Looking for paradise in tn! (Jackson, Cookeville: crime, credit, hotel)

[Botts]

Hi, MoMoJoJo!

First, I want to say that I grew up in SoCal (Oxnard) but, after joining the Navy, lived in the Bay Area as well as in San Diego. Basically, I was a "California Dreaming" Boy! But that's all in the past... We have long-since called Tennessee "home"!

I've lived several places since then but my wife and I (empty nesters) have now lived in the Tennessee Valley for almost 25 years. This is the Southeastern section of Tennessee mentioned elsewhere in the thread. The three stars in the Tennessee flag represent the three distinct regions of the state and it would be like comparing the Santa Monica coastline, the High Sierras, and the San Juaquin Valley. Very distinct and very different.

Our numero uno choice is the Tennessee Valley for a host of reasons. I'll just mention a couple:

1) We are just East of the Cumberland Plateau which significantly effects our weather. We just don't get the intensity that other places do in thie region. To the North, Cookeville and Crossville typically have a more sever Winter and are more prone to the stronger storms of the Summer. To the South, Atlanta and other areas in that direction have higher humidity. We think the Tennessee Valley is perfect!

2) We live in one of many generally rural small towns in the Tennessee Valley and are near to the mountains and the Tennessee River (which is dammed into humungus lakes); yet within a reasonable drive to four major metro areas (Chattanooga, Knoxville, Nashville, and Atlanta).

I believe the State of Tennessee is feeling the pressure of many folks moving here from other parts of the country - for many of the same reasons you mentioned. Within that context, there are some areas which for various reasons, draw a lot of attention. Probably first is the Cookeville/Crossville area, followed closely by the Tri-Cities ares in the very Northeast corner of the state. Nashville is also very popular, as is Knoxville and Chattanooga. These last two cities basically mark the upper and lower limits of the Tennessee Valley. The 100+ beautiful miles in-between are basically small town rural in nature with the Tennessee River meandering down through the valley. I could go on forever...

Some of the smaller cities you might consider include (from the Southwest, toward the Northeast) Cleveland, Athens, Dayton, Sweetwater, Loudon, Oak Ridge, and Lenoir City. They're all different, as Santa Maria is to Santa Barbara - and all have their individual quirks. Then there are a multitude of smaller towns and villages - too numerous to mention but just as appealing. We live in one of those little places where there isn't even a stop light! We do have a speed zone going through town, however!

Please let me know if I can be of any further help! Once you begin to narrow your area of interest, I would be happy to provide more detail.

Good luck!

[momojojo]

Originally Posted by Botts

Hi, MoMoJoJo!

First, I want to say that I grew up in SoCal (Oxnard) but, after joining the Navy, lived in the Bay Area as well as in San Diego. Basically, I was a "California Dreaming" Boy! But that's all in the past... We have long-since called Tennessee "home"!

I've lived several places since then but my wife and I (empty nesters) have now lived in the Tennessee Valley for almost 25 years. This is the Southeastern section of Tennessee mentioned elsewhere in the thread. The three stars in the Tennessee flag represent the three distinct regions of the state and it would be like comparing the Santa Monica coastline, the High Sierras, and the San Juaquin Valley. Very distinct and very different.

Our numero uno choice is the Tennessee Valley for a host of reasons. I'll just mention a couple:

1) We are just East of the Cumberland Plateau which significantly effects our weather. We just don't get the intensity that other places do in thie region. To the North, Cookeville and Crossville typically have a more sever Winter and are more prone to the stronger storms of the Summer. To the South, Atlanta and other areas in that direction have higher humidity. We think the Tennessee Valley is perfect!

2) We live in one of many generally rural small towns in the Tennessee Valley and are near to the mountains and the Tennessee River (which is dammed into humungus lakes); yet within a reasonable drive to four major metro areas (Chattanooga, Knoxville, Nashville, and Atlanta).

I believe the State of Tennessee is feeling the pressure of many folks moving here from other parts of the country - for many of the same reasons you mentioned. Within that context, there are some areas which for various reasons, draw a lot of attention. Probably first is the Cookeville/Crossville area, followed closely by the Tri-Cities ares in the very Northeast corner of the state. Nashville is also very popular, as is Knoxville and Chattanooga. These last two cities basically mark the upper and lower limits of the Tennessee Valley. The 100+ beautiful miles in-between are basically small town rural in nature with the Tennessee River meandering down through the valley. I could go on forever...

Some of the smaller cities you might consider include (from the Southwest, toward the Northeast) Cleveland, Athens, Dayton, Sweetwater, Loudon, Oak Ridge, and Lenoir City. They're all different, as Santa Maria is to Santa Barbara - and all have their individual quirks. Then there are a multitude of smaller towns and villages - too numerous to mention but just as appealing. We live in one of those little places where there isn't even a stop light! We do have a speed zone going through town, however!

Please let me know if I can be of any further help! Once you begin to narrow your area of interest, I would be happy to provide more detail.

Good luck!

Thanks for the response. It sounds wonderful. We'll be planning a trip for hopefully the end of summer. Tennessee Valley sounds like what we're looking for. If you think of anything, feel free to contact me. Thank you!

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by momojojo

We're 50 something, life long CA residents, looking for retirement property.
My husband likes hunting, fishing, just hanging out. I like outdoors, crafting, and my animals.

