Any FReepers have any advice for leaving the Bay Area and/or Tennessee as a new place to call home?
Anyone left California for another state?
Pros, clearly culture, cost and taxes, but anything you can advise would be helpful.
God Bless.
“Anyone left California for another state?”
In 2010 left SoCal for Knoxville, TN, area — just a few miles west of Knoxville. No regrets.
Culture: Well, it’s the Bible Belt “buckle”, so there’s that.
When we moved there one of the first questions people asked was, “Where do you go to church?” (Not “Do you go to church?” Church is the default mode.)
Politically, it’s conservative.
People are SO nice, and it’s sincere. My husband, who was raised in SoCal was skeptical at first because, “Nobody can be that nice unless they want something from you.” It took about six months, and he figured it out.
If you’re in a restaurant and a table isn’t saying grace, it’s odd.
We found interesting info at www.city-data.com before we moved.
Sales taxes might be higher than normal, but since it’s basically a user fee, I’m OK with that. We’re not in to expensive toys, and don’t like to shop, so it doesn’t impact us much.
We are thrilled with the medical professionals available to us. We worried, coming from CA, but have been more than happy with the dental, primary care, vision, etc., care we have. UT in Knoxville trains veterinarians, and there are many good ones.
No income tax. When we moved, there was a tax on investments. The percentage has decreased each year, and our tax guy says it should be gone in a year or two. (I think I’m remembering that correctly.)
We’re retired, so a younger family like yours might have issues we’re not faced with.
Anyhow, that our short story, FWIW.
Take a look at Huntsville, AL. Just about two hours south of Nashville. Very, very tech oriented. Home of the space program and rapidly growing. Still can get housing at $100/square. Big enough to have most things but not so big it takes hours to get there.
Your question would require a book to describe the differences in the two. One thing, though. In winter, when there's ice on the road, the first thing Nashvillians do is slam on the brakes.
Our children are still stuck there. The place has become a nightmare!
We went back last summer for a brief visit--couldn't wait to get out! My head ached the entire time!
The greatest danger of the California exodus is that those fleeing will afflict the rest of America with the insanity they're fleeing!
It is exactly like the movie classic The Invasion of the Body Snatchers!
The nightmare scenario is Kevin McCarthy standing on I-40 shouting warnings to all the passing cars as truckloads of body-snatcher eggs pass him heading east!
Following. Looking to get out of Commiefornia.