Living liberal in Tennessee (Knoxville, Chattanooga: 2010, home, neighborhoods)

[specficer]

Hi,

I am currently on the hunt for places I may want to work/live after I get out of college. I am getting a Master's degree in English and will be moving out of Michigan either the beginning of 2010 or the middle of 2010 depending on if I get a Grad Assistant position next year or not.

I am sick of Michigan and want out. I really hate the weather, and I am bored with the state. I am looking for someplace much warmer and that I can get out in nature and exercise on weekends or walk around the city during the day.

My mom is from Tennessee, and I have been there a few times. I like the environment (especially the Smoky Mountains). I like some of the people, but not all of the people. Though I do get along with just about everyone in public.

I guess my concern would be that I am a liberal atheist. I would like to be in an area where my views are accepted or cherished if possible.

I do not want to live out in the sticks. I want to be in a bohemian neighborhood of a city. I like to go to the movies, bookstores, window shop at malls, and ride my bike. I also need to be in an area with attractive single females as I am young (just about 26) and single.

I am also looking forward to proper biscuits and gravy. My grandmother (or mamaw--see, I am one of you ) hooked me on them when young, but for some reason we can only get good ones in the the U.P. here in Michigan.

So what are my best bets for a city in Tennessee?

[JMT]

Originally Posted by specficer

Hi,

I am currently on the hunt for places I may want to work/live after I get out of college. I am getting a Master's degree in English and will be moving out of Michigan either the beginning of 2010 or the middle of 2010 depending on if I get a Grad Assistant position next year or not.

I am sick of Michigan and want out. I really hate the weather, and I am bored with the state. I am looking for someplace much warmer and that I can get out in nature and exercise on weekends or walk around the city during the day.

My mom is from Tennessee, and I have been there a few times. I like the environment (especially the Smoky Mountains). I like some of the people, but not all of the people. Though I do get along with just about everyone in public.

I guess my concern would be that I am a liberal atheist. I would like to be in an area where my views are accepted or cherished if possible.

I do not want to live out in the sticks. I want to be in a bohemian neighborhood of a city. I like to go to the movies, bookstores, window shop at malls, and ride my bike. I also need to be in an area with attractive single females as I am young (just about 26) and single.

I am also looking forward to proper biscuits and gravy. My grandmother (or mamaw--see, I am one of you ) hooked me on them when young, but for some reason we can only get good ones in the the U.P. here in Michigan.

So what are my best bets for a city in Tennessee?

Unless you have an extra arm growing out of your chest, or unless you flaunt your differences, I really don't think you have much to worry about. But if you're really concerned, I suggest you stick with the bigger cities. Nashville is probably the most liberal city in the state, but it's not close to mountains--although the countryside around Nashville is gorgeous, and Nashville has thousands of acres of beautiful parks with hiking trails and lakes within the city limits.

Otherwise, there are neighborhoods in Knoxville and Chattanooga you might want to check out. If you want smaller towns, then stick with college towns like Cookeville or Johnson City.

[Beretta]

You might want to start with this thread. Liberal athiest in east TN? Hmmm, I will have to get back to you on that. I don't run in those circles so I am not sure.

[mbmouse]

I know you are looking for living in TN, but it sounds like you are describing Asheville NC to a T, including the large bohemian type and younger dating scene. They have a really cool drum circle that just kind of happens most Saturday nights in downtown. It is also right in the Smokies. Maybe it would be just the right place for you to be happy in?
Just a thought.

[jabogitlu]

I'm a liberal atheist in Johnson City. Unless you're involved with the university here, I doubt you'd find a lot of like minds, BUT if you stick to the city proper I doubt you'd find many people that would be hostile to you, for your beliefs, either.

As I was reading your post, all I could think of was ASHEVILLE! ASHEVILLE! But that's North Carolina. If you're not *too* stuck on living near the Smokey Mountains, l would also recommend you check out Greenville-Spartanburg SC, Charlotte NC, and Nashville (particularly the Vanderbilt neighborhoods or east Nashville). Charlotte and Nashville are quickly growing cities full of vibrant personality. Greenville is a bit smaller but has a grounded economy and a very different feel to it.

