Doc Hudson wrote:I don't live in Tennessee, yet, but I certainly like it, especially Eastern Tennessee.
Pokynojoe, a member here, moved from western New York to Eastern Tennessee some years ago. I'm sure he'd be able to answer lots of questions for you.
IMO, Tennessee would be a good choice.
So this is where you are! Hello Doc! How are you and Marcia?
A few corrections. First off, I moved here from Mississippi, and before that, 6 years in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
I've had the good fortune over the last 28 years to live and work in all three grand divisions of the Volunteer State, and each of them has things to recommend them. Currently I live in East Tennesse, and have for the last 12 years.
1. Hunting.
If you can't find a place to hunt,well, you're just not looking. I would suggest joining a gun club they are inexpensive, the people are welcoming and eager for you to join, and you'll have plenty of places to hunt. I've been involved in the sport of Archery for some 40 years now and our archery club has a deer camp for two weeks in October and anyone, not just members, (although it only costs 100.00 a year to join), is welcome to come. There are plenty of deer. Among the places I hunt is Lincoln County (my wife was raised on a farm there) and as just an example, the antlerless deer bag limit is 3 per day. I can hunt deer from the 4th Saturday in September to January 15th. I'm not greedy, one or two is enough for me. Ok? 'nuff said about that. WMA's are abundant, and between "open" hunts and quota hunts, I've never had any problem getting more hunting days then I can take off from work. Turkeys are everywhere. I've even had them stroll through my back yard and I currently live in a subdivision. If Bear hunting is your thing, we've got'em, even in town sometimes! Only the counties that border the North Carolina state line are open for bear hunting though. Wild Hogs are prolific and the TWRA wants you to shoot as many of them, as often as you can. I agree, as far as deer and turkey, the further west you go, the better and bigger they are.
To the poster that just recently moved here, check out the John Sevier center on rifle range road in K-town. You'll meet plenty of friendly folks that are willing to help. The Volunteer Gun Club, would be a good place to join, and if per chance, you’re an archer, I guarantee you; you'll be more than welcome at my club, Smokey Mountain Archers, which is also at John Sevier Hunting education center. Also, check out the Oak Ridge Sportsmen Association. They are more exclusive, but you'll meet members there from all over the world. If you're looking for competitive shooting sports, that's the place. They send a team to Camp Perry every year, and have for years.
2. The people.
Ignorant? Clannish? Still fighting the Civil War? I think you're being too judgmental. In my neighborhood, most of my neighbors work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. I'm surrounded by PH.D's from all over the world. Is there ignorance here? Yes. There is also stifling poverty. Just like everywhere else in this country I lived throughout my life, and I've lived in quite a few places. The people here in the East do seem to be more reserved than western volunteers. Look, all I can tell you is that my work, over the last 26 years has taken me into every nook and cranny of this state, and I can't remember one time, when I didn't get a friendly smile or hello in return, from the people I've encountered. Maybe I'm just generally a "swell" guy, I don't know. It's been my experience that if you treat people with respect, it's returned, no matter where you live.
3.Race.
All I can tell you is that if you have a problem with a person’s race or ethnicity, move to Norway.
4.City mouse or Country mouse?
I love all four metropolitan areas. I've lived in three of them. My wife's a farm girl. What's a boy to do? I love living in the country, but I have had no qualms living in any of the cities here. They are all unique and have wonderful cultural, entertainment, museums, and such to offer. The State Museum in Nashville is one of the best I've visited (and not just because my wife has 12 of her murals on permanent exhibit there!). Nashville is called "The Athens of the South" there is so much more than just country music going on there.
As far as purchasing land that's inexpensive, that depends on your definition of inexpensive. Up here, you can purchase "vertical land" pretty cheap, if that's what you want. There is and has been a tremendous influx of Floridians and particularly Michiganders the last decade. They seem to have "bags" of money, comparatively speaking. Many of the "lost souls" that migrated north to work in the auto industry during the "Big One" are returning "home,” and they've got dough! Cheap land is an oxymoron, at least for a lowly civil servant like me. I'm trying to find a piece of affordable land in Lincoln County to retire to, NOT GONNA BE EASY. My brother-in-law is retiring from the Navy as a Captain as soon as he gets back from Pakistan. He found affordable land in Hancock County, you might try there. It's pretty isolated, Sneedville just has a Piggly Wiggly and a pizza joint, and it too, is pretty "vertical." They are retirement communities sprinkled all up and down the Cumberland Plateau area, and most of the people living in them are from up North, or somewhere other than "here." In conclusion, if you want to find some decent affordable (and this depends on your definition of affordable) land, that doesn't require a rope ladder to get in the front door of your house; HURRY!
