Best/Worst About TN (Memphis, Knoxville: home, buying, college)

[whowants2know]

What in your opinion, and why, are the best and worst things about living in TN?

I ask because I am considering TN as a place to retire. Some tell me to stay clear of Knoxville, Chattanooga, Nashville, Memphis....too big city, too crowded, too much crime, housing getting too expensive.

While others tell me that the smaller towns are too backwards.

Help! Need input from the fine folks of TN!

[akm4]

BEST- We've experienced a genuine undercurrent of kindness here. Call it Southern hospitality, goodwill, whatever it is, it feels like home.

WORST- How some people still mistake unaffectedness as being "backward". Just kidding, (mostly). The worst is being far from the ocean.

[mbmouse]

Well, for me here in North East TN:
Best-The people, the weather, road systems, traffic patterns, the beautiful mountain views I see anytime I drive anywhere. The cost of living, the people, lots to do with the family that doesn't break the bank. The topography, the people.....oh did I mention the great people???

Worst- umm.......hmm........I guess if I had to dig deep to find a "bad" I guess it would be the wages, but I also know if the wages in general went up so would the cost of living so it would still even out I think so not sure if that is even a bad?

[alleycat]

My "top three" for each would probably be:

Best
1) The natural beauty of the area; I love the rolling hills, mountains, hardwood forests, lakes, rivers and streams.

2) The "way" of the people of the area--it's hard to explain but that includes a certain friendliness; politeness; kindness; helping your neighbor; hard work; taking care of one's own; pride and defense of your family, your state, your country.

3) The four seasons. I don't really want to live in a place where it's sunny and warm every single day; I love it when spring arrives every year, but also when autumn arrives. Winter is moderate here, and summer can be nice too (see #1 below however).

Worse
1) The heat and humidity of mid-summer (those days when it's just too hot and muggy to even want to be outside). It something you get used to, and it's maybe not quite as bad as some people from out-of-state think . . . but I wouldn't mind if it were about 10 degrees cooler in the summer.

2) The income level. With a lower cost of living, housing, and certain other factors, someone can do as well or better living in Tennessee as other states; but having a lower wage level means that Tennessee is at a disadvantage when it comes to buying power or investments. A car costs just as much in Tennessee as it does in California; althought the salary for someone in Tennessee with the same job is lower, sometimes by a small margin, sometimes by a large margin.

3) The true overall educational level in certain parts of the state (by "true level" I mean not just the academic level of education that someone has obtained, but exposure to other things that help someone to live a better and fuller life). In many families in Tennessee they're still waiting for the first one in the family to graduate from college. This is a lingering effect of factors stemming all the way back to the Civil War, and beyond. Things have improved in most places since WWII, but there are pockets where poverty, lack of education, and lack of opportunity continues to be a part of daily life.

[Bear Creek]

Best
Country Living.
Worst
I grew up in the mountains of North Carolina, and I have lived in Georgia and now,Tennesse. I am a Southerner. To me the worst thing about Tennesse and the South [and maybe other parts of the country] is the "good ol' boy system of mismanagement." It's time for it to go.

[whowants2know]

Very good replies and I thank you!

[BarbG]

My 'best' agrees with most of the others, but my favorite 'best' is the beauty of the area. It is SO gorgeous here.

My 'worst' is one I haven't seen so far in the list. How do I put this and make it understandable? Let me give you a few of examples: we ordered a bed, scheduled a delivery date and time. Took off of work, called ahead to make sure they would be here, then no show/no call. Called them, and they were like, "oh well, didn't make it out (smile). How about tomorrow?" My neighbor has been trying to get an extra section of her driveway paved for two months now. The company makes appointments, and never shows. They (neighbors) laugh it off as east TN. A lady in my office has been trying to get an a/c company out to her home for two days now. For two days now, she has scheduled an appointment, her husband has taken off, and no show. And this is a huge organization she called.

So what do you call that? People around here call it a laid back attitude. I call it unprofessional. And before anyone says I'm being too harsh, I come from another part of the south known for hospitality too (not FL), but you couldn't get away with these kinds of bad business practices there and keep your business afloat.

I love east TN, and wouldn't want to live anywhere else, believe me. But, this is very prevalent here. Anyone interested in moving here would need to get adjusted to that so you don't end up pulling your hair out. LOL If you can't adjust to it (we have, but it took a little bit of frustration first ), then east TN (and much of the south) is not for you.

Happy hunting!

[Pearlbob]

I wouldn't lump Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga all into the same category. Memphis has a lot of crime, yes. But, it is the medical hub of the state, it has tons of culture and things to do. You could live near Memphis, and have both the country living but the convenience of a big city nearby. Same with Nashville, although no other cities compare to Memphis - Memphis is very urban, majority african american. Those other 3 cities are not. Chattanooga is very beautiful, and I think it would be a great place to retire. Any of those 4 cities, you could live nearby and have the best of both worlds.

[LauraC]

[quote=alleycat;1194372]

Worse
1) The heat and humidity of mid-summer (those days when it's just too hot and muggy to even want to be outside). It something you get used to, and it's maybe not quite as bad as some people from out-of-state think . . . but I wouldn't mind if it were about 10 degrees cooler in the summer.

QUOTE]

Have to second this emotion, not that I didn't expect it. I did notice, however, that I appear to be the only one I see outdoors who needs to be wrung out so I'm thinking I'll eventually get acclimated. I have never been a summer person, though. It's my least favorite season.

My 3 Best and Worst:

Best:

1. Things to do (always something going on, never bored)
2. Natural beauty
3. People

Worst

1. Summer humidity
2. See 1
3. See 1 and 2

[alleycat]

Originally Posted by BarbG

My 'worst' is one I haven't seen so far in the list. How do I put this and make it understandable? Let me give you a few of examples: we ordered a bed, scheduled a delivery date and time. Took off of work, called ahead to make sure they would be here, then no show/no call. Called them, and they were like, "oh well, didn't make it out (smile). How about tomorrow?" My neighbor has been trying to get an extra section of her driveway paved for two months now. The company makes appointments, and never shows. They (neighbors) laugh it off as east TN. A lady in my office has been trying to get an a/c company out to her home for two days now. For two days now, she has scheduled an appointment, her husband has taken off, and no show. And this is a huge organization she called.

So what do you call that? People around here call it a laid back attitude. I call it unprofessional. And before anyone says I'm being too harsh, I come from another part of the south known for hospitality too (not FL), but you couldn't get away with these kinds of bad business practices there and keep your business afloat.

In those examples, I can understand your frustration. Hopefully, they're isolated incidents and not part of the "general culture". Certain business such as cable installers, remodelers, and certain home repair companies are notorious all over the country for that type of thing ("We'll be there . . ." and then they don't show up). It's just bad business, and extremely frustrating when it happens. I am a little surprised that a furniture company would take that attitude.

I don't see this as an overall attitude as the way to do business in Middle Tennessee; I hope it's not the way business is generally done in East Tennessee.