We would love to find:
5-100 acres
House & barn/shop (doesn't matter what condition)
Near a small town, but close enough to amenities (decent shopping, medical)
Doesn't get a lot of snow
Under $300,000

We are also looking at Hill Country in Tx, but I want to get away from drought conditions. Also, I'm done with super hot summers. I'd like to see 4 seasons.

Also looking for clean air, abundant water, taxes that aren't sky high.

We're conservative, God-fearing but not regular church-goers.

We don't want a dry county.

Besides the occasional tornado, what can we expect in Tennessee? Weird, scary bugs?

Based on our criteria above, what would be the best area for us?
Job market wouldn't be an issue. Thanks!

I don't know how it is in California but in Tennessee, the land area of the counties seems pretty small to me compared to other places I lived. So you could live in a county with one set of laws and be in some other county with different laws without doing much driving.

[momojojo]

Interesting. Lots of research to do. Taxes are due on 4/15. Ugh! We've got to get through that scary mess before we can get really serious. California is killing us. Hoepfully real estate will rebound and we can recoup our equity from our house. When that happens, we're out of here.

[Pocketplayer]

I just moved from Los Angeles...one tip...do not talk much about being from Calif or say, "In CA, we do..." Let people ask you. I was shocked at the treatment of dogs...I was accused of "judging"
People have real fantasy ideals about what it means to live in CA.

[momojojo]

Originally Posted by Pocketplayer

I just moved from Los Angeles...one tip...do not talk much about being from Calif or say, "In CA, we do..." Let people ask you. I was shocked at the treatment of dogs...I was accused of "judging"
People have real fantasy ideals about what it means to live in CA.

Yeah, I get the CA thing, but what about dogs? Are they mean to dogs? Will they mind if I dress mine in clothes and put wigs on them? (JK)

[Hawk J]

Howdy Momojojo & ALL Folks heer.................

Lustrums ago we fished/camped aroun the san Joaquin Valley, caught a lot of Striped Bass & catfish. Caught & released most. Mostly at the San Luis Res Forebay, Delta/Mendota & CA Aquaduct canals, 'The Delta', San Joaquin & Pajaro Rivers.

Largemouth black Bass at Lake Camanche southshore.............................

brings back good memories of fun i & my Loved Ones had.............

Have a Great Day.......................

[leonard]

Originally Posted by momojojo

Are they mean to dogs? Will they mind if I dress mine in clothes and put wigs on them? (JK)

Put a forage hat and a Southern Battle flag blanket on the dogs, and they will love ............................. your dogs.

[Psychop1]

Originally Posted by JMT

Cookeville's not THAT big. You have a small town with zero traffic but with a bigger hospital, more shopping, more restaurants, more libraries, more museums, more concerts, and closer to Nashville than Crossville. But I guess Crossville has more shuffleboard courts and more golf courses.

Crossville has the newer hospital, and is constantly growing and being updated. I actually know someone that was quitting Cookeville Regional, and was offered $40/hr to stay, but opted to work at Cumberland Medical Center for a little more than half that pay. That's how well they treat their employees.

Also, Crossville is closer to Knoxville and Chattanooga. We don't miss out, and actually have access to even more concerts being in close proximity to two major cities. Of course, like Cookeville, occasionally a nightclub here lures artists for more private concerts. I've seen Haystak, Two-Live Crew, and Afroman. Plus some of the local talent gets around the bars from time to time.

Crossville has a new Library being built as we speak. I'm not sure what the final budget was cut to, but it was originally budgeted for $10 million. Either way, it looks to be a very nice facility being built.

Cookeville doesn't have lakes or beaches, or even decent places to go hunting. Why are we talking about Cookeville???

[JMT]

Originally Posted by Psychop1

Crossville has the newer hospital, and is constantly growing and being updated. I actually know someone that was quitting Cookeville Regional, and was offered $40/hr to stay, but opted to work at Cumberland Medical Center for a little more than half that pay. That's how well they treat their employees.

Also, Crossville is closer to Knoxville and Chattanooga. We don't miss out, and actually have access to even more concerts being in close proximity to two major cities. Of course, like Cookeville, occasionally a nightclub here lures artists for more private concerts. I've seen Haystak, Two-Live Crew, and Afroman. Plus some of the local talent gets around the bars from time to time.

Crossville has a new Library being built as we speak. I'm not sure what the final budget was cut to, but it was originally budgeted for $10 million. Either way, it looks to be a very nice facility being built.

Cookeville doesn't have lakes or beaches, or even decent places to go hunting. Why are we talking about Cookeville???

Nope, Cookeville has the newer and larger hospital. Its new $80 million addition was just completed last month about the same time as the magnificent new nursing school at Tennessee Tech. Crossville does have a large hospital for a town its size, but it's still smaller than Cookeville's.

Cookeville is closer to big lakes than Crossville. It's closer to a major airport (Nashville), has more restaurants, shopping, recitals, concerts, art galleries, libraries, museums, and sporting events than Crossville. Cookeville's schools are better rated and better funded. Cookeville has two symphonies, Crossville has zero.

But Crossville does have more golf courses and shuffleboard than Cookeville, and higher unemployment rates.