Please don't change Tennessee, love it the way it is. (relocating, vacation)

[mbmouse]

I had to delete a few posts as this conversation elevated into an argument.
I have a few questions to ask/address...more something to think about, ponder.
Hiknapster, you are in Knoxville, which is one of the fastest growing cites in TN in the past few years and is poised to grow at even a faster rate in the near future.You are seeing more retirees, that is your perspective and you came from a place that had a lot of retirees that did have a major impact on the voting of that state. That is your perspective and you have every right to worry about what you are seeing here in TN might become the same as what you left and why you left. That is a very valid worry of yours. However others may not see it that way.

Sniper, you maybe looking at/visited a totally different area of TN than hiknapster lives in and see something totally different, you have a right to express your feelings about that freely, just know others might want to express their feelings about that area, that is what these forums are for, to help others.

john t, you stated you feel TN is already turned into Fl, I have no idea what part of TN you are in? I bet you do see many similarities and you do feel that way.


The point is people that everyone sees things from there own eyes and walks in there own shoes. TN is also a HUGE state. From everything I have read we (state wide) are seeing an influx of people, but most of them are NOT from Fl, but states such as MN, AZ, NM, CA, NY, MD and some others. The other thing I see is that there is a total mix, single, married, blue collar workers, white collar workers, professionals and retirees. In FL (seeing as that state has been brought up the most in this thread) saw a HUGE influx in the late 80's of retirees only. I honestly do not see that here, then again, I am in the Tri-Cities. West TN may see something totally different. Mid TN, again, different.
So, can we PLEASE get along and have adult conversations with out the arguments?
It is ok to agree to disagree and move on. It is ok to believe other people have valid opinions and thoughts on an area, not just one is right.

[john t]

I'm in the Knoxville area and seeing the same thing as Hiknapster.

Yes mbmouse there was a huge influx of retirees in the late 80's. When RE boomed then they cashed out and came here, like they again have the past few years. It does add temporary construction jobs and lots of retail jobs, little else but to raise prices beyond many locals means.

I have no problem with anyone at all, enjoy comments, just stating my views as to what's going on. I'm not in the RE industry so I have nothing to gain or loose by posting here.

Best of luck

[CAtoGA]

The only thing that remains the same is change, and the more we try and fight it, the more miserable we make ourselves. Sure, we can try and slow it down, but unless we have those "numbers" on our side and they are all willing to stand up and be heard, it's like standing in front of a steam roller. You'll just get flattened.

I don't necessarily like all the changes that happen - heck, I'm in northern CA (wine country). We have signs printed in English, Hispanic, Chinese, etc. I grew up believing this was America. Do I have the power to stop anything? Not really. Dwell on it and I become very angry and upset. Instead, you have to try and find a way to make changes within yourself to adapt to the ever changing situations.

Best of luck to everyone.

[TnHilltopper]

I think if people look at these very forums and simply use the volume of postings for each given state, it will tell you a lot about where people are looking to move. The only states with more postings than Tennessee are North Carolina(the largest and biggest surprise), Texas, Florida and California. There is no doubt a migration of people to the state of Tennessee for whatever reasons they have.

Even if everyone who moved here did their very best to keep Tennessee more "old worldish" if you will, it still won't do any good. Just the sheer masses of people moving in are changing the face of the state. The beauty of Tennessee will be what destroys the beauty of Tennessee as people will just love it to death. It won't be over night, but there will be a day that many in Tennessee will be looking to move elsewhere yet again, looking for the utopia of cheap land, great jobs, top notch schools, and low taxes.

[goodbyehollywood]

It seems to me that the most heated feedback comes from those people who have lived it once-- and that was enough. So they speak with passion because they speak from experience.

FL, CA and AZ saw an influx of people desperate to grab their slice of the "good life." All that grabbing created unprecedented demand, which overtaxed the supply and caused prices to rise, jobs to scarcen, traffic to become horrific, density to become unbearable and quality of life to deteriorate-- for everyone, newcomers and locals alike. Just as too many cooks spoil the broth, too many seekers spoil the paradise.

Unfortunately, TN does not have the economic base to support this unexpected influx of people, and it cannot ramp up fast enough. RE prices have escalated, the increased traffic overtaxes roads that were not built to handle the gridlock and people who used to enjoy pastoral settings now have to drive by ugly tract homes on close-together lots. The overdevelopment is shameful and driven by greed, with no thought or concern for current residents... or future ones. Privacy, peace, quiet and scenic beauty are becoming harder and harder to come by, in areas that used to have them in abundance. Yet all this influx of people is not bringing an influx of companies, so the job market is tight, creating more stress for locals who now must compete with "outsiders" to maintain their livelihood, in a time of rising prices.

So, yes, TN is on a path that the state is ill-equipped to handle and the residents don't want. Do they have a choice? Not really. Are people still entitled to come? Sure. Will they come? Absolutely. Will it be the "mass destruction" of FL and CA all over again? People who have lived through it once see all the signs. And they're worried. Really, can you blame them? After all, once you move here, it will affect you, too. You probably won't embrace it, either; else you wouldn't have come.

The South is resistant to change. Always has been. People like things the way they are. They grow where they're planted. Outsiders are more mobile, more adaptable and expect to be welcomed with Southern hospitality, while pushing change and calling it progress. I, too, am something of a newcomer, in an area my family has called home for 200 years. TN is changing and, so far, the negatives are outweighing the positives. When the jobs, the arts, the cultural amenities and the infrastructure play "catch up"-- if they ever do-- then the change might be for the good. Right now, it's not.

