the internet, other media) that it's sometimes difficult to maintain the pleasure of being in a place with its own character, its own claims to fame, its own style. To change to make acclimation somewhat easier for a visitor isn't something I'll do. To appreciate the cultural differences in language, food, style brought to us by our transplants is something I truly treasure. I think it makes us more whole, more complete as a growing cosmopolitan metro. Yes, we are different from other places, but it's to be celebrated, not feared. Sure, there are things not so funny, not so pretty, but that's not indigenous only to the south, but worldwide. A new world and new life is what you make it. There's about 1.6 million different personalities to choose from in your new circle of friends. Many will share your interests, many won't care.

One thing remember, this is Tennessee, only a few hours away from Wisconsin or any other place. A Mars Rover isn't necessary. We are you, you are us. We just talk differently. The south is a mighty big place with as many regional nuances as one could imagine. I, for one, just think my part of the south is the best. We are a loyal bunch.

And I hope you come here, and I hope it's everything you want it to be.

[alleycat]

Originally Posted by #Littledog

So true!!! Just like people think Milwaukee is just like Laverne and Shirley! )

Seriously, I really think we will love Nashville. Our friends and family always plant those seeds of doubt and then I start to second guess! It seems like Nashville has so much variety-there is something for everyone here.

I think it's good that you're planning on visiting a couple of times before making a decision. Nashville might be perfect for you, or . . . it might not. There's are lots of good thing about Nashville and a few that are not so good. Most of here on the forum try to give honest answers to the questions people ask, but there will be a variety of opinions about almost anything. Getting a feel for the area yourself is the best guide. Take your time, look around, drive around some neighborhoods, take in a few cultural events, take in a few not-so-cultural events, have a beer. ;-)

[#Littledog]

Originally Posted by IngleDave

I agree, ac. I understand concerns and questions, but am a bit perplexed by the stereotype-casting that goes on so often. LD, this is a generalization, not really directed at you, so bear with me. We appreciate your concerns and apprehension, moving is scary.

I sometimes must look askance at some of the questions we're asked about the south and its lifestyle. America is a homogenized mess of a place where differences are often no longer looked upon as interesting, but as flaws. People are so much more alike nowadays (thanks to television, the internet, other media) that it's sometimes difficult to maintain the pleasure of being in a place with its own character, its own claims to fame, its own style. To change to make acclimation somewhat easier for a visitor isn't something I'll do. To appreciate the cultural differences in language, food, style brought to us by our transplants is something I truly treasure. I think it makes us more whole, more complete as a growing cosmopolitan metro. Yes, we are different from other places, but it's to be celebrated, not feared. Sure, there are things not so funny, not so pretty, but that's not indigenous only to the south, but worldwide. A new world and new life is what you make it. There's about 1.6 million different personalities to choose from in your new circle of friends. Many will share your interests, many won't care.

One thing remember, this is Tennessee, only a few hours away from Wisconsin or any other place. A Mars Rover isn't necessary. We are you, you are us. We just talk differently. The south is a mighty big place with as many regional nuances as one could imagine. I, for one, just think my part of the south is the best. We are a loyal bunch.

And I hope you come here, and I hope it's everything you want it to be.

Thank you! What you said made a lot of sense. I really hope I didn't offend anyone with my questions or perceptions (they were more my midwestern clan's perceptions-I'm more of an open slate). I would never expect people to change so I could acclimate easier. To be honest, I love the adventure of learning about a new culture, way of life (and also discovering that, mostly, people are people wherever you go). I mainly get nervous because there are so many friends and family in Milwaukee who don't support our interest in moving-maybe it's because they're narrow-minded, maybe it's because they just don't want us to move away! So they keep playing devil's advocate and it's forcing me to ask all these questions! I really appreciate everyone's support on this forum. I know I'm on here all the time!

My desire to move out of the midwest goes beyond a yearning for better weather. The sun belt just seems so much more alive and thriving whereas the rust belt is kind of dying. I'm originally from the Detroit area and sometimes I wonder if Milwaukee will eventually be in the same boat with it's bad economy and it's industrial mess. I've been in the southeast a few times (not TN but the Carolinas and Georgia) and something about it keeps me going back for more! I'm just worried that my experiences as a tourist (who doesn't have fun on vacation?!) are clouding my judgment and I'm trying to look at the whole decision objectively. At this stage of my life, there are so many things at stake with a re-location! I want to be really, really sure.

Nashville forum, thanks again for your time and consideration!

[denawilliams]

Forgive me if I repeat something because I just did a quick browse through the answers.

I am not from the midwest, but I lived in Ohio for a few years. My husband is originally from Cleveland, so we're not from Wisconsin, but technically we qualify for having lived in the Midwest.

I was a southerner in the midwest, so the things I noticed that were different to the culture from where I was from were :

1) pace (which I actually appreciated a faster pace so much); It's not everyone, and it's not all the time, but sometimes...I think it takes longer to order and pay for things... And then when you ask a question expecting a short answer, don't count on anything brief. If you're in a hurry, plan ahead just in case you get a few paragraphs for each response to your questions. Again, it's not everyone, but it happens from time to time. It just take a little longer to get to the point sometimes.

2) You may have not ever realized you had allergies until you moved here. We're in a giant bowl of pollen here and it can get ugly. It's easily treatable. Just be prepared that it can affect you even if you've never had any issues before in the past.

