Any Tennessee Opponauts on Today?

"MountainCommand" (MountainCommand)
04/20/2014 at 14:54 • Filed to: None

I sincerely ask for any input from all who live there or who have lived there. There is a very very very good chance I will be moving down to the Memphis area... I'm not asking 'should I move there' rather, enlighten me on some of the pros and cons of this area if I may ask. I don't really know anything and I could be a resident in that lovely state within the next 2-5 months.

This will be the biggest move I have ever done in my life. The second biggest was going from VA to MI, then MI to NJ.

I am kind of excited, as my dream state to live in is Alabama, and now there is a very good shot of living close to that! But I am trying to get it through my head all the things I take for granted up here in the NYNJPA tristate. I have no doubt in my mind I can adapt to life down there, but I'm just curious what are the things I may not know about.

Also, ive heard Memphis is a pretty high on the crime. Now I have two reactions to that. One being surprised, and two being I live within an hour or so of Newark, Patterson, Camden, Jersey city, and NYC... So putting that into perspective, Memphis already seems safer.

My only other concern is extreme weather. I suppose its reasonable to be afraid of tornadoes. Living in the NE I never feel we have extreme weather (except for that time my car was flooded and totaled thanks to sandy). But hail worries me, as I would go crazy if my car were to take on severe hail damage.

Besides those, what about weird car laws? Anything odd there?

I may be posting this again later in the week in hopes to hear from other Tennessee residents, but I figure I need to ask now considering how quickly this could be happening.

Thanks in advance!

DISCUSSION (42)

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > MountainCommand
04/20/2014 at 15:03

As an Alabama native, don't get me wrong I love my home state, but why is it your dream state?

MountainCommand > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/20/2014 at 15:12

I guess I should clarify on that, its what i "think" my dream state is. Ive never been there but it has a coast, it has woods, its very hot and humid (which i prefer), and i cant stand this snow stuff much longer. Plus i dont feel i fit in up here in jersey, i dont like the city areas very much, and people need to slow down and chillax. No one up here wants to stop and smell the roses, for lack of a better cliche. There are many more reasons beyond that but im not gonna go crazy.

In short, I dont like the Northeast area if Im honest. My experiences in the midwest and the southern states ive been to all felt much better to me.

JEM > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/20/2014 at 15:15

Yeah no offense I've been through Alabama a bunch and it's got some great stuff between nature, food, and my #1 favorite museum at Barber Motorsports park (I honestly did spend more time in there than I spent in the Louvre) but it does seem like a weird "dream state" candidate.

Oh and as for advice for moving to Memphis: Stay on the east side of the Mississippi. Think of it like the reverse of Philly.

That said, Tennessee is awesome and someplace I would love to live someday. Granted, I want something in the east half but the whole state is pretty rad.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > MountainCommand
04/20/2014 at 15:20

Don't live in Shelby County, commute instead. That way, you won't have to go through emissions testing. :)

Other than that, stay out of downtown and Bartlett, and you'll be fine. That said, if you can, Nashville is much, much better than Memphis. Also, that Jag has Nashville plates on it. (Nashville = Metro Davidson County)

As for Alabama, I'm fond of it, myself. I went to the University of North Alabama in Florence, and it was a good time. I'm looking at getting back, to be honest.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > MountainCommand
04/20/2014 at 15:36

I understand that, it also has mountains to. I would love to move back to Alabama, I hate Florida.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > JEM
04/20/2014 at 15:39

I guess that is what he likes about it. We have a little bit of everything. We have mountains, forests, the coast, rivers, streams, museums, a couple race tracks, good food, and several other things.

Conan > MountainCommand
04/20/2014 at 16:28

I'm not from Tennessee but I spent a fair bit of time doing sales there. I really appreciated the mountain roads and the occasionally lax speed limits. The people in Knoxville were really nice to me.

Aaron Brown > MountainCommand
04/20/2014 at 16:39

If you do move, be sure to do one last big NYNJPA Oppo meet!

Slave2anMG > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
04/20/2014 at 17:44

Lot of truth in this, at least based on my many visits there. There's a LOT of Memphis that has seen seriously better days. There's a lot of it with enormous amounts of potential. But except for the tourist areas around Beale St....it's better on the west side of town. Much better. If you have to drive into the city during rush hour I-40 is a mess. But there's great ribs to be had and if you're a train geek a LOT of railroading to watch :)

MountainCommand > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
04/20/2014 at 18:50

It has to be memphis. My dad is working out of the airport. Weve got about an hour radius from the airport to look for something, so it doesnt have to be exactly IN memphis. Even Mississippi is on the table.

