How about Monterey? (Knoxville, Kingsport, Cookeville: real estate, hotels, homes)

[happyappy]

This is my first post to this forum. I’ve been doing a lot of reading of various threads and am astonished at the activity. Some of the threads are as long as many of the politically-oriented online forums in which I’ve participated.

No doubt somewhere are answers to my questions in the postings, but I ask you to please excuse my wanting to short-circuit the process of finding them.

My wife and I have narrowed our search to a couple of locales but at this point we’re most intrigued by Monterey, TN. We’re not retired (actually, we figure we’ll being working into our 90s!), and we’re both self-employed. My wife designed her own website and sells her own custom-made products. I’m in manufacturing of small-to-medium size machined parts. Our business is done by e-mail, phone, and fax and our customers are all over the US, although I do have a couple of major customers in Louisville, KY. Because of these factors, we don’t need to live in or even near an active industrial hub. As long as the US Postal Service, UPS, FedEx, and DHL can get to where we are, we’re all set.

We’ve lived most of our lives in Washington State. We’re already aware of the drastic change in weather, temperature, and humidity that we’re in for. But from what I’ve gathered, Monterey is about 1900 ft. elevation so maybe this will moderate climate factors somewhat.

We both have CCW licenses and I see from a couple of websites that report on CCW matters that Tennessee does not recognize Washington State’s license. Is it difficult to get a CCW license in any particular county?

We will appreciate any opinions either negative or positive about the area regarding social, economic, governmental, climate, intellectual, or other factors.

[JMT]

Monterey is a quirky little town. I love it there and can definitely see some advantages to living there.

It's small (3,000 or so) so real estate is a bargain. And you're right about the elevation bringing more temperate weather; Monterey's heyday was back in the days before air conditioning when trains would bring people from Nashville to Monterey in the summer months. Only one of the old hotels in Monterey is still standing.

(The railroad is currently refurbishing the tracks between Monterey and Cookeville and is including a paved bike/walking trail all the way down the mountain alongside the tracks.)

There are a lot of Hispanics in Monterey. I think I read somewhere that the elementary school is 1/3 Hispanic. Much of it is because there's a giant chicken processing plant there which has attracted Hispanic workers.

Monterey has attracted people of all shapes and sizes such as older retirees, a Buddhist camp, a writers' retreat, a Mennonite community, and the above-mentioned Hispanics.

And it's only 10 miles from Cookeville where you'll find a medium-sized university and the shopping, restaurant, and cultural amenities you'd expect to find in a fast-growing college town.

[happyappy]

JMT,

Thanks for your comments about Monterey.

Friends from the Oakdale area, who convinced us to contemplate moving to Tennessee, found some homes for us to consider. After examining a great many digital photos sent by e-mail and after almost as many discussions, we purchased a place outside of Monterey with some acreage. We’ll arrive sometime during the first 2 weeks of April.

I’ve already found businesses via Internet searches in Tennessee that can perform all the services and supply all the hard goods I normally use in my business. This may be as close to a seamless transition as I’ve ever made in relocation.

We’re anxious to get there to experience a different culture and study American history on a more or less daily basis. It seems as though one can get to a great many places of Americana in a relatively short drive time. And as my wife and I are both music freaks, I’m unable to imagine a better place to be than Tennessee.

Thanks again!

[JMT]

Originally Posted by happyappy

JMT,

Thanks for your comments about Monterey.

Friends from the Oakdale area, who convinced us to contemplate moving to Tennessee, found some homes for us to consider. After examining a great many digital photos sent by e-mail and after almost as many discussions, we purchased a place outside of Monterey with some acreage. We’ll arrive sometime during the first 2 weeks of April.

I’ve already found businesses via Internet searches in Tennessee that can perform all the services and supply all the hard goods I normally use in my business. This may be as close to a seamless transition as I’ve ever made in relocation.

We’re anxious to get there to experience a different culture and study American history on a more or less daily basis. It seems as though one can get to a great many places of Americana in a relatively short drive time. And as my wife and I are both music freaks, I’m unable to imagine a better place to be than Tennessee.

Thanks again!

My goodness, I sure wish you good luck with your move. You've never actually been to Monterey? I sure hope everything goes well for you; I feel somewhat responsible for your moving to Monterey. I don't know if I can deal with that kind of pressure! haha But seriously, please let us know how your move goes and how you enjoy living in little, quirky Monterey.

Best of luck to you.

