Conservative. Idaho. Software engineer. Historian. Trying to prevent Idiocracy from becoming a documentary.
Email complaints/requests about copyright infringement to clayton @ claytoncramer.com. Reminder: the last copyright troll that bothered me went bankrupt.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." -- Rom. 8:28
Do any of currently live in, or have recently lived in Eastern Tennessee? Jonesborough, Johnson City area? I would like to hear what you think about darkness of sky, friendliness of people, insanity of local governments.
Hi Clayton, I live in Kingsport TN now, and have lived in Upper East Tennessee since 1990. (I grew up in Charlotte) Friendliness of people: generally no better place IMHO. There ARE a-holes, as anywhere, but mostly people hold the old value of treating others as they'd like to be treated Darkness of Sky: Assuming a location remote from municipal lighting (not too hard to achieve) it's probably as dark as anywhere in the East. A little searching can find locations especially dark (for the East) due to surrounding hills. Insanity of local governments: This is variable in the extreme. There are some very well run localities, and there are old Boss Hog type regimes within a stone's throw of each other. Information on which is which could be hard to get from a distance; I'd cultivate none-gov. local contacts for the straight scoop. Local County Sheriffs seem above average for honesty and reasonableness (but I don't have much interaction with them). Utilities: Generally inexpensive and reliable. Responsive when trouble does occur. Water is HARD due to underlying limestone everywhere. I have a couple water filter pitchers in the fridge. Taxes: TN has no income tax, but the sales tax is 9.5%, and property taxes can be high-ish. TN also does not require auto inspection. Local Astronomy: King University (Bristol; my Alma Mater) had a decent program/club, but it's been many years since I last did anything with it. Bays Mountain Park in Kingsport has a good astronomy program with a planetarium and an observatory with several telescopes. They have observation parties open to the public several times a year. I hope this is helpful. ping me back if you have questions.
I have a number of relatives near Gatlinburg who really like it. On the other hand, they moved there from Ohio many years ago and haven't lived elsewhere. I've visited and it seems nice. Lots of great scenery.
Hi Clayton,
ReplyDeleteI live in Kingsport TN now, and have lived in Upper East Tennessee since 1990. (I grew up in Charlotte)
Friendliness of people: generally no better place IMHO. There ARE a-holes, as anywhere, but mostly people hold the old value of treating others as they'd like to be treated
Darkness of Sky: Assuming a location remote from municipal lighting (not too hard to achieve) it's probably as dark as anywhere in the East. A little searching can find locations especially dark (for the East) due to surrounding hills.
Insanity of local governments: This is variable in the extreme. There are some very well run localities, and there are old Boss Hog type regimes within a stone's throw of each other. Information on which is which could be hard to get from a distance; I'd cultivate none-gov. local contacts for the straight scoop. Local County Sheriffs seem above average for honesty and reasonableness (but I don't have much interaction with them).
Utilities: Generally inexpensive and reliable. Responsive when trouble does occur. Water is HARD due to underlying limestone everywhere. I have a couple water filter pitchers in the fridge.
Taxes: TN has no income tax, but the sales tax is 9.5%, and property taxes can be high-ish. TN also does not require auto inspection.
Local Astronomy: King University (Bristol; my Alma Mater) had a decent program/club, but it's been many years since I last did anything with it. Bays Mountain Park in Kingsport has a good astronomy program with a planetarium and an observatory with several telescopes. They have observation parties open to the public several times a year.
I hope this is helpful. ping me back if you have questions.
Bill McCormick
Much of this I knew. Thank you. I expect to come there over Labor Day. Likely move next summer.
DeleteI am Clayton's daughter and teach in the online King social work program! Thanks for the info. I like Tennessee every time I go for graduation!
DeleteI have a number of relatives near Gatlinburg who really like it. On the other hand, they moved there from Ohio many years ago and haven't lived elsewhere. I've visited and it seems nice. Lots of great scenery.
ReplyDelete