4. Medical, Taxes, Schools Oh my!
Property taxes are cheap, no doubt about it. Most, if not all of your county property taxes go to schools. It doesn't seem to make much difference, our schools are rated 49th or 50th, may be one year I think we were 48th. People around here used to say "thank god for Arkansas and Mississippi." They're not saying that anymore. The drop out rate is staggering, over 50%. As has been stated, there is no State Income Tax, but they will nickel and dime you anyway they can. Sales tax is 9.5% and that is on EVERYTHING, but prescription drugs, I think. I have it on good authority it WILL be higher by the time you move here. Tax reform is coming; we're all just not sure what form it will take. Car registration is around 24 dollars a year, I think, most counties also have a "Wheel Tax" which varies anywhere from 20 to 50 or so dollars a year, maybe a little more, or less. Some of the highest car insurance premiums I've ever paid in all the states I've lived in, I paid here. Don't really know why, although I suspect it's because of the crappy drivers and the University. One more thing about driving here, apparently when you purchase a car in Tennessee, turn signals are optional equipment, that few, if any purchasers buy. Oh, and if by some chance it should snow, even if it's only hinting at snowing, stay HOME, DON'T DRIVE. There is something in the genetic make-up of native Tennesseans that requires them to do just the opposite during inclement weather. They are compelled to get out and drive as fast and as recklessly as possible, even though they are unable to grasp the concept of driving on snow covered roads. But it's ok, they can't help themselves, god love 'em.
My wife has problems with her vision from time to time. Our local ophthalmologist was unable to diagnose the problem, and told us there really were only two places to go down here, Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, or Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. He further said that if it was him, he'd go to Emory. That's where we go every year or so. Keep this in mind if you have medical problems and you want to live "out in the sticks." We have one of the highest infant mortality rates in the country, diabetes is rampant. And please adhere to the following advice: IF YOU, OR A LOVED ONE, SUFFERS FROM ALLERGIES, DON'T MOVE HERE, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!!! I can't stress this enough. Here, there are allergy clinics on every corner, my wife's allergist told us this is the WORST PLACE, I REPEAT, WORST PLACE in the entire country for allergy sufferers to live, especially in the Eastern Grand Division. My wife didn't seem to suffer to badly in Middle or West TN, though if that helps any. Oh and yea, my wife never had an allergy problem until we moved to Tennessee.
Just be prepared for the fact that if you suffer from a serious disease or ailment, you might find it prudent to seek out medical expertise somewhere else. Here's another example: My wife's partner is just 40 years old and was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer about a year ago. She was referred to a local Oncologist in Knoxville that was supposed to be "One of the best in the State." She started the prescribed treatment and wasn't improving. On a whim, she scheduled an evaluation at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. She flew out there and the course of treatment they prescribed was 180 degrees opposite of what the local guy started her on. She stayed out there for six months and is now cancer free. They told her she would have been dead for sure in six months had she continued on with the treatment prescribed locally. It’s not all gloom and doom. There are some very good internists here. The trick is to find one that knows his/her limitations, and is connected with the medical community on a regional, if not national basis. Not an easy thing to do, kind of like trying to find an honest lawyer.
5. Do you need some church’in up?
Then by golly, Tennessee is the place for you! There’s a church on every corner. There are faiths here of every persuasion, and a lot I’ve never even heard of, ‘til I moved here.
6. Employment.
Here’s my observation: Unless you have a pretty desirable skill, or are incredibly resourceful, you might want to look elsewhere. There’s a lot I can say about this, but not here. For now, I’ll just say that Tennessee is a “right to work” state. What that means is, you can be fired for a good reason, bad reason, or no reason at all.
7. Football.
I’ve added this because it’s something that you cannot escape if you live here, no matter how hard you try. If you are allergic to, or some how find the colors orange and white particularly obnoxious, don’t move here. The good thing about football here is that it takes place during prime hunting season, which means that on any given Saturday during the Fall, most guys are home watching the “Big Orange” and not in the woods. I’m not particularly interested in football, and if you are of like mind, keep in mind, that if you move here, you will have to listen to all manner of people talking about it, endlessly, for most of the year. On the other hand, if your blood runs orange, or if your one of those people that has split screen tv’s and watches three games at once, then you’ll be like a
pig in slop here. I have to say though, that I find the discipline and work ethic of Pat Summitt admirable, and I have been known, on occasion, to attend a Lady Vols basketball game.
8. Housing.
Here there’s some good news. All I can say is, I can’t imagine being able to live in as much house as I do, on my meager salary, anywhere in the country I’ve ever lived.
I have quite a few observations of my life here, but that’s enough for now. I would be glad to answer any and all questions any one might have, if I’m able. Keep in mind that I don’t spend a lot of time on a computer, in fact, I generally find them annoying. I imagine most of you have quit reading this long ago. If however, you’re still reading this, I would just like to say in conclusion, that Tennessee has been good to me.
Having said that, if I’m lucky enough to retire, and I could afford to live anywhere, I’d pick a “little spread” in the Texas Hill Country. For me, I can’t imagine a more delightful place to live out my biblical “three score and ten.” Maybe my wife would quit sneezing her head off out there too!
Good luck ya’ll
Joe