[Ridgerunner]

Hello, Happyappy. Welcome to Tennessee. I am pleased to know that you are a history buff. I recommend "Touring the Middle Tennessee Backroads" by Robert Brandt and "Touring the East Tennessee Backroads" by Carolyn Sadowski. One covers the Cumberland Plateau region in great detail while the other deals largely with East Tennessee's Colonial history. If you ever venture out this way (I live near Kingsport) don't miss Jonesborough, Tennessee's oldest town. Greeneville, Rogersville and Elizabethton are only a few years younger. Monterey is in a great location near Tennessee Tech, and that entire region has year-round scenic beauty. Unfortunately, the 1,900-foot elevation does not alleviate the humidity all that much. The good news is that the humidity is bothersome only from around early June until late August. Good luck with your move.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by Ridgerunner

Hello, Happyappy. Welcome to Tennessee. I am pleased to know that you are a history buff. I recommend "Touring the Middle Tennessee Backroads" by Robert Brandt and "Touring the East Tennessee Backroads" by Carolyn Sadowski. One covers the Cumberland Plateau region in great detail while the other deals largely with East Tennessee's Colonial history. If you ever venture out this way (I live near Kingsport) don't miss Jonesborough, Tennessee's oldest town. Greeneville, Rogersville and Elizabethton are only a few years younger. Monterey is in a great location near Tennessee Tech, and that entire region has year-round scenic beauty. Unfortunately, the 1,900-foot elevation does not alleviate the humidity all that much. The good news is that the humidity is bothersome only from around early June until late August. Good luck with your move.

I'm glad you mentioned those books, they really are excellent ways of getting to know and appreciate the area.

As for Monterey's humidity, keep in mind that Monterey's elevation of 1900 feet is higher than Kingsport's of 1270 feet or Knoxville's of 900 feet, so the humidity levels in Monterey are generally a bit lower than most of the rest of the state. But like you said, in the dog days of summer it doesn't seem to matter much.

[happyappy]

Ridgerunner,

Thanks very much for the tip on the two books both of which I found through the Barnes & Noble website. Robert Brandt’s book is available new in paperback, Carolyn Sadowski’s was not; however, hers was available used at a B&N affiliate in a hardbound edition. I’m anxious for them to arrive.

I’m a history buff but moving to Tennessee will provide extensive opportunities that I had never considered in years past. In the same distance as driving from Ozette, WA to Clarkston, WA, respectively probably the westernmost and easternmost cities in the State, we can visit all or most of the following starting from our place in Monterey:

Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.

It is fascinating to me how drawing borders around a geographic area can create such differences in architecture, customs, language, ideologies, cuisine and many other social characteristics that can be discovered through study of the past and observing the present. I hope to find these differences and enjoy them as I’m a fan of “vive la difference.” We’re all Americans who through discussion and dissention—and more of same repeatedly—arrive at ways to make our lives better in general, but wouldn’t it be a shame to lose those wonderful differences that create those great debates and the wide variety of barbeque sauces.

[hiknapster]

Yes, we should celebrate our differences and sameness, too! I love a person that actually studies where they are moving to and is interested in the
culture. Fantastic!

Not once, NOT ONCE, did you ask where the Super Wal-Mart was located!

[happyappy]

Hiknapster,

You wrote: “Not once, NOT ONCE, did you ask where the Super Wal-Mart was located!”

Where stores are located doesn’t matter in my situation because I’m not permitted to shop. Shopping for me, when my wife used to allow me to do so, only takes about 15 minutes no matter for what. Apparently this is not only “not the right way,” but also “not fun.” So, I am relegated to tagging along to lift heavy stuff and unload the cart/s. I sit in the car listening to classic rock and blues music at high volume. People walk by and stare; my wife says it’s because the sound is so loud outside the car that it sounds about the same as the volume a “normal” person would play music INSIDE the car—my windows are always shut around here.

All shopping centers have parking lots so it matters not the location. With Tennessee’s hotter climate much of the year, my wife will have to park farther away because my windows will have to be open. This will give us more opportunity for exercise, me running to meet her to roll the cart and her walking farther to the car. See, it’s all good. Can’t wait.

[MomsTn]

My husband hates shopping.
We will go to the store and if he finds whatever it is that he came for, then, he's ready to go, and I've just begun.
However, if he can't make up his mind on something, he will stand and look at it for about 20 minutes.
I'll have to walk over, pick up the item, and say, "come on, let's go."

My brother on the other hand... will go shopping anywhere, anytime.
He will follow me from store to store... and it doesn't bother him if it's a Victorias Secret or any other store. He will carry my packages, and he will stay with me all day.
Doncha just love it?

Originally Posted by happyappy

Hiknapster,

You wrote: “Not once, NOT ONCE, did you ask where the Super Wal-Mart was located!”

Where stores are located doesn’t matter in my situation because I’m not permitted to shop. Shopping for me, when my wife used to allow me to do so, only takes about 15 minutes no matter for what. Apparently this is not only “not the right way,” but also “not fun.” So, I am relegated to tagging along to lift heavy stuff and unload the cart/s. I sit in the car listening to classic rock and blues music at high volume. People walk by and stare; my wife says it’s because the sound is so loud outside the car that it sounds about the same as the volume a “normal” person would play music INSIDE the car—my windows are always shut around here.

All shopping centers have parking lots so it matters not the location. With Tennessee’s hotter climate much of the year, my wife will have to park farther away because my windows will have to be open. This will give us more opportunity for exercise, me running to meet her to roll the cart and her walking farther to the car. See, it’s all good. Can’t wait.