Can you tell us more about Tennessee??

[Beretta]

Mod Note: Merged previous thread from 2007 with one from today.

[hiknapster]

Hi Sandy!

I'm in my forties and have lived in Knoxville for four years. Previously, I lived in swFlorida for ten. I was born and raised in Mass. You and I have the exact same religious and political views.

I love it here! Knoxville is is the best place that I have ever lived.

People are much more conservative and religious, but it won't get in the way of your enjoyment of living here.

The weather is absolutely perfect. You'll think the winters are absolutely balmy!

I don't really know much about over-55 places in my area. People are more into mixing with each other, no matter the age, race, creed or political persuasion.

I know there are retirement communities in Fairfield Glade and at Tellico Village. The former is pretty far from most things, and will probably be a bit of a culture shock to you. I've dealt with many, many people from that community. Some like it. All of the northeasterners that I have talked to do not like it there. Most complain that it feels too isolated.

Once again, I don't know anything about Tellico Village.

Both communities are many miles from Knoxville.

You might want to take a drive through Knoxville when you visit. You may like it.

Also, a word of warning. When I'm discussing the "openness" of the people, I mean in Knoxville. If you get into the rural areas the mood can be very, very different. It's best to stick the places that have more population.

Originally Posted by sandyart

Hi Everyone,

My husband and I will be (hopefully) semi/retiring in several years. We are both fairly young- - I am in my nid 50's and my husband will be turning 60. We live in NJ an have lived in the NE all of our lives. We are very liberal in our social views, voted for Obama and are not Christian.

My husband is a non believer of any religion and I am Jewish. While we hate the winters, prop taxes and the general attitude of really rude NJ people, we are wondering if we could be happy in Tenn.

We are looking for cultural activies, nice people and a low cost of living so our retirment dollare can go far. Don't now how warm it is in the winter( we like seasons; however NJ is freezing. Have looked at Sarasota, Fla- -too expensive, snooty and hurricanes. In the process of looking at Raleigh and the RTP area (not exactly cheap) and Charlotte NC.

I work for a large pharmacetuical organization and one of my colleague move from NJ and he and his wife love it.

Was wondering if we are to visit (never been to the state) what areas do you think we would be happy in? We are looking for 55+ plus communities (e.g. Del Webb- - we have heard some complaints all over the country about their shoddy building???)

We are normal nice people who are looking for a nice lifestyle and don't want to be called yankees.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Sandy

[doc1]

Originally Posted by sandyart

Hi Everyone,

My husband and I will be (hopefully) semi/retiring in several years. We are both fairly young- - I am in my nid 50's and my husband will be turning 60. We live in NJ an have lived in the NE all of our lives. We are very liberal in our social views, voted for Obama and are not Christian.

My husband is a non believer of any religion and I am Jewish. While we hate the winters, prop taxes and the general attitude of really rude NJ people, we are wondering if we could be happy in Tenn.

We are looking for cultural activies, nice people and a low cost of living so our retirment dollare can go far. Don't now how warm it is in the winter( we like seasons; however NJ is freezing. Have looked at Sarasota, Fla- -too expensive, snooty and hurricanes. In the process of looking at Raleigh and the RTP area (not exactly cheap) and Charlotte NC.

I work for a large pharmacetuical organization and one of my colleague move from NJ and he and his wife love it.

Was wondering if we are to visit (never been to the state) what areas do you think we would be happy in? We are looking for 55+ plus communities (e.g. Del Webb- - we have heard some complaints all over the country about their shoddy building???)

We are normal nice people who are looking for a nice lifestyle and don't want to be called yankees.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Sandy

It seems that many from NY/MA and NJ have chosen NC as the place to go.

Many have given the transplants from the northeast a lot a credit for slowly
turning NC into a more progressive state.

NC actually went for Obama.

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by sandyart

I guess even us "blue staters" could live in Tenn. Since we are only going to have one place in retirement I think we will look at Tenn, however, we are still concerned about the winters. We want temps in the 50"s in winter. Living in the NE for so long, we hate the cold!

BTW we checked out Ahseville and I think we are the only nuts who did not like Aheville at all!! Also, it snows a bit there in the winter. We will check out Austin as in the previous post- - high prop taxes, even for a NJ couple; but if anyone else has ideas we are open to anything. We really thought Sarasota would be our mecca, but we are straying father away since getting on the FLA website.
Sandy

Well, I for one (from Long Island), hated Asheville because it's full of urban types from major northeastern cities, is non-traditional and has a lot of tourists/traffic for a "mountain town." If you are very liberal and are from a major northeastern city, Asheville would be a good fit. For the same reason, so would Austin.

You'd be fine with winters in Tennessee. They are really mild compared to where you are coming from. And as retirees, you really don't have to go out early in the morning like you did when you were working. If it snows overnight, you can see the grass by noon or earlier the next day. I think it's less sunny in the winter. More white/grey sky days. It's the summer season's humidity that will bother you in comparison to where you are coming from.

[doc1]

Originally Posted by LauraC

Well, I for one (from Long Island), hated Asheville because it's full of urban types from major northeastern cities, is non-traditional and has a lot of tourists/traffic for a "mountain town." If you are very liberal and are from a major northeastern city, Asheville would be a good fit. For the same reason, so would Austin. ......

My wife and I (from NJ) visited Asheville a few days ago.

We wouldn't live there on a bet.

Waaaay too hippy-dippy progressive.

We plan on escaping from NJ, probably to TN, not drag it with us and inflict it upon the natives of TN.

[leonard]

Originally Posted by doc1

It seems that many from NY/MA and NJ have chosen NC as the place to go.

Many have given the transplants from the northeast a lot a credit for slowly
turning NC into a more progressive state.

NC actually went for Obama.

Just think, if enough people from the N.E. move there, NC will be just like where they came from. Can't wait till the level of taxation is the same.

Having lived in NC in the past, the shift is one reason I won't go back.

Beautiful State, but getting crowded in and near the cities and expensive.

I picked TN because of the slower pace of life and chose to avoid the more "progressive" and "Liberal" areas. Love the people, the land and the weather. I think that East, Tn is the best area if someone wants to be a bit more relaxed and less of a busy body. If you like activism go West to Central TN or further (say, ....... California; that I just left).