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Old 10-13-2008, 02:47 PM
 
Location: Dania Beach, FL
7 posts, read 25,326 times
Reputation: 13

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Right now we are in the hussle and bussle of South Florida. My wife has her own computer company and I work for a structural engineer. The only thing holding us here is my wifes parents who now live behind us. They did live in Miami and now that they are elderly we bought the house behind them so they could see our daughter grow up and be close in case of emergencies.

We will sell both houses and relocate. I like the Blairsville Georgia area but the property prices along with the state income tax is a big turn off. I would like a couple acres with woods but also a clear lot with home and garage. We also enjoy our garden railroad (G scale) and would like to rebuild it when we move. Any ideas along the East coast of TN or Southeast Corner for a nice quiet place to relocate to? To give you an idea what I am looking for, when growing up I lived in Horseheads, NY, and we really like Lake Wales Florida hometown feeling you get that everyone knows you and is friendly. Not like down in South Florida at all.

Mike
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Old 10-13-2008, 03:23 PM
 
13,354 posts, read 39,968,931 times
Reputation: 10790
Quote:
Originally Posted by Schwinncoll View Post
Right now we are in the hussle and bussle of South Florida. My wife has her own computer company and I work for a structural engineer. The only thing holding us here is my wifes parents who now live behind us. They did live in Miami and now that they are elderly we bought the house behind them so they could see our daughter grow up and be close in case of emergencies.

We will sell both houses and relocate. I like the Blairsville Georgia area but the property prices along with the state income tax is a big turn off. I would like a couple acres with woods but also a clear lot with home and garage. We also enjoy our garden railroad (G scale) and would like to rebuild it when we move. Any ideas along the East coast of TN or Southeast Corner for a nice quiet place to relocate to? To give you an idea what I am looking for, when growing up I lived in Horseheads, NY, and we really like Lake Wales Florida hometown feeling you get that everyone knows you and is friendly. Not like down in South Florida at all.

Mike
Check out Etowah. It's an old railroad town at the base of the Smoky Mountains. It's got an attractive downtown area along the old highway, a beautifully restored old railroad depot, and it's in the middle of some gorgeous countryside. It's an hour'ish northeast of Chattanooga not too far from where TN, NC and GA meet. It's at the border of the Cherokee National Forest and is near whitewater rafting. If you're looking for an pictoreque small town in SE TN with beautiful mountain views, I highly recommend Etowah.

Good luck!
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Old 10-13-2008, 05:42 PM
 
16,177 posts, read 32,501,220 times
Reputation: 20592
Etowah is as JMT described it but please realize that living there will mean a drive of at least an hour minimum to comprehensive, specialist healthcare. I've recently spoken to several people that underestimated the services that a larger town/city offer. One couple built their retirement dream home only to have a spouse diagnosed with cancer and they dread the daily round trips into the "big town" for treatments and frequent doctor visits. Selling their home is not an option as the little town doesn't have a lot of home buyers.

Here's to hoping you find your perfect location!
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Old 10-13-2008, 07:06 PM
 
13,354 posts, read 39,968,931 times
Reputation: 10790
Quote:
Originally Posted by SmokyMtnGal View Post
Etowah is as JMT described it but please realize that living there will mean a drive of at least an hour minimum to comprehensive, specialist healthcare. I've recently spoken to several people that underestimated the services that a larger town/city offer. One couple built their retirement dream home only to have a spouse diagnosed with cancer and they dread the daily round trips into the "big town" for treatments and frequent doctor visits. Selling their home is not an option as the little town doesn't have a lot of home buyers.

Here's to hoping you find your perfect location!
That's very true. It's definitely something to keep in mind while looking for a new home. It's easy to say "well I'm in good health, I don't need to worry about being near a comprehensive hospital" but in reality we really don't know what we're going to need in a few years or even in a few months.
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Old 10-14-2008, 02:38 PM
 
Location: South of DAYTON
1,253 posts, read 4,876,612 times
Reputation: 627
Thumbs up Rt # 411 valley

S: I do like JMT's pick on Etowah . Been to the 100 year old train station party and a good structure to photo / visit . There is a New hospital to the West in DAYTON if the town is your choice.
.. The whole Rt # 411 valley is RR line scenic & historic . Will try and add some links to view. ? HO scale & N-scale hobbiest myself.
Watauga Lake Magazine
more links on left hand column.! Enjoy the OVERHILL Region.
Tennessee Overhill Experience
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Old 10-15-2008, 02:11 PM
 
70 posts, read 299,040 times
Reputation: 60
Hey, Mike!

My wife and I are now empty nesters and we have lived in the Tennessee Valley for over 20 years - the last 11 years here in Riceville, which is only a few miles West of Etowah. This is McMinn County and the seat is in Athens, a small town of around 18,000 people. I would consider this to be one of the most picturesque areas in all of Tennessee, with some of the nicest people you'd ever meet, but then I guess there are others in this forum who feel equally well about their particular part of Tennessee.

I would suggest there may be several nearby areas in McMinn county which would be of interest to you and your family. Moderator cut: deleted

I too, am a model railroad fan and have had more than one HO-Scale layout. I even had plans to build an outdoor G-Scale layout but finally had to settle for an oval around the Christrmas Tree! Relative to another comment about Etowah and the old train station there - there is a good scenic railroad which operates out of Etowah. It runs up along the Hiwassee River into the Cherokee National Forest. The trip is over 3 hours long and covers some spectacular scenery! We have not yet taken this ride but it is high on our list of things to do!