Bohemian can be a bit difficult to find in the South, and is usually regulated to neighborhoods instead of cities as a whole. Asheville NC is the exception.

[yank283]

You might want to check out East Nashville. We have a pretty cool scene developing over here. Here's a couple of links to get you started. You will need to search the forum for other posts to more fully get the pro's and cons of the "left side of the river".

http://www.city-data.com/forum/nashv...hborhoods.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/nashv...nashville.html

Here's the same doc in full screen youtube glory (also the link if you don't have quicktime).


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWb7f...e=channel_page

[piedmont]

As you probably know, E. TN is pretty conservative (and xtian). But there are certainly some Knoxville neighborhoods, including downtown, that might be of interest. I find that Chattanooga has a bit more of a "liberal" feel, but that is neither here nor there. Asheville is a nice fit, culturally, but work is hard to come by.

This might be a matter of finding your work/next program and then sorting out interesting neighborhoods for you.

[yank283]

Originally Posted by piedmont

As you probably know, E. TN is pretty conservative (and xtian). But there are certainly some Knoxville neighborhoods, including downtown, that might be of interest. I find that Chattanooga has a bit more of a "liberal" feel, but that is neither here nor there. Asheville is a nice fit, culturally, but work is hard to come by.

This might be a matter of finding your work/next program and then sorting out interesting neighborhoods for you.

I love Asheville, very beautiful. But like the poster said above, not a lot of jobs (and an over abundence of trust fund hippies). I have a friend that is the real deal - a horticulturist/beekeeper (he was this when it wasn't the "in" thing to be) and he is barely scraping by working for a commercial nursery right now. Plus housing and rents are so high their now, he can barely afford to live there. He's getting ready to move back to Chattanooga (which like the poster said also, you might want to check out). Chattanooga is pretty liberal (with UTC there), but the counties surrounding it are very conservative. The downtown area has been revitalized and there's lots of cool shops and restaraunts plus you would be around countless opportunities for outdoor activity. That being said, most people in TN would be friendly to you regardless of your political or religious views. It's a southern thing. But I definitly understand your desire to be around at least some like minded individuals, it drove me crazy living in mostly conservative suburbs a large chunk of my 20's. Looking back I missed out on so much. But now I know what I like and am glad where I'm at today. It's the city or the country for me.

[BlueCuzco]

Specficer, though I am a Christian my views of the faith are very different from many conservative, evangelical Southern Protestants in the area where I live, and in some cases would say that I am more like minded to the atheist than to this particular variety of Protestant (in the relationship between the interpretation of the first chapters of Genesis and scientific theories about origins in particular). I suppose I am also kind of liberal by US standards, though I try to put political issues in a more international context when thinking about them. I say this to say that you and I, to a certain extent, are coming in the same way.

Though it can be frustrating at times to have such a large population of people who, in our opinions, believe irrationally, people are still friendly and welcoming. You'll have to be prepared for a little opposition, but as an atheist that's all the better for you as you can teach more people about your faith. (If you are that variety of atheist and not just a nihilist or something.)

But let's get down to geography. I've been raised my whole life in Chattanooga and am happy with it. The riverfront is really, really nice, and there are many things always going on, though things slow down in winter. The parks and green way system is rapidly improving with major projects going on all the time, and there are loads of nature preserves all around town. I live in East Brainerd, home to Audubon Acres. It's one of the most important historic sites in the city area and is a pretty nice natural area; great for walks and just readjusting back to the more natural state of things. There are many similar parks all around town, especially to the west. (You'll see why if you pull up a map of the city in satellite). The Great Smoky Mountains are only two hours away, and loads of spectacular spots on the Cumberland Plateau and in Cherokee National Forest are even closer.

I just reread your post and see that you're looking for a somewhat bohemian atmosphere; a lot of -downtown- Chattanooga is very much of that sort. Keep in mind that speaking of the downtown and riverfront is often very different from speaking of the suburbs.

I have never been to Asheville, but from what I know of it, it is definitely worth looking into, as well, if North Carolina is an option.

[creeksitter]

Here's a pop quiz: what would your response be when someone invites you to their church?