Kentucky/Tennessee Residents?

[iddee]

Well, Hello, Joe Btfsplk:  ER, I mean dunkel.     

Those old enough to remember Li'l Abner knows Joe.

[Dunkel]

Had to look it up iddee   Starting to feel that way

[Slowmodem]

Southern states, especially rural, typically get a bad rap... quite the conundrum for a dude wanting some quiet country acreage who has 3 kids. If only the wife would work 5-days a week I could home-school! LOL!   

- K

I don't know the situation of the schools here now.  I don't want to sound like I'm bragging or anything, but I went to public schools here and I ended up a nuclear power plant reactor operator for a while.  So they did teach me a thing or two.

[Slowmodem]

Wildcats lost, Badgers lost, now I recommend the Richmond area and they get hit with a tornado.  Go to Tennessee it's amazing, Sorry guys

Speaking of tornadoes........

Why is a tornado like a redneck divorce?  Somebody somewhere is losing a trailer.   

[LogicalBee]

You’ll need to become a NASCAR fan if you want to live down there.   I made the mistake of trying to find a hotel room within 100 miles of Bristol, TN one time.  No vacancies anywhere.  Turns out is was a stinking race weekend.    They thought I must had been an alien from Jupiter to not know it was a racing weekend!  I almost thought about trying to find a beek to put me up for the night. They take their NASCAR pretty seriously.   

I don't want to sound like I'm bragging or anything, but I went to public schools here and I used to be a nuclear power plant reactor operator.  So they did teach me a thing or two.

Sadly the kids around here can’t even tell Fission from Fusion anymore.

We have a school of choice program up here which allows kids to decide which school district to attend; within reason.  Do kids have any choice about which HS to attend in TN or KY?  Up here the high schools now advertise on the radio to attract new kids (and state funding) from around the area.  What a way to spend the property tax mils they get from me; give it to media   :'( 

[Newbee]

I don't know the situation of the schools here now.  I don't want to sound like I'm bragging or anything, but I went to public schools here and I ended up a nuclear power plant reactor operator for a while.  So they did teach me a thing or two.

Absolutely Slowmodem, I've seen some pretty sorry-excuses for public-education all across this fine country, this town included! My big concern is finding the right district, the first time, right off the bat. As it is we lived in this area (suburbs around Rochester, NY), for about 10-years, and after my oldest hit 1st grade, we decided it would be best if we found some schools that were a better match for my kids. As they're school-age now, and moving will be traumatic enough, I don't want to have to pick-up and move across town AGAIN, shortly after this big move. Gotta hit it and stick it right the first time. Moving is very traumatic on kids, and mine are of the sensitive sort.

- K

[Newbee]

More jobs for the missus turned up near Knoxville… We started making plans to visit the general area on Memorial Day Weekend. Going to pull a few days off work and see what we can see! Would be nice to have a district or two to take a look at while they're open/before summer break.

I'm looking at those smokey mountain's thinking I'm sure to find a couple acre's there that'll make me happy…. I just have to find something that's a good fit for the kids. Private school is not out of the question (and broadens our geographic shopping area).

Got to see a Nuc get hived over the weekend at the local Beek's meeting. Good time! Seemed pretty easy, and I wasn't too bothered by the bee's. I only went w/ a winter parka (fine nylon thread/waterproof construction, had a hood), they didn't bother me at all, and I wasn't too nervous. All the same, I think a hat/veil would be useful for me doing an actual inspection (of my own hive). Going to see if any of the locals have a used one for cheap.


- K

[Newbee]

Question to all about the job market in the area around Knoxville/Nashville?

Assuming I can't find something in my trade initially, alternative forms of employment will be required post-haste (we're not rich, need cashflow, and a bank won't touch you w/ the 10-foot-mortgage-pole if you don't have a source of income, I don't care your credit score and cash savings...)

What's the prospects for construction or trades jobs? Is building booming there? I do have a commercial truck license, can drive a dump truck, bobcat, etc... Are there tree-services in the area that are busy and pay-well? What about logging operations up in the Mountains? I'm good w/ a chainsaw, and can drive that big truck w/ the boom on it. Not much for heights, but I've worked on tree-crews when I was a youth (rope man and ground crew), I can do landscaping and hard-scaping (bricks, retaining walls, etc.), and even did a year paving asphalt driveways recently.

I guess what I'm getting at, is can I find "work"? Getting my print-career back on track would be nice, but realistically, I need a job, that pays decent, and I need it fast, if we're to get down there and find a place in-time for the kids to start school in Sept. And I'm a NY'er that's been working in printing for the last 15+ years... so I don't know how a local landscaper's going to feel about putting me on as a crew-leader, even if I  can pass the skill's test, prove my knowledge, etc. AND does that pay $15/hour w/ 60-hour weeks or $10/hour and it's 20-hours Nov. to February?

I'm trying to gauge the headwinds I'm dealing with, not knowing the local population or expectation? My friend who moved near Nashville (skilled electrician/maintenance mechanic) said he found opportunity plentiful once he was down there (w/ a local mailing address and appearing in-person for the application). Getting hired on-the-spot w/ a handshake isn't uncommon if you have a good interview he said... But is that a 10-dollar an hour job for 9-months out of the year? Construction/trades jobs are tough up here, as it's only a 6-month season ((un)fortunately, we have snow-removal season the other 6...), but it's not a good career choice for a dude w/ a 12-month mortgage.

