Advice for Tennessee Newcomers... (Oak Ridge: tornado, insurance, work)

[TNNative]

Just thought I'd list a few things that would be helpful to new residents to Tennessee that have/are moving here from other parts of the country.
Jump in and add your Newcomers Advice (please be nice)....

1. Please don't stereotype. Tennesseans may speak with a southern accent, but MOST of us ARE educated.....and have all our teeth.

2. Country music "stars" are noticed here, but many go to the mall or out to eat just like everyone else. Locals usually leave them alone and go about our business. In past years, I've stood in line at a theater with one of the Oak Ridge Boys, walked beside Ricky Skaggs in the mall, sat beside Marty Stuart in a restaurant, stood behind the late Grandpa Jones in line at a grocery, and a few years back talked with Ronnie Brooks and Kix Brooks in the airport waiting area (back when you could still go to the gate with passengers). They ARE country music stars, but I think most of them just try to live quiet lives here. (Thankfully, the "paparrazi" is too busy following Pacman right now.)

3. Please don't panic if you see an approaching funeral procession on any Tennessee highway (except interstates) and EVERY car on the opposite side of the road pulls to the shoulder, or stops while the funeral procession passes. All cars behind the funeral procession follow a good distance behind. It's simply called respect.

4. If you are not a fan of football on some level, you might want to learn to be.

5. You might want to make sure you have a least something that's ORANGE in your wardrobe.

[Queen1972]

Good advice! Thanks for the info! I happen to like the accent! Didn't know about the funeral procession issue, but that is very respectful and would be nice if we did it here. Thanks!

[JMT]

Originally Posted by TNNative

Just thought I'd list a few things that would be helpful to new residents to Tennessee that have/are moving here from other parts of the country.
Jump in and add your Newcomers Advice (please be nice)....

1. Please don't stereotype. Tennesseans may speak with a southern accent, but MOST of us ARE educated.....and have all our teeth.

2. Country music "stars" are noticed here, but many go to the mall or out to eat just like everyone else. Locals usually leave them alone and go about our business. In past years, I've stood in line at a theater with one of the Oak Ridge Boys, walked beside Ricky Skaggs in the mall, sat beside Marty Stuart in a restaurant, stood behind the late Grandpa Jones in line at a grocery, and a few years back talked with Ronnie Brooks and Kix Brooks in the airport waiting area (back when you could still go to the gate with passengers). They ARE country music stars, but I think most of them just try to live quiet lives here. (Thankfully, the "paparrazi" is too busy following Pacman right now.)

3. Please don't panic if you see an approaching funeral procession on any Tennessee highway (except interstates) and EVERY car on the opposite side of the road pulls to the shoulder, or stops while the funeral procession passes. All cars behind the funeral procession follow a good distance behind. It's simply called respect.

4. If you are not a fan of football on some level, you might want to learn to be.

5. You might want to make sure you have a least something that's ORANGE in your wardrobe.

Excellent post.

Until moving out West, I had no idea that the funeral procession thing was Southern; I just assumed everyone pulled off to the side of the road for a funeral procession.

And I love the suggestions to learn football and to have something orange!

[dreamofmonterey]

regarding #3- I have no clue who any of those people are.

regarding # 5- my dogs are orange/ rust -lol. But my 59 yr old neighbor has a sense of humor- he was out getting his mail in his "orange T" pajamas last week.

[mbmouse]

Very Good post!
I would also like to add if that is ok.
6. If someone starts to talk to you in a grocery store line, they are not trying to distract you so they can pick pocket you, they are actually just striking up a conversation, no ulterior motive.
7.While driving, when you put on your indicator and merge in in front of someone, please give a thank you wave. Also if you pass someone (coming from the other direction) on a back road and they stick up one or two fingers as you pass each other, there is nothing wrong with your car, they are not pointing at you nor flipping you off, this is customary to wave at everyone you pass on a back road. Horns are only used for emergencies.


(Note, I am going to move this to the main TN forum as this pertains to all of TN not just Nashville. )

[jguillot]

Originally Posted by mbmouse

Very Good post!
I would also like to add if that is ok.
6. If someone starts to talk to you in a grocery store line, they are not trying to distract you so they can pick pocket you, they are actually just striking up a conversation, no ulterior motive.
7.While driving, when you put on your indicator and merge in in front of someone, please give a thank you wave. Also if you pass someone (coming from the other direction) on a back road and they stick up one or two fingers as you pass each other, there is nothing wrong with your car, they are not pointing at you nor flipping you off, this is customary to wave at everyone you pass on a back road. Horns are only used for emergencies.


(Note, I am going to move this to the main TN forum as this pertains to all of TN not just Nashville. )

Thank you TN Native and mbmouse for your great posts. This is why I want to return to the south. I've lived in California since 1976 and I see nothing like this in California. I was born in rural Lousiana and I remember seeing all of the things mentioned by TN Native and mbmouse. I can't wait to return to the south!

[TriDad]

regarding #5...last Saturday we were over by the UT campus surrounded by a sea of people in orange & white. Immediately we ducked into a campus store and emerged with the proper clothing so we could blend in with the crowd. The electricity in the air was contagious!