3) I know this is a repeat. But it can't be reiterated enough. WEATHER. It is so much warmer here year round. Winters are mild and short. The spring and summer months are beautiful with all of the lush green. I hated how short the leaves were on the trees in the Midwest. I felt like the sun didn't shine at all between September and May or June. Here, it's sunny a whole whole lot in comparison. You will think that it is always sunny here. What's funny is in the Midwest when a "partly sunny" day was forecasted, it really meant the sun might peak out for a minute but it would be very overcast the whole day with a complete ceiling of clouds, (and just like every other winter day). Here, when they say partly sunny...in comparison, it's sunny. Even many of the "cloudy" days here have plenty of moments where the sun is beating down between the spaces in the clouds.

4) This one could encompass religion, but that's not what I'm specifically referring to here. When it comes to personal things, I found people to be a little more open here. I'm not talking about to a specific view. I'm talking about sharing personal things in general and also maybe in making a need known and allowing people to help. It seems like most of the people I was around in the Midwest just were a little more private and didn't talk about what they considered to be more private personal things as much. For example, you will meet people here who do not mind telling you their life story on the day you meet them. I am great friends with lots of those people, but if you've never encountered someone like that I could see where it might be a little shocking. I guess from the religious stand point, that's one of those things that I found people kept a little more private and didn't discuss with each other in the Midwest, where it is talked about more frequently here, I'd assume.

5) I wish that I weren't about to say this because I've tried to believe it isn't true, but every day I am nearly hit by someone at least 5 times a day who either is driving beside me and comes into my lane with me or is driving towards me and crosses over into my lane nearly creating a head on. I have no other conclusion to make except people can't drive here. I'm not exaggerating. I'm not talking about slight and quick edges up to or over the line. I'm talking about big ugly near missed collisions. And I have no idea why.

I don't know how accurate this is for where you are, but it's my midwest to southern comparison...

You'll have to come back on here after it's all said and done and tell us which things you encountered to be true where we all shared our opinions.

[alleycat]

Dena's last comment does remind me of something you might want to be aware of. We don't get a lot of snow here, but we do get a little and when it happens . . . it's bizarre. I can understand people being concerned about the roads because it doesn't take much to cause a traffic mess here, but people in Nashville will rush to the grocery store to stock up with supplies in case they get snowbound in their homes even if all they're predicting is 2" of snow . . . even if they live across the street from the store. I occasionally write stories and one time I did a sort of Twilight Zone episode about it snowing 6" in Nashville and people predicting the end of the world. I wasn't exaggerating all that much. By the way, we can drive in it, we just don't get much practice. The first little snow or two will be a disaster. On those rare years when we get a lot of snow and people get used to it, they handle it better by the end of the season.

[#Littledog]

Dena,

You're right-the sun doesn't shine here from October-June.....it's not an exaggeration! It is so gloomy and cold in Milwaukee-worse than Ohio-in fact, I'm literally shivering as I type this post. I need to stay focused on that fact because a couple times here, in the past 2 weeks, the temperatures hit 50 degrees and it was sunny leading me to think, "hmmm Milwaukee's not so bad, maybe we can stay" and then BOOM back to cold and gloomy. And it's May!!! So keep reminding me about the beautiful weather!

[#Littledog]

Originally Posted by alleycat

Dena's last comment does remind me of something you might want to be aware of. We don't get a lot of snow here, but we do get a little and when it happens . . . it's bizarre. I can understand people being concerned about the roads because it doesn't take much to cause a traffic mess here, but people in Nashville will rush to the grocery store to stock up with supplies in case they get snowbound in their homes even if all they're predicting is 2" of snow . . . even if they live across the street from the store. I occasionally write stories and one time I did a sort of Twilight Zone episode about it snowing 6" in Nashville and people predicting the end of the world. I wasn't exaggerating all that much. By the way, we can drive in it, we just don't get much practice. The first little snow or two will be a disaster. On those rare years when we get a lot of snow and people get used to it, they handle it better by the end of the season.

That's really pretty cute! Maybe I can volunteer as a driver and get people to and from work, school during snowy days. It snowed 80 inches in Milwaukee last winter so I have lots of practice!

[alleycat]

It's 72 right now in Nashville at 10:30 PM. ;-)

[alleycat]

Originally Posted by #Littledog

That's really pretty cute! Maybe I can volunteer as a driver and get people to and from work, school during snowy days. It snowed 80 inches in Milwaukee last winter so I have lots of practice!

There won't be any school on days it snows. Sometimes there won't be school on the days they're just predicting snow.

Hey, one good thing, your car won't rust out from all the salt on the roads. No intelligent person here will ever buy a used car that's spent five years "up north".

[#Littledog]

Originally Posted by alleycat

There won't be any school on days it snows. Sometimes there won't be school on the days they're just predicting snow.

Hey, one good thing, your car won't rust out from all the salt on the roads. No intelligent person here will ever buy a used car that's spent five years "up north".

Wow, we hardly ever have school canceled in Milwaukee......We did have 2 snow days last winter-but last winter it snowed over 80 inches!

I can't believe it's over 70 degrees in Nashville right now! We still have two down comforters on our bed and I haven't put away my flannel pajamas for the season. You people must think I'm crazy I'm not in TN already!