So, you see, while everybody says they love things just the way they are, every person brings change with them. Add all that change together and it detracts from the quality of life-- for everybody. What's the answer? Where's the happy medium? I have no clue. If I did, I'd be one of those wealthy retirees and my golf game would surely be better.

[john t]

Originally Posted by goodbyehollywood

It seems to me that the most heated feedback comes from those people who have lived it once-- and that was enough. So they speak with passion because they speak from experience.

FL, CA and AZ saw an influx of people desperate to grab their slice of the "good life." All that grabbing created unprecedented demand, which overtaxed the supply and caused prices to rise, jobs to scarcen, traffic to become horrific, density to become unbearable and quality of life to deteriorate-- for everyone, newcomers and locals alike. Just as too many cooks spoil the broth, too many seekers spoil the paradise.

Unfortunately, TN does not have the economic base to support this unexpected influx of people, and it cannot ramp up fast enough. RE prices have escalated, the increased traffic overtaxes roads that were not built to handle the gridlock and people who used to enjoy pastoral settings now have to drive by ugly tract homes on close-together lots. The overdevelopment is shameful and driven by greed, with no thought or concern for current residents... or future ones. Privacy, peace, quiet and scenic beauty are becoming harder and harder to come by, in areas that used to have them in abundance. Yet all this influx of people is not bringing an influx of companies, so the job market is tight, creating more stress for locals who now must compete with "outsiders" to maintain their livelihood, in a time of rising prices.

So, yes, TN is on a path that the state is ill-equipped to handle and the residents don't want. Do they have a choice? Not really. Are people still entitled to come? Sure. Will they come? Absolutely. Will it be the "mass destruction" of FL and CA all over again? People who have lived through it once see all the signs. And they're worried. Really, can you blame them? After all, once you move here, it will affect you, too. You probably won't embrace it, either; else you wouldn't have come.

The South is resistant to change. Always has been. People like things the way they are. They grow where they're planted. Outsiders are more mobile, more adaptable and expect to be welcomed with Southern hospitality, while pushing change and calling it progress. I, too, am something of a newcomer, in an area my family has called home for 200 years. TN is changing and, so far, the negatives are outweighing the positives. When the jobs, the arts, the cultural amenities and the infrastructure play "catch up"-- if they ever do-- then the change might be for the good. Right now, it's not.

So, you see, while everybody says they love things just the way they are, every person brings change with them. Add all that change together and it detracts from the quality of life-- for everybody. What's the answer? Where's the happy medium? I have no clue. If I did, I'd be one of those wealthy retirees and my golf game would surely be better.

Bravo! Well said my friend! There may be an answer to it all afterall... Continual migration to greener pastures.

[anonymous]

Originally Posted by TnHilltopper

Just the sheer masses of people moving in are changing the face of the state. The beauty of Tennessee will be what destroys the beauty of Tennessee as people will just love it to death.

I don't have a dog in this hunt.. I'm from the Carolinas. I just thought this was a great point. It's a bit frustrating to me when I see prospective movers say, "We don't want to trash the coast/mountains/etc., we want to enjoy them!"

Human beings, all of us, create problems wherever we move. I don't think transplants are individually responsible for the problems they bring with them, but you must acknowledge that when large influxes of people move to "enjoy" the mountains (or the coast), it is the same thing as "trashing" it.

The more I see how the south is changing, the more I start to think that states like Vermont and Oregon have the right idea with laws for heavily-regulated growth and sprawl.

[TnHilltopper]

Originally Posted by anonymous

The more I see how the south is changing, the more I start to think that states like Vermont and Oregon have the right idea with laws for heavily-regulated growth and sprawl.

I completely agree and it is my hope that states like TN, NC, etc... will take into consideration the effects of large population migration into the state. I would be willing to bet that many who are moving here from Florida can relate to what happens when growth is the primary priority as most have seen it directly. It would be nice to see the state take action and regulate its growth with a little more wisdom than other states have used in the past.

[SuzieQFL]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

Of course the state wants retirees to move to Tennessee. The state of Florida encouraged it, too. Now they are in a mess, and have no idea what to do about it.

It doesn't make a wonderful set of circumstances for working people, too. Housing prices go up, they don't create jobs, they clog the roadways and hospitals. Sorry. I lived that for ten years, and didn't anticipate it happening in Tennessee.

I love retirees, deal with them everyday. An influx of them, though, creates an economic imbalance.

Am I native? No. What's your point?

The mess that Florida is in right now doesn't have anything to do with retirees. The retirees and tourists are what keep Florida going. Tourism is Florida's #1 "industry."

[john t]

Originally Posted by TnHilltopper

I completely agree and it is my hope that states like TN, NC, etc... will take into consideration the effects of large population migration into the state. I would be willing to bet that many who are moving here from Florida can relate to what happens when growth is the primary priority as most have seen it directly. It would be nice to see the state take action and regulate its growth with a little more wisdom than other states have used in the past.

You got it exactly TnHilltopper! But I don't think anyone is going to try to regulate it. There are too many developers and corporations involved. When you own the government, the government does what you want it too. I wouldn't be surprised if there will be some serious eminent domain issues in the near future.