[TNNative]

Originally Posted by TNNative

Just thought I'd list a few things that would be helpful to new residents to Tennessee that have/are moving here from other parts of the country.
Jump in and add your Newcomers Advice (please be nice)....

1. Please don't stereotype. Tennesseans may speak with a southern accent, but MOST of us ARE educated.....and have all our teeth.

2. Country music "stars" are noticed here, but many go to the mall or out to eat just like everyone else. Locals usually leave them alone and go about our business. In past years, I've stood in line at a theater with one of the Oak Ridge Boys, walked beside Ricky Skaggs in the mall, sat beside Marty Stuart in a restaurant, stood behind the late Grandpa Jones in line at a grocery, and a few years back talked with Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks (Brooks and Dunn) in the airport waiting area (back when you could still go to the gate with passengers). They ARE country music stars, but I think most of them just try to live quiet lives here. (Thankfully, the "paparrazi" is too busy following Pacman right now.)

3. Please don't panic if you see an approaching funeral procession on any Tennessee highway (except interstates) and EVERY car on the opposite side of the road pulls to the shoulder, or stops while the funeral procession passes. All cars behind the funeral procession follow a good distance behind. It's simply called respect.

4. If you are not a fan of football on some level, you might want to learn to be.

5. You might want to make sure you have a least something that's ORANGE in your wardrobe.

Sorry, correction to my first post.....I realized I put Ronnie Brooks instead of Dunn. The quote above is corrected.

And I thought of another thing....IF you are moving to Tennessee, make a weather/emergency radio a priority to buy when you get here. Tornados are frequent in Tennessee.

And as an insurance agent, the question to many newcomers question is "what are TN state liability limit requirements in TN?" Answer: minimal is 25,000 per person BI/$50,000 per accident and $10,000 on property damage. I DO NOT recomend that anyone get the minimal limits because most cars in Tennessee are NOT junkers. Processes are in the works to get things changed but Tennessee law is mixed up on the requirements to show proof of insurance for tag registeration. You don't have to show proof of insurance to register your vehicle BUT if you get caught in an accident or by the police without insurance, you could be fined. Insurance is required to drive, but not to get a tag....?? I still can't understand that. Uninsured motorists is a BIG issue in Tennessee because tags are not taken away when the insurance is cancelled, so please make sure you ask for Uninsured coverage/underinsured coverage. Any questions you can feel free to PM me....

(And thanks to the mod for putting this in the correct forum.)

[TNNative]

Originally Posted by mbmouse

Very Good post!
I would also like to add if that is ok.
6. If someone starts to talk to you in a grocery store line, they are not trying to distract you so they can pick pocket you, they are actually just striking up a conversation, no ulterior motive.
7.While driving, when you put on your indicator and merge in in front of someone, please give a thank you wave. Also if you pass someone (coming from the other direction) on a back road and they stick up one or two fingers as you pass each other, there is nothing wrong with your car, they are not pointing at you nor flipping you off, this is customary to wave at everyone you pass on a back road. Horns are only used for emergencies.


(Note, I am going to move this to the main TN forum as this pertains to all of TN not just Nashville. )

Good post! I DO love the backroad waves.

[northcountrygirl]

Originally Posted by TNNative

Just thought I'd list a few things that would be helpful to new residents to Tennessee that have/are moving here from other parts of the country.
Jump in and add your Newcomers Advice (please be nice)....

1. Please don't stereotype. Tennesseans may speak with a southern accent, but MOST of us ARE educated.....and have all our teeth.

2. Country music "stars" are noticed here, but many go to the mall or out to eat just like everyone else. Locals usually leave them alone and go about our business. In past years, I've stood in line at a theater with one of the Oak Ridge Boys, walked beside Ricky Skaggs in the mall, sat beside Marty Stuart in a restaurant, stood behind the late Grandpa Jones in line at a grocery, and a few years back talked with Ronnie Brooks and Kix Brooks in the airport waiting area (back when you could still go to the gate with passengers). They ARE country music stars, but I think most of them just try to live quiet lives here. (Thankfully, the "paparrazi" is too busy following Pacman right now.)

3. Please don't panic if you see an approaching funeral procession on any Tennessee highway (except interstates) and EVERY car on the opposite side of the road pulls to the shoulder, or stops while the funeral procession passes. All cars behind the funeral procession follow a good distance behind. It's simply called respect.

4. If you are not a fan of football on some level, you might want to learn to be.

5. You might want to make sure you have a least something that's ORANGE in your wardrobe.

The funeral procession and pulling over is the same here in NH. As a matter of fact you can be arrested for not pulling over. You are expected to pull off the road for any emergency vechile as well. NH also does not require proof of insurance but if you have an accident without insurance it is automatically your fault. We are not a no fault state. NH and TN are similiar in a lot of ways but Tennesse is alot free'er (is that a word) We are too restricted here and the gov. pretty much dictates everything you do. We just got back from Tennessee and had no problems with the locals. I think it pretty much depends on what kind of person you are. You know, friendly, respectful etc. I found the waving thing refreshing. My face hurt from smiling because everybody was smiling at me. We were still smiling at people when we got back into Boston and they looked at us like we'd grown another head!