We only have emissions testing here in jersey so it wouldnt be a loss even if i ended up there. But at least there isnt outside of that county which is a plus. I probably wouldnt be in the city of memphis very much unless i found a job or if a college is there.

I may consider colleges in alabama whenever i figure stuff out down there, if it happens, which its still likely to happen. Im getting my associates degree next month, and id rather pay tennesse tuition over nj tuition.

Thanks for the input, i do appreciate it!

MountainCommand > Slave2anMG
04/20/2014 at 18:53

How would memphis compare to one of the cities in the NY tristate area? In terms of quality i guess. Since its hard to compare anything between a norther and southern city.

I am a big bbq fan. Its something i cant wait to enjoy. I'll gladly give up my NY pizza for some real pork and beef bbq.

MountainCommand > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/20/2014 at 18:54

I mean, i always understand the grass is always greener (cliche), but im willing to give this a good 100% try. And see, Alabama has almost everything you could ever want, and no snow!

MountainCommand > Aaron Brown
04/20/2014 at 18:59

Most certainly!

MountainCommand > JEM
04/20/2014 at 19:11

Im a simple guy haha. I dont need a big busy city and a bazillion things to do to enjoy life. Im curious to hear what your dream state is if alabama seems odd to you haha.

Stay east. Got it. Looking at arkansas was kinda funny, you got memphis, which is very big, and pretty large, and you cross the river, and its just like a small town. Obviously whatever is happening, is happening on the TN side of things.

And yeah, i keep hearing the East side of TN is much better, but this is the hand i am being dealt, so i have to try and make the best of it.

thanks!

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > MountainCommand
04/20/2014 at 19:53

Avoid Mississippi, there's a state income tax. You really do want to stay in Tennessee, but on one of the counties that borders Mississippi, so you can take advantage of the lower sales tax.

I'd suggest Moscow, myself. It's across the county line, so no emissions, but you do have to pay a hellish wheel tax. Fayette County is $97/year for vehicle registration, as opposed to Shelby County's $78. Also, apparently Shelby County is no longer doing vehicle inspections at all, so move to Collierville. Nice area, close to Mississippi.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > MountainCommand
04/20/2014 at 19:58

For colleges and universities, there are a few around Memphis, including the University of Memphis, which is a great place to be shot.

In all seriousness, I'd wait a year, so you can get Tennessee residency for the purposes of state scholarships, etc... and then go to an in-state school, away from Memphis. Though, depending on what you're going for, I can't say enough good things about my alma mater.

What are you chasing after for your degree, if I may ask?

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > MountainCommand
04/20/2014 at 20:21

Oh, yeah about that snow part... It's not like up north, but it does snow. It snowed like 5 times this year.

Slave2anMG > MountainCommand
04/20/2014 at 20:50

I can't really answer that and be fair about it. But I will say this - Nashville is nicer than Memphis. Given a choice between the two it would be Nashville, no questions asked.

MountainCommand > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
04/20/2014 at 21:09

haha, sounds pretty much like some of the campuses near newark or patterson in jersey then.

So it is a year to get state residency to take advantage of the in state discounts. Thats good info to know, thanks!

Degree.... hmm. Well, right now i will have an Associates in Criminal Justice. What am i chasing after? If im honest, ive yet to figure that out myself. Ive been trying many different non-degree related classes to try and find my niche, but ive yet to find something. All i know is i want a degree, but not sure in what. Maybe ill look and see what programs people like in the colleges out in east tennessee, or at least see what they offer. Maybe it would even be worth a shot to apply at some police departments or something. Not that being a cop was the goal of getting that degree... but, Im keeping options open.

My plan is to hopefully find a job to bank some money while i wait since it would be a long shot to even attempt to apply for anything in this fall semester. Especially considering my uncertainty. And i am in no rush to get through school especially considering the financial cost, coupled with my aforementioned uncertainty.

Thanks for the input on your other comment too. Its all good info!

MountainCommand > Slave2anMG
04/20/2014 at 21:12

Sadly i have no choice in the area. Its already been defined, so ive gotta build around what i am being given here. Who knows, though, maybe i can find a college near nashville.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > MountainCommand
04/20/2014 at 21:24

If you want to stick with CJ, or move toward psychology, my alma mater, The University of North Alabama is a pretty solid school.

Other good picks are Tennessee Tech, in Cookeville and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. UTK isn't too bad either, but everyone wears that gaudy orange... On the other hand, there are a few Opponauts in Knoxville.