I also have an ongoing career in computers and IT (for about 35 years) and my wife is a healthcare manager for several practices in the Chattanooga metro area.

As you begin to get your thoughts together and begin to make plans, I would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about the area.

JIM

Last edited by Beretta; 10-15-2008 at 03:43 PM.. Reason: not allowed per TOS
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Old 10-16-2008, 02:52 AM
 
Location: Signal Mountain, Tennessee
849 posts, read 2,955,568 times
Reputation: 364
Draw a 20 mile circle around Chattanooga and see where that lands you. Plenty of small towns around a large enough city, should be something there you are looking for...
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Old 10-16-2008, 05:22 AM
 
Location: Telford, TN
1,065 posts, read 3,869,640 times
Reputation: 362
If you don't mind looking a bit farter north, you might check out the Tri_Cities Area. We moved just outside of Johnson City, TN from Jacksonville, FL last year and just love it up here. It's very beautiful, the weather is good, and the area is still big enough to offer most anything you need.
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Old 10-16-2008, 03:48 PM
 
Location: Dania Beach, FL
7 posts, read 25,326 times
Reputation: 13
Default A little more about us

Especially for Botts and Split.

Railroading and model railroading: Its been in my blood since I was about 2-1/2 years old. Dad had a Lionel Collection in the basement in Horseheads, NY. I used to go down the stairs and plug in the power (when I put both fingers on the plug and put them together and got a shock I knew I was able to run trains). Ah yes the things we used to do as kids! Ok, so in 1976 he sells the collection and buys a new Chevy pick up with a snow plow to make money in the winter when he couldnt work. I then switched to HO scale (4th grade). I had 1 layout in the basement and then we moved to Flor-i-dah in 1980 (I was kidnapped against my will by my parents!) I had 2 layouts I built in our Florida room. One was on the floor and then I built a new one raised up about 3 feet on 3 4x8 pieces of plywood. Mom and dad decide to buy a condo (big mistake to me!) I am then downsized to a 2' x 12' switching layout. Looked good but never ran trains. I also dabbled in N scale and built a Christmas layout for my girlfriend at the time. When I got married and we bought a house and had our daughter I said the Christmas tree needs a train around it. We had the room so I looked at Lionel and MTH. I then looked at G scale. Bigger is better! We had trains before our daughter could walk. We had a friend stay with us from Seattle and he said, why not expand the track so we were off to the hobby shop with my wifes approval. Now its taking up 1/2 the living room. After we demolished and rebuilt the pool in the backyard (it sank 6 inches in 20 years) I designed the new pool and also the train layout behind the screen enclosure. The dirt from the old pool and demucking now was used in the new planter along with 1350 paver stones to make a retaining wall. Easter weekend was our first running of trains. Now people come to the sideyard (corner lot) and stop to see trains at Christmas. We also do the yard and house up big time for Christmas and it takes me alone about a week to put out all the lights and decorations.

Wife, she is a Miami Native and doesnt really like the cold weather. So I am hoping that Southeast TN is warm enough for her. A gas log fireplace (no mess to clean up) will work for her on nights that get cold. Also a hottub on a deck. (Pool here is heated as per her Doctor from car accidents) He got rear ended on Valentines Day a few years ago, and I wasnt the one that did it! Driver was in a rental car, no insurance, lived in NYC, and had a Florida drivers license. We ended up suing the rental car company and winning. Didnt get much but her car was repaired.

Daughter will be almost out of the house by the time we are ready to move. She is 9 yrd old now and is in Montisorri school.

I dont know if my parents will follow us up when we move or not. Hopefully in some ways they will and hopefully in some ways the wont. I co-own 2 rental properties down here with them. If we do move up there will have to be a couple of moving trailers. We will have to move up boxes of Schwinn parts along with 100 bicycles that are in our collection. Not to mention 3 Chevelles and Hurst Olds Indy Pace Car and a Shelby SP360. I figure it will take a year to move fully and get settled into a new home. I will hopefully have my dream car / bicycle garage to work on the toys. I hope that our Sheltie and Collie are still around to enjoy the cool weather up there also. We have a small zoo at our house now. 3 cats and 2 dogs, all from non kill rescue groups.

What type of wildlife is up there? Deer, bear?, fox, bobcats? What type of poisonous snakes? Just remembering the other questions I asked when on the Blairsville website.

Mike
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Old 10-17-2008, 10:10 AM
 
Location: South of DAYTON
1,253 posts, read 4,876,612 times
Reputation: 627
Default Car / truck shows

Schwinn: If you like car shows , you are even more in HEAVEN . Chevy big in mtn region . Soddy has biggest 4th of July event in area.
.DAD and all relatives worked for the D& H RR in upstate New YOrk. Some old newsletters. I was a Past Pres at the HYDE PARK RR station, behind Pres FDR museum estate along Hudson river, can pull up Web site. HO layout in attic.
.BOTTS will be going thru your area Sat am up to Louisville, fall Antique outboard & Aluminum boat show . We should get together for hobbies.
S.C. you planning for 10 years away move .?? We need you sooner. DEER in backyard roads is the largest volume of animals. Bears can be up top of Cumberland plateau, larger State park area. Couple of real Small , underfed Fox in my back woods, almost size of a Cat.
..

.......

Last edited by SPLIT; 10-17-2008 at 10:11 AM.. Reason: more info
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