Mountain Homes

your ever-lovin’ ponyhead asked:


We’re finally retiring after 30 years of Naval service and Tennesse seems like a good place to settle, since it doesn’t have income tax or tax our military retirement. The cost of living is wonderful and it seems the natural disaster risk is very low (we were stationed in the bay area during the Loma Prieta/World Series earthquake and evacuated from Slidell, LA during hurricane Georges - luckily left two years before Katrina).

We drove through the Smokey Mountains when transferring once and I loved the brooks and waterfalls. I was stationed in Memphis and love the friendly folks in Tennessee.

I’m wondering if anyone knows of a town with decent schools that I can see mountains in the distance. Being in the central time zone would be a plus, and close to major highways so we could drive to our family that’s scattered all over.

It seems like a stretch, but cultural diversity, a low crime rate and a tolerant, free-thinking society would be nice, too.

Shannon