In my part of the state, MTSU is a fairly solid choice, but Tennessee State is in a rough part of Nashville. As for private universities, I don't have as much information, although I do have a cousin who is the campus historian for Tusculum College, out in east Tennessee.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > MountainCommand
04/20/2014 at 21:32

It feels like I'm flooding you with comments, but... Barbecue.. Or, as we call it, slow-cooked pig meat. (I'm from West Tennessee originally, even though the car says Davidson County on it, now...) I can't say I know right off hand what the best places are in Memphis, but I can tell you that you want a place with a good HOT barbecue sauce. I know a couple, but they're up in the Jackson area, or a little over an hour down I-40 from Memphis.

If you get around Henderson on a weekend, let me know and I'll drive the three hours down there in the Fiat. We can hit up Bill Latham's BBQ over on Church Street, where they have the absolute best hot barbecue sauce, anywhere. He has a pretty incredible mild one, and to make it properly hot, he adds pureed, slow-cooked habaneros to the sauce. He throws them in with the meat and slow-cooks the whole pig for at least 18 hours. Good stuff.

Slave2anMG > MountainCommand
04/20/2014 at 21:35

Plenty of colleges in Nashville. And there's way worse places than Memphis...I've been to them :)

MountainCommand > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
04/21/2014 at 21:26

No no! i really appreciate all the comments. It makes me feel better about leaving everything ive built myself upon and start completely new somewhere else. So much opportunity, and id love to hear anything and everything about what could be in store from first hand accounts. You know, what ive got to look forward to.

Good info on the colleges. Id probably be looking into state schools for the most part. And its good to hear i have some good options.

Also, how much flack should i expect to take coming from jersey. I know i am not to divulge that info freely... I hate having this jersey stigma.

Im sure IF/WHEN this move happens, which is more likely than not (98% positive), i will make some more posts about it for sure. And we can talk then about maybe meeting up for lunch or something.

My dad actually makes his own hot sauce. If we ever meet ill make sure i can secure you a nice bottle of it. I cant wait for all that BBQ though.

Thanks so much for all the info though, i really appreciate it!

MountainCommand > Slave2anMG
04/21/2014 at 21:27

"And there's way worse places than Memphis"... every city in new jersey (imo) haha.

Makes me feel better though.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > MountainCommand
04/21/2014 at 21:52

I travel a lot, so even if I've left TN by that time, I'll be back to visit. You'll only be three hours west of me, when you get down here.

As for the flack coming from Jersey, the most you'll get is, "Damn Yankee" but that's about all. You could be from anywhere north of Bowling Green, KY and get that, though.

MountainCommand > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
04/23/2014 at 22:00

haha only 3 hours... The distance thing will be the biggest change to me. As im only an hour from nyc, 2 from philly, 5 from dc. As much as i hate the city life type of deal, i will really miss the sheer astonishment of nyc everyime i drove in. Its a sight im glad i got to see. I can say i was on top of one of the twin towers before they fell. So i feel im pretty much complete. Id still like to go to the top of the empire state building before i leave here forever....

sorry, i went on a tangent of memories... Moving is bittersweet.

I was born in virginia, so technically a southerner by birth, but it may not be southern enough for a Tennessean. haha

Is there any other weird laws, or things i may not be used to coming from such an opposite state?

Thanks again for talking with me about this. It helps me feel better about this massive change.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > MountainCommand
04/24/2014 at 01:24

Having been to the top of the Empire State Building, I say do it.

I need to run up to NYC at some point over the summer, to visit a couple of old friends up there. I'm sure I'll catch some hell from the cops for the Tennessee plates and the Japanese ones on the front, though...

As for weird laws, the worst is that you can't buy beer before noon on Sunday, and no liquor sales at all. But, it could be worse.

Also, you have to go to a liquor store to get wine, in TN. State law prohibits selling wine in grocery stores. It's bass-ackwards, but it's the way things are, unfortunately. Additionally, be prepared for people to ask where you go to church, as a regular part of conversation. It's always been a bit harder for me to handle, because I'm non-religious, so... YMMV.

MountainCommand > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
04/24/2014 at 12:18

I wouldnt worry about the plate thing. The cops have bigger things to worry about around here than some dude from tennessee without a plate. Heck, half the guys i know in ny and nj dont run front plates anyways.

Liquor isnt a big deal at all. As I dont really drink anyways. But those are some odd laws for sure. Ive never heard of such a thing. The only thing similar around me is a county over, there is this Blue Law which makes stores close on sunday.Which is shocking actually considering it being jersey.

