A few comments for those seeking "liberal" hot-spots. (Knoxville: transplants, rental)

[Barbiego]

I moved to Tennessee from "up north" and I love it. I [u]do not[u] want to see things change. In fact, I have found it fun to learn all I can about my new state and appreciate the ways it is different. I am afraid that liberals and northerners and others who want things "their way" will come in and change things. I have a new friend (whom I like and appreciate for who she is) who embarrasses me in restaurants with her demanding ways (she's a New Yawker - and she loves it here). I can appreciate what you said Silverbox. I think you made some very valid comments. I do miss a few things from my former state...that's to be expected. But there are new things to enjoy here. And it can be fun to compare "here" and "there", but only if I do not expect things here to be like things there. I certainly don't want my new home to become like my old home....then I might as well go back!

I have met many wonderful people here! Many have different beliefs and lifestyles from mine. But I don't care. I enjoy all of them.

Good post, Silverbox - and thanks for saying what you said. Obviously those who are looking for Tennessee to be like where they are should stay put or find another place.

[hiknapster]

SmokyMtnGal:

Your post reminds me of something that I came across a couple of months ago.

We were "talking" on this forum about The Riverview Grille in Clinton. I went ahead an "googled" it and came upon a review in the Knoxville Sentinel. I was going to write about what I read, but I decided to let it go. At the time, it made my blood run cold. Every time a ugly Yankee pulls this sort of stuff it makes it worse for the Yankees that are happy here and love the people and our surroundings.

This is part of what it said:

The mood was flat-out spoiled, however, by an elderly but rather loud gentleman (from north of the Mason-Dixon line, he allowed) who was kind enough to share his foul-mouthed conversation with the rest of us diners.

Loud Man (to his dinner companion): "He said something about watching my language. So I says to him, 'I don't give a ____ what you think!' "

Companion: "Well, you know how people are down here."

That's right; people "down here" prefer to avoid caustic verbal shrapnel during dinnertime, slack-jawed rubes that we are.

It concluded thusly:

Personally, I wouldn't mind giving their ribs a try someday. Hopefully, my fellow patrons then will be of a more agreeable sort. But that's just me. You know how people are down here.

[Beretta]

Hiknapster - ha! That's priceless!

I normally don't like to "vent" publicly, but last night just took the cake and then sliver's post came up and there you have it. I have been second guessing today what my reaction would have been if the rude diners had been from around here, in the native sense, and I concluded that we still would not have been happy and thought that if they weren't happy here then they should go find their happy place. I pride myself on having an open door and a place at the table for anyone, so confrontation isn't my strong suit.

I was very proud of my son, southern gentleman that he was acting despite being born "up north" <grin>; not once did he give the people a side glance or make them feel uncomfortable. He, and my other son, behaved very well despite the circumstances. Had my children been smaller, and the bad language used around small fry, then I probably would have asked to have been moved to another table.

I really enjoyed living in Pittsburgh (ya know, made lemonade type thing) and Texas, and there are good and not so good people and things everywhere. I will say though that I think I did well living in other areas because I immersed myself in the local foods, customs, etc. and made the best of what the location had to offer. To this day I love pierogies and my mother has no idea what they are

Ok, I'm rambling. Time to shut up, but I love the review you posted! I do want to publicly say that I welcome any and all people from wherever to this area. All I ask is that my family is treated as we treat others (Golden Rule).

[dutchtrader14]

Hi,

I know this is my first post but you will probably see me pop up and down in these forums a few times. I have been reading for weeks but have yet to find a time to ask a question. I am considering moving to Tennessee after college maybe near the Nashville area , mainly because of the culture.

I confess to being a rock ribbed conservative, having strong Christian conviction, being a big fan of country music, and to always having the desire to possibly own a small plot of land to farm on when I am not working.

I was wondering if there where any books (other than history books) that I could read that would be a good reflection on the culture? I was also wondering how far rural Tennessee is outside of nashville or am I deceiving myself that there are no rural areas close to the major cities? Other than the aforementioned things is there anything else that Tennessee people really hate? Do you have any suggestions in the means of being accepted by the locals?

[alleycat]

Originally Posted by dutchtrader14

I was also wondering how far rural Tennessee is outside of nashville or am I deceiving myself that there are no rural areas close to the major cities?

You can still find rural areas within a 30 to 60 minute drive of Nashville if you know where to look. There are still real farms and "part-time" farms in some of the surrounding counties.

[GSD101]

I thought being liberal was being open minded to new people and ways of life and having empathy for others and trying to understand others. When did being liberal mean being rude and obnoxious. It's not about wanting to change things, but about understanding and accepting. I consider myself "liberal" and am surrounded by "conservative" people. I do not hide from them, I do not call them names, I live with them, I talk to them, I even like them. I wouldn't change anything about TN, but is it wrong to want to talk to someone with similar ideas?

[akm4]

Amen GSD101!! I don't speak up on this topic very often. Just seemed to fan the flames, but I appreciate your comment. Thank you.

-Blue girl happily living in a red county

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by jguillot

I am one of those people from outside of Tennessee who is interested in retiring in Tennessee. Yes, I do want to retire in a less populated area with a lower cost of living. Even though I've lived on the liberal "left" coast since 1977, I don't want to see Tennessee change in any way. I'm originally from the deep south (Louisiana) and have never considered myself to be a "Californian." I am a southern born and bred conservative who desperately wants to return to the south. I have no fear of Southern style religion, the bugs, the humidity,

I don't know about the humidity. I honestly haven't experienced any bad days yet, except for one and that was right before a thunderstorm. It doesn't seem to be all that different from Maryland, humidity-wise. I mean, it has been hot temperature-wise but I was expecting something else, something more wet. Something more like --- all of your split ends stand up and you can wring out your tee shirt, wet. Is this a normal season, so far, in everyone's opinion? I have been to Memphis in the summer and this doesn't feel like that. How come?

[hiknapster]

I have limited experience, but last year, the humidity was very bad for a few weeks, from the end of July to about mid-August.

However, I still think that compared to last year, it is less humid, so far.

At this point, I wish it was more humid. It just might signal the fact that it's going to rain. The water bill from having to water my container garden is killing me! However, I had my first cucumber from said garden last night.

[sliverbox]

I do not hide from them, I do not call them names, I live with them, I talk to them, I even like them. I wouldn't change anything about TN, but is it wrong to want to talk to someone with similar ideas?

Exactly. That's the way that people SHOULD be. To put it in another way, I think that there is somewhat of a growing separation between idealogical groups in this country. Perhaps I am confused because I grew up in a family with half of them being very old-fashioned, church going, hyper-patriotic people, and the other half being pretty liberal. I appreciate both sides and get along with both. But I don't appreciate either conservatives OR liberals that refuse to talk to each other. It is about tolerance, and with what I see these days, there is a growing intolerance.

Getting back to the core subject, I'll be free and open that it sort of makes me mad to see people moving in from other states that 'might' be more liberal ( even though I find it hard to believe FL could be classified as such) only to make predetermined speculation of what they fear and don't want to encounter- religious and conservative people. This is how you ruin an area because all you'll get are subdivisions and areas full of people who never talk to each other because everyone assumes that everyone around them is wrong.

Perhaps someday we'll learn to not take such notions to heart and learn to keep learning about each other.