relocating from Florida to Tennessee (Johnson City, Newport: sales, how much, neighborhood)

[mbmouse]

Originally Posted by joni

Hi all,

We thought the same thing that all of you awaiting your escape from Florida thought...
Quaint, cheap town. Beautiful mountains. Quiet. City rats moving to the country.
Though south Florida is getting to crowded and it was time for us to leave, we found the mountain people to be very unwelcoming and sometimes mean. If you want to live your life like it is still 1974, by all means... go to east Tennessee.
We only lasted six months.
We are now in Savannah, Georgia. It is perfect.

Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience.
Can I ask what town or area you were in?

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by joni

Hi all,

We thought the same thing that all of you awaiting your escape from Florida thought...
Quaint, cheap town. Beautiful mountains. Quiet. City rats moving to the country.
Though south Florida is getting to crowded and it was time for us to leave, we found the mountain people to be very unwelcoming and sometimes mean. If you want to live your life like it is still 1974, by all means... go to east Tennessee.
We only lasted six months.
We are now in Savannah, Georgia. It is perfect.

Good example of people who relocate based on what they are fleeing, and overcompensating for what they are fleeing (too crowded), rather than picking a new spot based on what they want out of a new place and one that would be a better fit. Don't blame the people who have lived there all of their lives for your bad decision.

It happens all of the time. People who are miserable because of overdevelopment, horrible traffic, high crime, etc., make a 180 degree wrong turn in a quest to find peace and then instead of blaming themselves for a really poor choice, whine about the people who live there and are happy there.

If you live in a big city, pick a smaller city that offers the good things you had before but on a smaller scale. If you live in suburbia pick a better or smaller suburban environment. And if you think you want to go "rural" figure out what you are going to do after the first week you are there.

[theqbaby]

Due to a company relocation, we are now in S.E. Georgia. Thanks for all your replies. We are still considering Tennessee in 2 years.

I somewhat agree with LauraC. We did go rural from the big city. We have found everybody (here in Georgia) to be wonderfully warm. We have not met one person that we didn't consider friendly and helpful. Although, she is correct, it is a lifestyle change. We LOVE being rural. We are finding that we have to reinvent our ways of thinking and having fun. I have a 17 y.o. son. He seems to be adjusting just fine, and he is home rather than running the street like he did in Fort Lauderdale. He has not complained once about being out in the woods. We all enjoy the different type of wildlife we have here. We are just 15 minutes from town and the beach.
So yes, if your moving from a big city, seriously consider all the options. We discussed going "rural" to a deep extent. Before we moved, I over exagerated (sp) the lifestyle (in my head) and to my son. And it was a good thing I did, because it would of been a complete culture shock not being prepared.
With that being said, we were prepared, and were all ready for the lifestyle CHANGE. It may be a good experience for us before we go into the mountains or to Tennessee.

Again, Thanks for all your replies. I will continue reading and considering.

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by mbmouse

Hi,
I am a bit confused.....I live in the Johnson City area,

Hey mbmouse, did you have a cow loose in the street the other day in Johnson City? It made the national news. They said it had escaped from some farm and was wandering around a busy intersection. I kept thinking, if there is a cow loose on the streets of Johnson City, mbmouse is there with a camera.

[barnmouse]

I moved to Crossville, TN last year. Because its right between Nashville and Knoxville, but at slight elevation at 2,000 feet which makes a less humid in the summer. The climate here is great, its beautiful and close to the big cities if you need it. Crossville has all amenities likes schools, hospitals, Lowes, Restaurants etc so I don't venture off the Plateau often. I put a website together with Crossville info. Have a look.

www.crossvilleliving.com

[joni]

mbmouse,
We were in Copperhill, Tn. We should have known it was the wrong area for us during our first breakfast when the waitress immediately pegged us as "florida real estate shoppers" and "kindly" instructed us to go back to Florida. In that particular area, many people are moving from Florida with their huge real estate profits and buying huge, relatively cheap cabins. This is wreaking havoc on their property taxes, which are rising rapidly.
What we also noticed is that those from the hotsy-totsy Florida towns are trying to make these quaint little mountain communities into hotsy-totsy mountain communities. The locals don't like it. As a result, they didn't like us.

[joni]

laurac,

Well said. We did have a knee jerk reaction to the crowding in South Florida and moved to a rural area too quickly.
Please see my response to mbmouse for a longer explanation about why the locals were so hostile.

[Jostyl]

Hi,
My wife and I also live in Pembroke Pines. We recently visited the Knoxville area, fell in love with the area and found the people to be warm and friendly. The scenery was spectacular, as was the weather. My suggestion would be to check out the Knoxville area (within 35 miles). Home prices are great, no traffic, close to all.... Great for raising a family...

Let me know if I can help... I just linked-up with a wonderful Realtor in the area... I am a Realtor (14 years) Florida and a former NY Real Estate Broker...

WE can't wait to move...

Jostyl

[mbmouse]

Originally Posted by LauraC

Hey mbmouse, did you have a cow loose in the street the other day in Johnson City? It made the national news. They said it had escaped from some farm and was wandering around a busy intersection. I kept thinking, if there is a cow loose on the streets of Johnson City, mbmouse is there with a camera.

LOL!!! How funny! Nope, didn't even hear of it. Are you sure it wasn't Johnson City TX? If not, I guess now one here saw it as a big deal, not that it happens often but there are cows around, A LOT of them. You can't go 10 miles in any direction without seeing at least 1 or 2. Nice thing is there are not SO many that you smell them all the time hahhaha
But if it does happen again and I'm around, I'll be sure to get a picture for you! Hey, I'll scan in the picture of the bear that ran through our sub division last year!

[Bones]

Originally Posted by barnmouse

I moved to Crossville, TN last year. Because its right between Nashville and Knoxville, but at slight elevation at 2,000 feet which makes a less humid in the summer. The climate here is great, its beautiful and close to the big cities if you need it. Crossville has all amenities likes schools, hospitals, Lowes, Restaurants etc so I don't venture off the Plateau often. I put a website together with Crossville info. Have a look.

www.crossvilleliving.com

I have to agree with Barnmouse, Crossville is a great plave to live. Moved here 3 months ago and it's just beautiful.