No whine in a grocery store is another crazy thing haha. Interesting stuff though! Thanks!

Also, whats your take on the crime/safety of the memphis area. I guess if your in the city it could be very different than living 45 minutes outside of it (we wont be living in the city). But as a local to the state, what do you see? I feel if i search this stuff it will be a lot of sensationalism.

Chris Zimmer > MountainCommand
05/07/2014 at 06:16

Western NC is far far better than East TN. NC got all the prettiest mountains and left a few for TN. Still, East TN is way prettier than West TN. In my mind, once you come off the central basin east of Nashville, TN, for all practical purposes, is done.

Chris Zimmer > MountainCommand
05/07/2014 at 06:20

Nashville is the "Athens of the south" for more than just having a copy of the parthenon. It (and the counties surrounding it) have loads of colleges. Austin Peay (Go Peay) is flush with cash since the state redefined how they give $$$ to the board of regent schools. MTSU, former $$$ hog of the system, is tightening their belt.

Chris Zimmer > MountainCommand
05/07/2014 at 06:22

well, since I tok a metric ass load of flack for moving to central NY, expect some. If you have a Jersey accent, expect even more. As long as you don't sound too strongly "yankee" they'll give you a chance. Remember, only Lee surrendered, the rest of the South is merely waiting to rise again.

MountainCommand > Chris Zimmer
05/07/2014 at 21:26

Your first comment confuses me. East tennessee is more pretty? And yeah, i know, if i had an option, id live out in west tennessee. But i have no choice. Memphis area is the final answer.

Ill definitely go to nashville to see the faux parthenon! That sounds awesome!

I feel bad you moved to NY... In my mind its like leaving america. No offense to the culture and awesome people there, but the laws and taxes in NJ and NY have become insane.

lol at the South... And i tend not to align myself with the yankee culture. I feel im a southerner stuck in the north, so i think ill be okay. My problem is ive been accustomed to the pace of which life is raced up here. I hope ill fit in alright.

Any thoughts on Atoka? In Tipton county?

Chris Zimmer > MountainCommand
05/08/2014 at 06:47

East TN has the mountains, and I like hills and mountains more than flat plains. I know what you mean about the taxes. My sister has 11 acres in Shelby county (Bartlett area) and pays just barely 1,000 a year in property taxes, I have about 10,000 square feet and I pay 7,000 a year. However, the difference in education quality is staggering. I don't have to send my kids to private schools, my sister does. What I pay in taxes, she spends in tuition. The difference is in 7 more years, she'll be done with tuition, while I'll get reamed for as long as I live here.

MountainCommand > Chris Zimmer
05/08/2014 at 22:23

"The difference is in 7 more years, she'll be done with tuition, while I'll get reamed for as long as I live here."

bingo. Now that im out of school and in college, im not willingly wanting to stay in jersey. Im hoping the tution down south is a little easier to handle than these insane instate jersey prices, which are ridiculous.

How are tennessee winters?

Chris Zimmer > MountainCommand
05/09/2014 at 05:10

In Memphis far milder than in NJ. Usually upper 20's or lower 30's at night low 40's in the day. Threat of snow requires you to go to the nearest Kroger and buy bread, milk, and eggs. If it does snow, half an inch will cripple the city for days. It is possible to ride a motorcycle year round, but it'll be a chilly ride in the morning.

ikaiyoo > MountainCommand
05/09/2014 at 09:03

As a Memphis native let me extend my most humble apologies for the bet with God you lost to be sent here.

That said, here is a list of pro's:

1. It is rediculously cheap to live here. Like if most Fortune 500 companies knew how cheap it was to live here they would move their offices here like International Paper did years ago and buy up the 15 acre 6000-9000 sqft estates.

2. You are only about 7 hours from the Tail of the Dragon and other fun roads to drive through the Appalachian mountains.

3. You are only like 2 hours from the Ozarks and Missouri boot heels and some nice curvy roads.

4. Across the bridge is Arkansas and no helmet laws.

5. The food.

Con's:

1. It is Memphis. Memphis is basically Detroit 40 years ago without the population. the city proper is slowly dying.

2. Our roads are shit. and I dont mean oh there are rough patches places... I mean our potholes have fucking pot holes. We refuse to repave roads and just patch patch patch.

3. No one in the city can fucking drive. If it is sunny and 70 degrees the drivers drive like it is sunny and 70 degrees. If it is 20 and there is 1/4" of ice on the road... they drive like it is sunny and 70 degrees.

4. We do not get snow we get ice. And we try to be preemptive and put brine down on the roads but then nature flips us the finger by making it rain for the entire day washing the brine away before it then decides to drop 10 degrees and freeze up.

