r/nashville • u/Impossible-Pomelo-85 • Sep 16 '24

Leaving Nashville Discussion

Have you been living here for a while now and are you wanting to move either because of the traffic, politics, home prices, jobs, culture or religion etc ? Please share your opinions because I have plenty and want to hear other's! Thank you!

Oh and where are you moving to?

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u/Ok_Cry_1926 Sep 17 '24 edited Oct 02 '24

I also found it easier to get by in California than in Tennessee — I was paid so much more, better access to public transportation and high-end but affordable entertainment costs, and sure I'm renting an apartment there but I'm also only in my house to sleep because there is so much to do in the city, so many places to go, endless weekend getaways. If I fell on hard times I got reasonable unemployment, short-term state disability if I got sick, safety nets to keep me going. There is an optimism when you're treated with respect as a worker and paid above the bareminimum, I had hope for my future when I lived in California and now I just sort of slog through my days here even though on paper I have a "better" career with "more" opportunity, it sure as fuck doesn't feel that way. Things I could do for $10 + a train ride in Cali cost $100 + $40 parking in Tennessee on significantly less pay. Lower standard of living if your only litmus test for "happiness" isn't "owning a big house." Like if that is what gets everyone off here, great, but turns out it isn't what makes me, personally, happy.

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u/Psyerax Sep 17 '24

I don't personally have interest in buying a home, theres a lot of baggage that come with that. We agreed on no plans for kids either. We're just keeping it easy and low stress enjoying our hobbies together outside of work. I just touched on the home ownership thing because it seems that's why a lot of Californians moved to Nashville/other southern cities. But as a Nashville native, i couldn't realistically afford a home with Nashville wages.

I haven't taken train yet! I see it every morning going to work, it looks so cool. I think its the Amtrak surfliner that goes through Ventura county. I want to take it to Santa Barbara for a day for fun even if its just an hour drive lol

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u/anaheimhots Sep 17 '24

Isn't it amazing, how many want to move to no-income-tax red states, without realizing all the benefits they're leaving behind?

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u/Ok_Cry_1926 Sep 17 '24

I’m born and raised here and had to come back for family — of all the major cities in all the states Nashville and Tennessee would be my last picks. I’d even rather just be in Knoxville right now, affordable social activities with the college in mind, access to the mountains and solid cinemas, tho I’m sure I’d be sad to find that ruined by “blue state flight” too if I could get out there.

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u/anaheimhots Sep 18 '24

I'd be jealous for the Big Ears Festival, if I could afford it.

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u/Elcapitano2u Sep 17 '24

I’d agree w this, San Francisco is cheaper to go out than here in Nash. Many spots in North Beach with good happy hour, great food in Chinatown that’s fresh and reasonable. City bus or just walk over to the Presidio and hike. If baseball is in you can get a Giants ticket for a good price, not so much for Warriors tho. Nashville is purely a tourist attraction with tourist prices everywhere. We have non existent public transportation and overpriced monopolized parking everywhere. Going downtown just pisses me off.