Someone NOT from Florida moving to Tennessee (Memphis, Chattanooga: job market, school)

[AlaskaLB]

Hello - From what I can tell, I'm probably one of the few people on this board who it seems is NOT from Florida and planning to move to Tennessee. So where and why - well, let's see - I currently live in Juneau Alaska - about the only patch of blue in this predominately red state. The thought of moving to the Bible belt actually appeals to me, as these are shared values. I pay more in property taxes each month that lot of what I'm look at in TN. Don't get me wrong, Alaska is a great place to live but the cost of living is very high however the wages generally compensate for it. Southeast Alaska is a temperate rain forest - so we get over 90 inches of rain a year. We have two seasons, the snow/ice/cold rain season and not-so-cold rain season. On a sunny Southeast Alaska it is heaven on Earth - those days are VERY few and far between. They do give each man, woman and child money to live here each year (this year around $1,000) which isn't bad but the only way in or out of Juneau is by Ferry or plane.

I grew up in Texas and have lived in California, Maryland, Virginia and 3 different places in Alaska. Tennessee seems like a good place to get back to conservative living. If you are liberal and reading this, please don't bother responding telling me your views of the world or politics or that I should be more "open minded" - if I want that all I have to do is pick up the local paper. My mind has been "forced" open over the past 40 years and quite frankly I'm tired of it - it's not a genetic defect, it just a difference of opinion. I've "tolerated" liberal ideals and thinking about as long as I can. And YES, it's OK for me to disagree with you - it doesn't mean that I'm a bad person.

What I WOULD like is good information on the Chattanooga area, in particular Dunlap/Whitwell. We don't like crowds, traffic or seeing what our neighbor is watching on TV. Our daughter is grown so I don’t care about the school system. I still have about another 10 years or so before I can retire so would be looking for work in Chattanooga - I'm currently an analyst/programmer so would be interested in seeing what the prospects are for the area. I'm not interested in Nashville or Memphis for employment prospects.

[mrradio]

but came from New York, the center of liberal thinking. I had enough of that and enjoy Tennessee's largely conservative view of things. I have not encountered any anti-north/yankee feelings at all after three years here. However, I do not come on as some wiseguy New York type either. I respect all people unless they're a murderer, bank robber, etc.

It's a great state!

[macklen]

Did you know?..........there was not one Democrat on the ballot in the last Williamson County elections?....although we are almost all moderate (WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MIDDLE??!!).....Seems to be the place for you. Is there a reason you have ruled out Nashville?...........I love Chattanooga too, the city has just bloomed over the last 2 decades.......Nashville is still the best choice. I have lived in Memphis, Chattanooga and Nashville.

[AlaskaLB]

I don't know - we've got family in Maryland and Florida - seems like Chattanooga was a little closer - plus I'm trying to get as far away from big cities as I can. I know people from Chattanooga and they said that this area of the state is the best - so we're looking at the Sequatchie valley - photos seem really nice.

Yeah, I hope people don't take my comments the wrong way (about being open minded) - I just want to be allowed to have the same rights they do - to be able to have my own opinion and be left alone. I don't try to change their mind and I don't think I have to "convert" to their way of thinking.

Thanks for the info - if the job market in Chattanooga doesn't pan out I may look in the Nashville area.

[macklen]

Check out the Leiper's Fork area in Williamson County......It just does not get any more beautiful. It takes us about 40 minutes to get to downtown Nashville and about 20 minutes to the Cool Springs area. Just far enough out to slam the gate behind us. The best way to get familiar with any area is to subscribe to the local paper (The Tennessean). Be sure to ask for the Williamson County edition AND the Davidson County edition. These county specific sections give you a better handle on who lives where and why.

[AlaskaLB]

Thanks for the information. If my search takes me that way I will look into these areas. I'm still interested in the Chattanooga area and think I'm going to try there first.

Appreciate the info though.

[DaBranchMan]

Why don't you consider relocating to the Tri-Cities area in NE TN? It is a great area.

[AlaskaLB]

Seems like that's where everyone's relocating to (at least from what I've been reading on this board). I haven't ruled it out completely - just like the proximity to Atlanta airport.

[raggysgirl]

I am not from Florida and I am moving to Tenn. in August. I am moving from Boston to Tullahoma Tn which is Coffee County. I stayed there for a little over a week at one of my friends and it was very quiet and people were very nice not far from stores and restaraunts. The rents are very resonable. I looked at Nashville and to me it was like Boston didn't want that. Well good luck

raggysgirl