Please compare southern living to upper midwestern living (Memphis, Franklin: property taxes, house)

[Tunky]

Originally Posted by #Littledog

Thank you for your observations! We plan on visiting Nashville at least a couple times before we make the move so hopefully that will help us form an opinion. We have 2 young children and we will be looking for new jobs, new schools, etc so I really don't want to move unless we will for sure be staying.

Tunky, do you think your experiences in Nashville will be different than Memphis. Let's hope so! If we moved, we would like to stay close to Nashville city limits so will that feel similar to living in Milwaukee? Yes, we do drink beer (I think it's a Milwaukee rite of passage LOL!) and we play cards. I had no idea playing cards was a sin! But there were a lot of things that surprised me when I lived in Muncie, Indiana for 2 years (which isn't that far south but it felt very different than the midwest). I never knew Catholics weren't considered Christians (that's a whole other discussion) and I was amazed at how many people wanted to "save" me even though I went to church, gave to the poor, volunteered throughout the community, and attended parochial school my whole life (including college). From another thread I started it sounded like some of the differing religious views are more in the rural areas and not as much in Nashville..............I agree with you, too, I don't expect others to change since I am moving into their culture (and beautiful weather). I just want to make sure we're not sad and longing for home once we go through all the efforts to start a new life for ourselves. Do you feel like you'd ever move back to WI? You're right-the people in WI are out of control friendly. So sincere, so genuine they make you feel like you're their best friend right away! Enjoy your Green Bay Packer group!

A couple of other questions I had....why do people say the schools are different in the south compared to the north?? Another thing I'm worried about (please don't laugh) is the southern women seem so pretty, feminine, well-dressed, and perfectly groomed am I going to feel like an ugly duckling??? I take care of myself but I don't spend a lot of time primping and I'm a little bit of a tomboy. Will I feel out of place?? I guess I picture all these blond, tan beauty pageant ladies walking around. If so, I'm sure my husband will love it there! LOL )

LOL...I love your posts! ( I was raised Catholic...I now consider myself to be non-denominational but I still get "grrrrrrrrrrr" over the notion that Catholics aren't Christians. I digress...because as you said...that's another topic.)

And yes...I am certain that Nashville will be MUCH better than Memphis. Memphis is just plain awful and I doubt that many people would disagree with me.

I had a few worries about the whole beauty queen image of southern women too...but it's not quite as dramatic as we are led to believe up north. Not to say there aren't a lot of pretty women...but it's not like you'll feel out of place if your hair isn't out to
<--------------here----------------> and you don't have your lipgloss on to go out to the mailbox. There are girls that look like us too!

As far as moving back to WI. I could be packed by tomorrow...but it's not because I dislike the south. I just miss my friends and family. It's unlikely though that we'll move back because of the tax structure. (There's no state income tax in TN).

Our kids are going to college in WI so I can't speak for the schools, sorry.

[Tunky]

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.

Come on down! We've even been able to buy Leinenkugel's down here!

[Tunky]

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.

Good advice! When I moved down here people told me, "You know how to drive but we don't...just remember that." We had 3 inches of snow in Memphis at one time this winter and everyone just stayed home...it was probably for the best.

You've had some good advice on this thread...I hope it helps. I know I'm excited about moving to Nashville and a lot of it is because of the positive things I've read on this board.

[rdlr]

I don't live in Nashville, but near Dover, Delaware, which I love! Having said that, having visited many cities/states, and having met many others from various cities/states.....Nashville is the only other place I would ever want to live! We visit Nashville every year and the people are so warm and friendly.

[IngleDave]

I really enjoying this.

Dena, you were sure spot on with your point No. 1 about lines sometimes taking too long and people not really getting to the point.

I'm one of the worst at times. I try to see who's behind me before I make the cashier my lifelong friend and chat buddy, but I am guilty as charged. I do chit chat a bit more than maybe I should.

[alleycat]

Originally Posted by IngleDave

Dena, you were sure spot on with your point No. 1 about . . . people not really getting to the point.

I see you've met my mother.

A typical phone call with my mom:

Mom: "Did you hear about Mr. Whitt having surgery?"

Me: "Who's Mr. Whitt?"

Mom: "Oh, you remember, you went to school with his daughter Alice . . no, wait, that was your brother, she's three years older than him, or is it four? Anyway, his daughter goes to our church and they have the cutest new baby, they named her Alicia Sue, and she's just as plump as can be. She weighed seven-and-a-half pounds when she was born and had a full head of hair. She's blonde but I bet it will darken when she gets older. Her mother's hair is dark. While I was at the hospital I ran into Georgia Thompson, it's been years since I've seen her, you remember her, her sister is the woman that makes potato salad with mayonnaise, but we don't say anything since she's nice enough to bring it, her grandson is graduating from high school this year but I didn't get an invitation from him so I'm not sure whether I should buy a graduate gift for him or not. Georgia used to play the church organ at the Calvary Methodist Church, but I'm not sure whether she still does or not since she got arthritis --"

Me: "Who's Mr. Whitt?"

[Tunky]

hold on a minute...potato salad is SUPPOSED to have mayonnaise!

[alleycat]

Originally Posted by Tunky

hold on a minute...potato salad is SUPPOSED to have mayonnaise!

Miracle Whip is the only thing acceptable. If you don't agree, you can take it up with my mother's church group. Good luck.

;-)

[ariesjow]

Originally Posted by denawilliams

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.

This is unfortunate but so true!

My partner is always griping about how people don't signal here and just expect the lane to be open for them when they merge. I've never understood it myself.

[Tunky]

Originally Posted by alleycat

Miracle Whip is the only thing acceptable. If you don't agree, you can take it up with my mother's church group. Good luck.

;-)

Perfectly placed post! Another thing about being raised in the north....we call miracle whip "mayo". It wasn't until I moved to California that I learned there was a difference! I was raised on the good old "tangy zip" and that is how God intended potato salad to be made. Your mom's group is good to go!