kars,
Not from the volunteer State myself, but just a few months ago my wife and I seriously considered a move to Chattanooga. Had a firm job offer and everything. We went down and did a lot of research too. We decided since our parents are both still with us, we will wait a bit.
But that is for sure where I yam moving when I do kick the kids out and the parents are gone. It is beautiful everywhere in Tn. I just love it there.
Some bad parts - sales tax is high, but no state income tax. But live near a border and shop over the state lines like the locals do. Real estate is not all that different in prices from here in upstate NY, that really surprised me. The cost of living overall is lower though. But groceries (in general) are a slight higher cost there as well. Utilities, heck I think they pay you to use electricity. I looked at electric bills with full electric houses loaded down with central air (a necessity) and they paid about 1/4 of what I pay. Lots of nuke plants along the river near Chattanooga.
It's hot, it's humid. But the locals (mostly a lot of imports now though) are as nice as the day is long, even to Yankees that are relocating to their piece of heaven.
My conclusion is that hindsight now tells me I wish I would have made the move and lived with the logistics after all.