5. Did I mention people cant drive? Imagine a world where cars have no blinkers, and in order for the car to start and be put in drive you have to have your phone in your hand and be looking at it. Or you have to be drunk, or you have to be putting on make up, or Reading the fucking paper. Even the OTR truckers in Memphis cant fucking drive.

6. You can do everything there is to do in Memphis in about 2 weeks.

7. We are #1 in the country for cases of syphilis

8. Gonorrhea too.

9. We are the 3rd most dangerous city in the county behind Baltimore and Detroit.

10. We had I think 3000 cars stolen in 2013. or 4 cars for every 1000 people.

MountainCommand > ikaiyoo
05/09/2014 at 22:42

Welp. As negative as that list is, i can only read it and move on because i got no other options. Also, i wont be living inside the memphis loop (or whatever that road is that surrounds the city. So im hoping that it puts some distance between all the city life stuff id rather not get involved with. However i like your cons lists. Reminds me of jersey.

con#

2: Like jersey and pa. Dude, ive seen some massive potholes. Ive hit some massive potholes, and have a few broken tires to my name. The geography alone MUST yield better roads than a northern climate. You have much less freezing cycles than we do. Add in less plow blade contact to the roads and id be hard pressed to say jersey roads are better than any other state.

3: sounds like jersey. My county has super high DWI rates, and its scary. And yep, everyone is on their phones.

7; lol. I wonder what jersey is number one in that department...

10; ive been meaning to put in a multilayer kill/start sequential switches on my car for a while now. I guess ill have a reason.

As bad as your list is, you make me feel a bit more comfortable. I can deal with most of that. Im happy you didnt mention there were frequent car damagaing hail storms, and frequent tornadoes.

Whats flooding like down there?

Is there any car scenes down there? Im a bit spoiled with the car life here in the NYC NJ PA tristate.

MountainCommand > Chris Zimmer
05/09/2014 at 22:45

Those numbers look better already. After our nearly month long of 0-10 degrees F temps, 20's and 30's are rather nice.

Thanks for the input btw. I appreciate it!

ikaiyoo > MountainCommand
05/10/2014 at 15:41

Memphis is an atmospheric anomaly. Like this winter Arkansas got like I dunno 30ft. of snow we got 1.5". We get random hail storms or they tell us we do because I have never seen them. And most of the tornados either hit north of us or south of us. It is like being on the river is like a weather bump and it just hops over us. the midsouth gets all kinds of horrible thunderstorms and tornados they just dont hit Memphis metro that often. Or if they do they dont touch down.

Last year we had a pretty mild summer but I have a feeling it is going to hit with a vengence this summer so July and August I expect to see multiple 100+ days with 85%+ humidity. Which is a lot of fun. If you do not have AC in your car. Get a car that does.

Most of the flooding we get is flash flooding. We dont get omg get sandbags flooding. We have a pretty decent drainage system and enough streams running through the city to handle the overflow. But when it really rains we do have problem roads.

We do have a car culture down here. there is a decent german car scene, a good cycle scene, and a decent turnout at every cars and coffee event. I am not sure how the street racing scene is now since I am 38 and have been out of the loop on that for a while. But usually monthly there is some kind of track day at the memphis motorsports park.

I will say as a word of warning If you are in Bartlett, Germantown, or Collierville follow the speed limit. they will pull you over in a heartbeat. Especially Collierville and Bartlett. I have gotten tickets in Bartlett for going 3 mph over.

Chris Zimmer > MountainCommand
05/10/2014 at 17:52

I'm in syracuse, there were times this winter when I wished it would have gotten to zero. However, I most certainly do not miss the dog days of summer. Memphis in August is only a few degrees cooler than hell itself. Of course, August is also death day, so the city goes nuts.

MountainCommand > ikaiyoo
05/10/2014 at 20:07

I have heard the river does some sorcery to the weather patters. Thats comforting.

Hey, id rather deal with heat and have a mild winter, than have to deal with both extremes. I guess ill have to use my ac now though. I barely use it these days.

Cool! Ill have to see how getting the motorcycle license down there will work. Ill be getting my NJ one next month. So hopefully its 'transferable' in the sense of just the paperwork. How well do the southerners take to hondas... Im worried i wont find many prelude guys down there haha.

And there is a racetrack! Im gonna go search that up! Any other tracks within an hour or so of memphis!?

Thanks for the heads up, ill look into radar detectors if thats the case. But im not really a speeder so i should be good regardless.

Thanks!