Family-friendly cities in East TN? (neighborhood, living, cost of living)

[LilyLiz]

Originally Posted by AppalachianAngler

I grew up in Greeneville as well so I am biased in my ranking, but agreed with TNvolfan. The mountain views are unbeatable in Greeneville.

Pic of downtown Greeneville:

Ohhhhh....I like the pic of Greeneville Angler! Everyday on this forum I start looking at another city to ponder. Trying to find a nice little town to move to is soooo hard. I was just looking "googling" Roan Mountain....any comments on that compared to this Greeneville? snow in Greeneville?

[mbmouse]

The main difference between Greeneville and Roan Mountain is Roan is on a mountain, Greeneville (most of it) is in a valley. Weather is very different so is traveling. You have quite a few amenities and shops in Greeneville, not so on Roan Mountain. You have to drive to Elizabethton, down the mountain to get to a grocery store. No jobs to speak of on Roan Mountain.

[LilyLiz]

Originally Posted by mbmouse

The main difference between Greeneville and Roan Mountain is Roan is on a mountain, Greeneville (most of it) is in a valley. Weather is very different so is traveling. You have quite a few amenities and shops in Greeneville, not so on Roan Mountain. You have to drive to Elizabethton, down the mountain to get to a grocery store. No jobs to speak of on Roan Mountain.

sounds pretty secluded.....this searching for a nice place in east tn is really nuts! now I am reading about many high voltage lines all over east tn! ugh

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by mbmouse

In all these places one thing is the same, kids look you in the eye and say "yes ma'am, no sir" Police don't turn a blind eye to things that should be addressed. Local governments seem to be less corrupt than other places we have lived. (yea none are perfect, it is politics after all!) Community and volunteering is a BIG deal here and people care about their neighbors as a general rule. There are SO many organizations that have a focus on the schools and the kids there. If the government lacks funding for something the kids need, the communities get it. That means a lot to me because I know I am not the only influence on my children and I can't shelter them, so the saying "It takes a village to raise a child " kinda goes far around these parts.

That, MB, my friend, is the perfect summation of East Tennessee.

I didn't come here to keep up with the Joneses. I came here for my daughter, my beautiful little girl.

I looked around at what surrounded us in Florida and saw the rudeness, the drugs, the shallowness, the school system and decided it was no place to raise a child.

We didn't have a company pay for our relocation expenses. We didn't go on an expense-paid junket to some development that will be 45 minutes to the nearest hospital and my neighbors will be the same nuts I was escaping from, and shout, "Eureka!"

We took a chance and came with my husband's tools and not much more and lived in a tent. No jobs. But we didn't starve and we did it.

Is Tennesse perfect? No.

But we have experienced so many magical moments that words can never describe, especially when I look at Tennessee through the eye's of my daughter.

It was tough at first, but it was all worth it. I would never take any of it back. Never.

[MomsTn]

Originally Posted by mbmouse

In all these places one thing is the same, kids look you in the eye and say "yes ma'am, no sir" Police don't turn a blind eye to things that should be addressed. Local governments seem to be less corrupt than other places we have lived. (yea none are perfect, it is politics after all!) Community and volunteering is a BIG deal here and people care about their neighbors as a general rule. There are SO many organizations that have a focus on the schools and the kids there. If the government lacks funding for something the kids need, the communities get it. That means a lot to me because I know I am not the only influence on my children and I can't shelter them, so the saying "It takes a village to raise a child " kinda goes far around these parts.

Originally Posted by hiknapster

That, MB, my friend, is the perfect summation of East Tennessee.

I didn't come here to keep up with the Joneses. I came here for my daughter, my beautiful little girl.

I looked around at what surrounded us in Florida and saw the rudeness, the drugs, the shallowness, the school system and decided it was no place to raise a child.

We didn't have a company pay for our relocation expenses. We didn't go on an expense-paid junket to some development that will be 45 minutes to the nearest hospital and my neighbors will be the same nuts I was escaping from, and shout, "Eureka!"

Thanks to you both... your reasons are pretty much why we want to move back to Tennessee.
I want my little girl to have the same quality of life that I had as a little girl.

We won't have anyone helping pay for our way there either.
Yes, we will transfer, but, at our own expense.
We'll be coming down to visit my dad in April, but, we had to save up for the money to come. Staying with dad will cut down on some of the expense.

I can hardly wait to get out of this place, where it's too cold, too rude, and too expensive to live.

We are just an average lower- middle class family, wanting to have a better life for ourselves and our 7 year old.

[hiknapster]

Our little girl will be seven on March 14.

Welcome home!

[LilyLiz]

Can anyone tell me the differences between Sweetwater and Greeneville?

[TC500]

Johnson City also has the Hands On Childrens Museum....

[JMT]

Originally Posted by LilyLiz

Can anyone tell me the differences between Sweetwater and Greeneville?

Greeneville is bigger than Sweetwater, but Sweetwater is closer to a big city (Knoxville). They're both in beautiful settings, not too far from the mountains.

[LilyLiz]

Originally Posted by Boris

Greeneville is bigger than Sweetwater, but Sweetwater is closer to a big city (Knoxville). They're both in beautiful settings, not too far from the mountains.

Thanks Greeneville is closer to the mountains?