Moving from California to Knoxville, have questions (Memphis: middle-class, car insurance)

[gorideaquad]

of course we will take a 2 week trip there when my husbans work allows it. I would not move without "checking it out" firsthand. i really appreciate the input and keep it coming
The last question i have is directed at anyone working in the area as AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE TECHNICIANS for dealerships more specifically. What is your pay? how many hours do you flag in a payperiod? work environment? You can remain annonymous here and it will help me to get a feel for my husband as he is a chevy tech...any responses will be appreciated Have a super Day!

[lauragizzi]

Dont be too hard on her, california does suck! i am leaving and am looking in the knoxville area. have been there two times, and love it! liked maynardville too. almost made an offer on a piece of land and lost out.

i have been researching all areas as i havnt landed on one place, but the more i look, the better tennessee looks. and you cant beat knoxville area as it has less tornados, nice climate, lakes galore, beautiful landscape, low taxes, (all of tennessee) and close to the mountains. i just went to the smokies on my last visit and loved it!

we were planning a trip to WA/ID (spokane/couer d'alene) to check it out and i must say the posts are not favorable. lots of gloom, lots of cold, and not much work is what i hear.

i have almost set myself to check out another area and then something makes me change my mind. i dont even know if i want to go to WA now, after seeing the posts! how disappointing. tennessee was the first place i looked and my husband has some specific ideas about where we live, ie: not too far north unless its washington, or in TN, GA ..

so far, tennessee is far ahead. i love the people there, unbelieveably nice, open highways, and knoxville is as cute as a bugs ear!

[gorideaquad]

OOH FINALLY A JIUCY RESPONSE! lauragizzi thanks., Idaho coeur d'Alene is cooold a lot of the time and foggy etc, high priced and few jobs, looked into it few years back myself. Washington is rainy a lot and people get depressed cause of lack of light there's a clinical name for that but can't think of it.
I am a little afraid of being rejected as an outsider but hey, I had a kid at 17 so i know alllll about people rejecting others for their situation.
Is Maryville high class so to speak? in your opinion? It has the best schools, some people from Knox move there just beacause of it. I am making a trip out there soon but I am already in love with the hills, greenery, mountains and the fact I can buy a house WITH land...Where are you coming from if I may ask? The way I look at it is ANYTHING is better than where i reside now, would anyone from Bakersfield care to tell me otherwise, please interject. Thanks for responding, keep it comin'

[Eat]

Originally Posted by gorideaquad

OOH FINALLY A JIUCY RESPONSE! lauragizzi thanks., Idaho coeur d'Alene is cooold a lot of the time and foggy etc, high priced and few jobs, looked into it few years back myself. Washington is rainy a lot and people get depressed cause of lack of light there's a clinical name for that but can't think of it.

Laura said she was looking into Spokane. That part of Washington is not rainy. Anything east of the Cascades is pretty dry and bright.

I think of Spokane as somewhat comparable to Knoxville. It anchors an entire corner of the state. It was an imporatant rail center, and it is surrounded by agriculture. I have the impresssion the two are about the same size, but I haven't compared stats, so could be wrong about that.

[jason1]

gorideaquad,

I do not think you over played the problems in Bakersfield. I lived in California for over 20 years. Forced to move there with may parents when I was a teenager from the south. We have quite a bit of family there. My wife, kids and I moved out a few years back and have not regretted it since.

We visit every now and then, and when I was younger visited family in Bakersfield. We were there last year and were totally shocked at how bad it had gotten. We were on our way to Yosemite and stopped there for lunch. We pulled off the highway and my wife commented it looked like a war zone in some spots. It was dirty, and when I stopped for gas I was hit up by several people for money and one even threatened me. I talked to the gas clerk and she said that's the way it is now. When I was a kid Bakersfield was a Gas/oil, farming, cowboy town. Boy has it Changed. Like you we use to go there to ride motorcycles and have fun. Now I would never recommend it to any one.

Good luck and I commend you for getting out and bettering your family. Knoxville although I do not currently live there will be a much better place to raise a family.

P.S. My father-in-law just told me that Bakersfield has one of the worst gang problems in the country. He even said that different gangs have figured out that if they work together they can overcome law enforcement with ease.

[gorideaquad]

Jason1 thanks for not making me look totally nuts. The gang problem is terrible your father in law is correct that it almost seems as if law inforcement has zero control over it. They could have gotten it under control but now, too late. Yes people do Hit you up for money in parking lots, I wonder, is that allowed anywhere else. One store I really enjoyed shopping at I have stopped going there entirely for that reason. One time I was still getting my son out of the carseat, I was already getting approached for cash. From
my truck to the front door I was asked for money 5 times. Usually they say stuff like " I am out of gas and going here" or " I need bus fare". One guy I actually gave a couple bucks to (why??) walked away and muttered under his breath "that ain't enough to buy me a six pack".
In 2003 when we moved here developers were buying every parcel of land taking away any open areas to enjoy. Those developers even bought the land that Mesa Marin Raceway was sitting on and tore it down entirely for no reason. I mean we had nascar trucks series come to that track which meant money was spent there. Guess what? That track was not ever replaced with anything because the builders stopped short in their tracks when the market went bust 2 years ago. At least before we could enjoy it now it is just rubble.
Remember that track Jason1?
Bakersfield touted low house prices and everybody and their mother moved here pricing all the locals out. Now I think we have some of the highest foreclosure rates in the country.
Thanks for commending us on making a change for our kids, I just see no future for us here. The 10% budget cuts on my kids schools via the Governator does not sit well at all either. have a great day.

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[gorideaquad]

keep it coming on automotive technician jobs in the area. All you techs give me your pay, credentials and overall feelings about working as an auto tech in knoxville area. hard to find jobs? lots of them? hard to get a job at dealerships/ yes or no? whatever. Rant and rave if you want remember you are anonymous. I would like to get an idea of what the market is like for my husband

[jason1]

Unless you live there most people have no idea. Yes I do remember the track. That is to bad to hear. Many of the Cali inlands have been hit hard by the housing crisis and Bakersfield is no exception. I pray you guys can get out and fast. I truly love Tennessee. We have friends there and the scenery compared to Bakersfield is incredible.

Good Luck

[gorideaquad]

thanks again Jason1, yeah Bakersfield is barren land after all isn't it? talk later...

[oldmanbob]

Yes, several places meet your criteria, and you can purchase a very good home in that price range. As far as riding all weekend, you may have to trailer to some trails, but are plenty places to do that, all within a thirty to sixty minute drive. Several school sytems have programs for the gifted children, and the Knoxville schools sites, will tell you what shools have that.