Gatlinburg - would you live there if you didn't hike?

[Mountain Wildman]

It breaks my heart to see the carnival atmosphere the powers that be turned Gatlinburg into. I've traveled there many times but NOT for the circus scene! I have read every book I can get my hands on about how it used to be, by the people who lived there before it was turned into the park. We travel the back roads, rent cabins far from town, and spend our time in the park. When I go there, its the past I am looking for and thinking about. You CAN live there and NOT have to go into downtown Gatlinburg, if the mountains and its history are what you are there for. With that said, I cannot understand WHY someone "who does not like southerners" would chose to live in southern territory! They sound like they would be better suited living somewhere say like Connecticut or Massachusetts where they would probably fit right in!! I was born and raised in Chicago IL and there is no way in _ell I would trade my TN home or my heritage to ever live there again!!

Forget Connecticut,
You have to make 100,000 per year just to be near middle class, And they have 7.5% Sales tax and State tax.
And traffic like New York City at rush hour. Connecticut is a nice place to live if you don't have to leave your house.

[Alligator]

Thanks all. As someone who has lived in 11 states (some more than once) and 2 other countries, including Canada, I know what I'm talking about when it comes to choosing a place to live and I know about visas. But they will not listen. They're convinced they will "do it right." We know about the tax problems of working overseas and we also know that it has become nigh impossible to get a work visa for anything much except teaching English - which pays next to nothing.

Oh well. I've tried to stop the train wreck but they're right now making offers on houses. Anyway, thanks for the input and we can probably put this thread to bed now.

OK, good night thread.