Are Northerners Welcome? (Cookeville: fit in, real estate, homes)

[rossc]

Generally speaking, are there a lot of people in TN still bitter over the civil war. I'm dealing with three real estate agents. One is very nice. One won't return my calls or even pick up the phone and the other will also not return calls, but will at least answer the phone. I'm wondering if they don't want to deal with me because I'm from up north.

When I lived in NC, I saw some of this bitterness toward northerners, but never colse to the major cities or large towns. It was only way out in the country. Out there where you could classify it as the "deep south". Are there areas in TN that are like this? Should I try and stay close to a major city?

[Joe P]

I look at moving here the same way I looked at it when I moved from Ct to Florida. I don't think people generally dislike people from other areas as long as they *try* to fit in. If you move from one place to another and can't shut up about "back home" and criticize people that have lived in your new area all their lives because of how things are done, you won't fit in anywhere.

If you move to Tennessee it's obvious there are a lot of churches. Ridiculing people that have lived here a while know this and it's not worth pointing out.

Yes, everyone waves, strangers will nod when you pass them, say hello despite not knowing you and hold the door for you. It's not "quaint", "homey" or "hick" but a sign that manners are still taught and expected to be used.

We've heard all the Jeff Foxworthy jokes, keep 'em to yourself. If you're thinking "They have CD players in Tennessee?" then you probably are not in the right frame of mind to move here.

There's only one college football team. If you don't know who I mean you're doomed.

Yeah, people fish, hunt and hike. PETA members need not apply.

No, not all of us like country music and yes our radios get other genre's of music. Yes, some of us even know what "genre" means.

The roads in the mountains can be scary, we know. Yes, they can even be intimidating when you're not used to driving them so take it easy at first and go slow. Keep in mind though that we're used to them so don't be surprised if we can actually maintain 35 in a 35 zone. If we come up behing you and we're going faster than you are comfortable, don't try to speed up because we're just going to catch you on the next corner. There are turn offs, we request you use them.

Welcome to Tn.

Joe

[mrradio]

several years ago to the area around Cookeville. I have never felt so welcome in all my life. I've never heard of residual Civil War issues, hating the North, etc. The South has moved on. I'm sure there are people here and there who hold on to old grudges but there are people like that everywhere. We have a varied assortment of people in our neighborhood from many different backgrounds- a farmer, a builder, a retired Air Force pilot, a fellow who works in a bank, a teacher and her retired Army husband, etc. Many of us get together regularly for barbeques or to go out to dinner. We watch each others homes when the owner is away, feeding cats, watering plants, etc.

I feel much more at home here than I ever did in my fifty plus years in New York. I don't and and never have come on as some wise guy, smart aleck New Yorker. I respect all with whom I have in contact and have been treated fairly by everyone. Some ask me about living in NY but everyone here thinks of NY City rather than NY state-I lived on eastern Long Island-so I tell them New York is more than NY City.

Never have I felt unwelcome, etc. My sister in law is moving here soon. TN is a great place-not perfect, but no place, including NY, is. It's light years ahead of where I lived before, a lot less expensive, a beautiful place. Coming here was a great move.

[rossc]

I feel the same way about New England after moving back up here. I feel like I fit in much better in the south. Even though I grew up here, I just feel out of place. Southern living is much more my "style".

[Siesta Key]

Honestly I don't think people should not like Northerner's because during "Snow bird season" they bring alot of $$ to the area.

[rossc]

The civil war thing comes for when I lived in NC. When we ran into someone like that, we'd say, "don't worry about it, he's still fighting the civil war". I didn't mean that people were genuinely still going on about that.

I'm very adaptable, and if you met me you'd think I fit in better there than here. What brought up the question though is that fact that these real estate agents haven't even met me. All they know is that I'm from NH and want to buy property there. My only conclusions were that either they don't care for us Yankees or they aren't taking me seriously. I reckon the one that does will end up with the sale.

PS...What Joe P describes sounds exactly like rural NH. Huntin', fishin', 4-wheelin', Nascar, etc.

[Joe P]

Originally Posted by rossc

PS...What Joe P describes sounds exactly like rural NH. Huntin', fishin', 4-wheelin', Nascar, etc.

That's pretty much the way it is and I think it's just because people around here are more grounded than other areas. Heck, no one cares if you're driving a $70K BMW but catch an 18lb trout and they'll put your picture on the front page of the newspaper!

Joe

[SoCalstuckinheehawhell]

I experienced firsthand cultural mistrust but I would not say everyone from S.C. is that way. I will be leaving in a few months because of this experience. I am a management professional hired from the west coast six months ago for a established S.C. company opening a second location. Unfortunately, I was blindsighted given a decent severance check and asked to resign no explanation given other than "cultural" differences. This was in mid June I'm stuck here until I can find another position most likely out of the south. I will say this.. I got the impression that really smart woman intimidate some southern men. You have to gamble in life sometimes against your better judgement. I've learned don't leave your home state to take a new job and relocate unless you secure a employment contract. This learned the hard way.


Stuck In Florence

[Accountable]

Well, I don't know, but I think that "really smart woman (sic)" should be smart enough not to be "blindsighted" (sic), and any decent management professional should be able to write in a way that's coherant. So, maybe it had more to do with your inabilities in that regard, or maybe it's your attitude.

As for Rossc, did people tell you their bitterness was due to the civil war? I don't know anyone who was alive during that time, and few who know anything about it. In fact, I suspect most people under 30 don't even know it was about the north vs. the south.

I find that if you go anywhere with an attitude -however subtle it may be- of condescension or suspicion towards everyone there, esp. when you're attitude is regarding several million people (as there are that many in TN)...it's not surprising that people there won't like like you very much.

I think we all attract the people who are most like us.

[rossc]

Originally Posted by Accountable

As for Rossc, did people tell you their bitterness was due to the civil war? I don't know anyone who was alive during that time, and few who know anything about it. In fact, I suspect most people under 30 don't even know it was about the north vs. the south.

Read my previous posts. The civil war thing was a joke that someone came up with back when I lived in NC when someone had an attitude toward "yankees".

Originally Posted by Accountable

I find that if you go anywhere with an attitude -however subtle it may be- of condescension or suspicion towards everyone there, esp. when you're attitude is regarding several million people (as there are that many in TN)...it's not surprising that people there won't like like you very much.

I think we all attract the people who are most like us.

Again, read my posts. What gives you the idea that I've been running around TN with an attitude? What gives you the idea that I have been in any way condescending toward anyone...anywhere?