Igor Blevin's, "A Native Californian in Knoxville" (Memphis: home, buying)

[Igor Blevin]

Originally Posted by movedintime

Hope you've gotten a little used to the humidity or will be able to.

I can recap my humidity discussion.

Many days in July and August are unpleasantly sweaty and clothing gets damp. I am somewhat more likely to take a 2nd shower, and much more likely to change my shirt mid-day during July and August in Knoxville than when I lived in Sacrament.

I don't like the few times my hands feel clammy. It is not frequent.

I don't find spending 2 hours outside 105-degree dry Sacramento heat to be intrinsically more pleasant or comfortable than damp 95-degere Knoxville heat. Both suck but not Miami or Phoenix level of suckle. Both suck around 2 months, not Miami 9-month duration.

Moden life is jumping from a home cooled by AC into a car cooled by AC into a grocery store cooled by AC. So it is not an issue. When I take walks in Knoxville it is early morning or late night to avoid humid, mid-day Knoxville suffering just like I did to avoid dry 108-degree Sacramento suffering.

The only difference is that bugs can be really bad at some times when I used to walk to avoid heat, but the bugs just surround you the entire walk. That is very annoying and infurioating.

Basically, I wouldn't wan't to be a roofer or landscaper in either city.

Disclaimer: I have always had reasonable heat tolerance - I dont wilt in heat like some people who simlpy can't take it. If I didn't use AC ever, it is likely I would adapt to the heat and it would bother me little. It becoming dependent on AC that makes the intervening heat so uncomfortable. I have become spoiled.


I REALLY hate one thing about Knoxville humnidity.

I find temps between 75 and 85 to be mildly stifling that were Paradise in California. In Sacramento, 75 to 85 degrees was a comfortable dream sweet-spot. Here in Knoxville, I still drive around with windows and AC on at 80-degrees, just because it feels so much worse than I was ever used to in Sacramento. Obviously it is not a brutal heat, buy my California coded brain just wants to feel that San Diego cool comfort at 80-degrees adn it is not there.

Conclusion.

Peak summer Knoxville heat in July and August is little worse for me than peak 105-degree Sacramento "dry" heat. I do take the occasional 2nd shower. I routinely change out of a lightly dampened shirt returning home, because I can. It is comfy to wear a dry shirt. My shirts are not usually so damp as to severely annoy and I don't HAVE to change them, but it feels better so why not?

I hate Knoxville temps between 75 and 85 degrees, because it is mildly uncomfortable, while my brain has been programmed for 60 years to believe this should be ideal comfort. It is a mental barrier to acceptance, not a matter of physical discomfort.

[TheShadow]

Originally Posted by Igor Blevin

For fun I checked out Tellico village. Crime free. You live in the safest place but you already knew that.

2.5 - violent crime
2.2 - property crime

Just all over Tellico village. Your biggest crimes are probably jaywalking and people who don't pick up their dog's droppings. Crime doesn't hop up until you are approaching Sweetwater.

According to my neighbors, the big crime problem here is the 9% increase in POA fees! "Highway robbery I tell you!" LOL

People love to complain about the speeders on 444, and the occasional theft of "garden art".

[Igor Blevin]

Cliffs Notes:

If Knoxville metro was walkable with wide streets lined with sidewalks, if downtown Knoxville was large and vibrant with a fledling skyline, and if it was only 90 minute to the coast, I would be in heaven. All else could be the same.

Not that a few more city attractions and "cultural city amenities" would hurt my feelings. It seems the Knoxville area has more appeal with more to do for outdoorsmen than city types.

Odds are good, all of that would encroach on my "hassle free livability" I like so much about Knoxville. You can't have everything.

[creeksitter]

Have you considered Columbia SC? Charlotte is close by for cultural activity. Alternative is Richmond where you can take a train to DC.

[Igor Blevin]

Originally Posted by creeksitter

Have you considered Columbia SC? Charlotte is close by for cultural activity. Alternative is Richmond where you can take a train to DC.

I am pretty happy in Knoxville. I can travel for culture, but thank you.

[creeksitter]

I don't know a lot about those cities other than brief drives through Columbia. Obviously they are both located closer to the ocean.

I'm not sure about their property values but I know Knoxville's have gone up in part because of the outdoor activities that aren't really a priority for you.

I'm wondering if they would provide a newer house in your budget with the amenities of sidewalks etc. Perhaps a gated community.

You say you are happy in Knoxville but then there's also a lot you don't like.

[Igor Blevin]

Originally Posted by creeksitter

I don't know a lot about those cities other than brief drives through Columbia. Obviously they are both located closer to the ocean.

I'm not sure about their property values but I know Knoxville's have gone up in part because of the outdoor activities that aren't really a priority for you.

I'm wondering if they would provide a newer house in your budget with the amenities of sidewalks etc. Perhaps a gated community.

You say you are happy in Knoxville but then there's also a lot you don't like.

The amenities I described would have been critical when I was young and healthy enough to utilize them frequently. I still desire them, but they have become a 2nd tier want rather than a critical need. I would never have lived in Knoxville at 30 years old.

Knoxville and benefits from being in Tennessee, meets most of my crucial needs as an aging retiree, with a lot of additional desireable traits from lush beautiful hills to summer thundershowers.

Meanwhile, Knoxville amenities continue to get better as the city grows. They are even beginning to add sidewalks these days. Life can only get better for me here.

[Igor Blevin]

A $98,000 income (up 57% from last year) is required to afford the $310,000 median priced Knoxville home. This time last year you needed $63,000 to buy a median priced home in Knoxville.

Home sales are down but prices are up year over year.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We69HcFC98A

[drinkthekoolaid]

I was envisioning this thread to be like the Babylon bee parody of Californians moving to Texas

[Igor Blevin]

TL;DR from my long humidity post.




Peak summer Knoxville heat in July and August is little worse for me than peak 105-degree Sacramento "dry" heat. I do take the occasional 2nd shower. I routinely change out of a lightly dampened shirt returning home, because I can. It is comfy to wear a dry shirt. My shirts are not usually so damp as to severely annoy and I don't HAVE to change them, but it feels better so why not?

I hate Knoxville summer temps between 75 and 85 degrees, because it is mildly uncomfortable, while my brain has been programmed for 60 years to believe this should be ideal comfort. It is more of a mental barrier to acceptance, than a matter of genuine physical discomfort.