Can an agnostic liberal be happy in Tennessee? (Memphis, Knoxville: sales, buying a house)

[Hopes]

We are seriously considering a move from SW PA to TN. Hubby and I are both fairly centered in our ideals, he leans slightly right and I lean slightly left. But we both believe strongly in individual freedoms. We embrace the "as long as it doesn't interfere with my freedom, I don't care what you do" mentality.

I could never live where people are oppressed by the masses. I don't want neighbors telling me how to keep my property (like HOA) or police departments issuing citations for the grass being too high. Granted, I'm an avid gardener and keep a very nice yard, but the idea of anyone deciding what is asthetically pleasing just infuriates me. I would never judge or try to influence what my neighbors do.

Where I live now, nobody cares what anyone does. For example, our neighborhood recently had a drug dealer living in it. We talked among ourselves about the frequent traffic to his house. But the consensus was to look the other way unless his business interferred with our quality of life. It never did impact the community negatively and he moved on his own after a couple of years. Another neighbor renovated his house shortly after buying it. He ran out of money with half the siding torn off. That was two years ago. When a town official commented about him needing to fix the property, the entire neighborhood came to his defense, knowing he will eventually restore the property but not wanting him forced to do so prior to being able to afford it. On my street, there is an interracial couple and a lesbian couple. Nobody cares.

Lastly, will we make friends even though we don't go to church? We respect everyone's beliefs. Will others do the same for us? Religion isn't even a discussion we ever have with people.

Since SW PA and TN are both Appalachian regions, I'm hoping TN has a similar live-and-let-live mindset that we embrace in SW PA.

[hiknapster]

Sounds like you would be a great candidate for Tennessee which is a very "live and let live" state. I live in Knoxville and love it. I'm very moderate in my views and a northeast transplant as well. For even more live and let live attitudes you might want to stick to a small city - it seems more like a large town! - like Knoxville.

[An Einnseanair]

What hiknapster said. You can find like-minded individuals anywhere, and you can also find conform-or-leave groups anywhere. I recommend seeking out and talking with neighbors before buying a house, and definitely get a copy of and thoroughly read any restrictive covenants.

Ultimately, though, outside events can influence your mood, but happiness comes from the inside. Sounds like if you keep away from over-controlling neighbors, you've got a leg up on the happiness. Welcome to Tennessee!

[Reactionary]

Seems like you are content with where you live now; why are you considering a move?

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Reactionary

Seems like you are content with where you live now; why are you considering a move?

Taxes!

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

For even more live and let live attitudes you might want to stick to a small city - it seems more like a large town! - like Knoxville.

How far out from the cities can I go and still live among live and let lives?

I'm going to need at least a few acres of land. I need an outbuilding for my studio. Plus, I've always wanted a greenhouse.

I'm also toying with the idea of owning a couple of alpacas.

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...kXDWeG3bRjbcyA

Originally Posted by jwkilgore

I recommend seeking out and talking with neighbors before buying a house, and definitely get a copy of and thoroughly read any restrictive covenants.

I guess this means HOAs are prevelant there, huh? They're not common in my region.

I can avoid them by living outside of a subdivision, right?

Originally Posted by jwkilgore

Ultimately, though, outside events can influence your mood, but happiness comes from the inside. Sounds like if you keep away from over-controlling neighbors, you've got a leg up on the happiness. Welcome to Tennessee!

Thank you for the welcome! I'm very self fulfilled. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't considering a move to an overly oppressive area.



One more thing. I assume country music is all the rage there. I hate country music. I'm hoping I can find good southern rock or bluegrass performances.

[ariesjow]

I think you can manage just fine in TN if you're careful about choosing where you want to live and can deal with the occasional political madness that comes with living in a very red state. I'm an agnostic liberal as well and I'm quite happy here. Of course, I live in the most progressive city in the state, so I do feel somewhat isolated from the feeling of oppressiveness that may come from living in a state that's very one-sided politically. I think you'll have an easier time finding like-minded people in either Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville or Chattanooga as those are the largest metros. The suburban and exurban areas surrounding these cities are staunchly conservative so that may be something to consider if you're concerned about being around like-minded folks. FWIW, your neighborhood sounds very similar to my current one here in Nashville. Best of luck!

[BirdieBelle]

The entire state is not Appalachian. The eastern part is.

Country music is not all the rage here. That is a stereotype.

Tennessee is a state nearly 600 miles across with three distinct regions, two time zones and many different kinds of people and municipalities.

We have attracted a lot of attention because of our low property taxes and no personal income tax, but with the high sales tax and dependence on cars, you should really crunch your numbers if you like your current town.

The situations you described in your neighborhood as far as property aesthetics would NOT fly in the county where I live just south of Nashville. (The interracial stuff is an entirely different issue, and I have to restate here that because an area is typically conservative does not equal prejudiced.) But Williamson County/Franklin/Brentwood were formed with strict building codes, so if HOAs aren't your thing, know that going in.

There would be areas farther out that might meet your needs, but I agree with Hik that somewhere around Knoxville would be the best fit.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by ariesjow

The suburban and exurban areas surrounding these cities are staunchly conservative so that may be something to consider if you're concerned about being around like-minded folks.

I don't need to be surrounded by like-minded folks. I don't even need to only socialize with like-minded folks. I just need to be around tollerant people.

Originally Posted by Wmsn4Life

The entire state is not Appalachian. The eastern part is.

I'm very aware. Few people want associated with Appalachia. Most Pittsburghers get defensive about it too.

I personally think people should be proud of Appalachian culture and its live-and-let-live mentality.

Originally Posted by Wmsn4Life

Country music is not all the rage here. That is a stereotype.

I'm soooooooo glad to hear that!

Originally Posted by Wmsn4Life

We have attracted a lot of attention because of our low property taxes and no personal income tax, but with the high sales tax and dependence on cars, you should really crunch your numbers if you like your current town.

We're car dependant here too.

Your sales tax isn't too much higher then here. We pay 7% here. TN looks like 7% plus local taxes from 1% to 2.75%.

Our income tax isn't bad---3.07 state and 1% local. Since we don't purchase as much as we earn, that easily off-sets the 2.75% higher sales tax.

Food and clothing are exempt here. Since I can always do my clothes shopping out of state, it seems tax on groceries will be the only big change for us.

We'll still be way ahead because we pay a fortune in PROPERTY tax.

Originally Posted by Wmsn4Life

The situations you described in your neighborhood as far as property aesthetics would NOT fly in the county where I live just south of Nashville. (The interracial stuff is an entirely different issue, and I have to restate here that because an area is typically conservative does not equal prejudiced.) But Williamson County/Franklin/Brentwood were formed with strict building codes, so if HOAs aren't your thing, know that going in.

I can handle building codes. We keep our property well-maintained. I just used that as an example of how tollerant people are in my region.

Originally Posted by Wmsn4Life

There would be areas farther out that might meet your needs, but I agree with Hik that somewhere around Knoxville would be the best fit.

Thanks. We still have lots of research to do. We're planning to visit soon.

Maybe a tour of all the big cities and their surrounding areas will be in order to pick the right region.

Hubby and I both have careers that allow us to live anywhere. We'll be bringing income to TN, not taking jobs.

[hiknapster]

Stick to Knox County and you will be fine. There are plenty of rural areas in this county. I've seen some alpacas just off of I-75 and Raccoon Valley Road, in fact.

We are dead last in tax burden in the country, even with the sales tax. Google Tax Foundation and you will see what I mean. And by "we" I mean "Tennessee."