After clearing away (ignoring!) some of the big problems, some critical little one's are cropping up, and I appreciate the input from folks in the know! While very much a long-shot, what sacrifices can we make to pull this off? My career can take a temporary or permanent setback IMO, the wife is more specialized (and the bread-winner lately), but I do need steady work/income. How much and what it takes to get it, that's still up in the air! Wifey may get lucky - her current employer is part of a large national group, w/ 2 offices in K'ville, 3rd opening up this fall. She should be good work-wise. I'm the problem. Stupid printing... should have taken Dad's advice and been a Postman! 

Thanks!

- K

[iddee]

$20.00 per hour??

Down south............... Oh My Gosh, nobody makes that kind of money.It's only a dream.

Up north................. Is that all?? How do you expect to live on that miserly wage?

Just what do you consider "pay-well"?

[Newbee]

Down south............... Oh My Gosh, nobody makes that kind of money.It's only a dream.

Up north................. Is that all?? How do you expect to live on that miserly wage?

LOL! No, I hear you! That's exactly the dichotomy we're grappling with.

$15/hr @ 40 hrs. per week is $600 gross pay, or $31,200 salary per year (typical office job?).

In NY, you'll see $400 of that on Friday, $425 if you claim your kids (but then you don't get a refund in April, you get a bill!). Net $1600/mo.?

Fortunately my wife's field generally pays well (Dental Hygienist), however her licensing will take 8-weeks... I've seen my job listed in the $12-16/hr. range outside Nashville, and I've got over 15 years experience in the trade… I'm hoping to find something towards the top of that range, but not certain I'll find something in the printing-biz, so need to consider alternative options, that will get me employed quickly… I've still got the whopper NY Mortgage/taxes due every 2-weeks, and I'm going to have to try to convince a bank to take a chance on us (great credit rating, some cash savings, equity in current home, impeccable payment record on my mortgage the last 15-years…) I've seen office gigs @ University's down there paying $30-35k annually… But are those stellar once-in-a-lifetime jobs?

What's a luxury down there is barely affordable up here. While it's currently a pay-cut, and I'm willing to work OT to make it, I'd like to get as close to or over $600/wk. gross as possible. I figure between a bachelors, CDL license and a strong back, I aught to be able to get close to that, and hopefully in short-order. Is that unreasonable do you think? I used to get $100/day driving the dump-truck paving driveways, but that wasn't a 52-week a year job in this climate, so…. I'm hopeful, put it that way? LOL!

And thanks for the input! Love this sort of discussion from folks in the area, as it's really hard to judge looking at want-ad's and the like.

FWIW $15/hr. would be a good gig up here doing any of those things discussed, you'd be lucky to find it, frankly. There's more people than there are jobs, so all labor markets are paying lower than normal wages due to the supply of applicants for each position available.

- K

[iddee]

You can likely find 3 jobs the first week paying from 9 to 11 per hour, then keep the 2 you like best until something better comes along.
But the expenses are much better. My 1800 sq. ft. house with about an acre is valued less than 100,000 and taxes are about 500 annually. Sales tax is 7 1/2 to 8 %, depending on the county.

[Newbee]

taxes are about 500 annually. Sales tax is 7 1/2 to 8 %, depending on the county.

Thanks Iddee!
Annual taxes for property, town, and schools =  $6500. I pay more into the escrow account every month than I do towards Principle and Interest! AND the State + Fed = 1/3rd of my check every week on top of that!

Criminal if you ask me, but I was told this is a civil chat-board, so I'll leave politics out of it! 

- K

[Slowmodem]

Try using this to calculate the difference in the cost of living:

http://money.cnn.com/calculator/pf/cost-of-living/

http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/savings/moving-cost-of-living-calculator.aspx

there's lots of others if you goggle cost of living calculator 

[Newbee]

I appreciate the links, but looking more for boots-on-the-ground intelligence. 
I can tell by the mortgage calculators lopping $400 off my monthly nut is a no-brainer, and we can still get the house we want.... All in the taxes! That's 100/wk. pay cut, which isn't far off what I'm looking for?

I'm guessing I will only be losing a smaller portion of my paycheck, too. 33% of it I never even see.

- K

[Dunkel]

Wish I could help you in the Knoxville area. Wife's cousin teaches Spanish and her husband is a Scientist at Oak Ridge. He studies bacteria, real fungi once you get to know him   Beautiful area and fantastic schools, probably due to UT and Oak Ridge.. You really shouldn't have a problem with your degree since they really have a good graphic design program at UT.  Field maybe a little flooded but small companies seem to crop up in these areas.

[Slowmodem]

her husband is a Scientist at Oak Ridge. He studies bacteria, real fungi once you get to know him

Haha  I got it! (said the real pun guy) 

[Dunkel]

Come home this evening phone rings, I answer it's Chris she wants to speak to the wife.  Bedroom door closes lots of muffled girl talk.  There getting divorced.  I said no kidding and went to check some bees.  I am not much of a believer in Jinxes but this is starting to get creepy.  Anyhow I know of a brick ranch coming up for sale, but you'll have to find it on your own because as of this moment I am off the air

[Newbee]

wow, that's crazy
Planning to visit Knoxville May 21-22, Nashville the 23-24, home on Memorial Day 25th.

How far of a drive is that southern-part of KY from Knoxville? The Monticello area looks great, but no jobs…

- K

[Newbee]

Planning to hit Knoxville on May 2nd (driving the 1st and 3rd, ugh…) for a tour and look see. Apparently we've got a second cousin that lives there, wife is from there, and offered to show me around.
Hopefully things will look positive, and we can go rental-shopping when we hit the place for Memorial Day.
Any campgrounds nearby to recommend? Looked at a few online, and they didn't seems to great… for the price, especially. 20-bucks more a night I've got a Red Roof Inn… and after 13 hours of driving, I don't think the foam mattress in the pop-up's going to look too good.

- K