Best Communities for Retirees (Knoxville, Cookeville: loft, condos, homes)

[janmarkel]

My husband and I are contemplating moving south to leave the cold, dreary winters behind. We are mid-fifties. Both of us would still be working. My husband loves to play golf. I am a tole painter and love to learn new arts. We have been checking into some 55+ active adult communities, mainly for the golf and planned activities. I'm not totally convinced on going this route. We both like vibrant small communities close to larger cities for shopping, cultural activities, airports, etc. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by janmarkel

My husband and I are contemplating moving south to leave the cold, dreary winters behind. We are mid-fifties. Both of us would still be working. My husband loves to play golf. I am a tole painter and love to learn new arts. We have been checking into some 55+ active adult communities, mainly for the golf and planned activities. I'm not totally convinced on going this route. We both like vibrant small communities close to larger cities for shopping, cultural activities, airports, etc. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

A lot of people like retirement communities, but I don't think I would like that, either. I like living in an area with people of all ages and from all backgrounds.

You said you'll both be working, does that mean you'll both be looking for jobs?

If you're an artist, the Appalachian Center for Craft on the banks of Center Hill Lake is a wonderful resource. It's run by Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville. It's an hour from the Nashville airport which has the lowest air fares among Tennessee's airports (thanks largely to Southwest Airlines). Being a college town, Cookeville provides many cultural activities (symphony, art galleries, lecture series, etc.) and Nashville, of course, has an abundance of cultural activities. Serious shopping can be done in Nashville, although Cookeville would probably have most of what you'd need (Sam's Club, Kohl's, Belk, Sears, Penney's, TJMaxx, KMart, two Wal-Mart SuperCenters, among others).

[BULLARD]

Retire Tennessee
MIGHT BE A GOOD PLACE TO START

[connieD]

Sewanee -Monteagle Tennessee, gated communities, Clifftops,Bridalveil,Cooleys Rift, The Cumberlands at Sewanee, Timberwood...etc..Shake Rag, (they have a web site) adult classes offered at Saint Andrews Sewanee School yearly,
golfing, Bear Hollow,very nice dinner theater, The Stage, outdoor live entertainment, Bonnaroo, (Manchester, this weekend I believe) reminds me of woodstock. So many things to see and do around here as well.

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by janmarkel

My husband and I are contemplating moving south to leave the cold, dreary winters behind. We are mid-fifties. Both of us would still be working. My husband loves to play golf. I am a tole painter and love to learn new arts. We have been checking into some 55+ active adult communities, mainly for the golf and planned activities. I'm not totally convinced on going this route. We both like vibrant small communities close to larger cities for shopping, cultural activities, airports, etc. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

A lot of folks your age seem to love the Tellico Village area. The closest city to that area is probably Lenoir City and the larger city is Knoxville.

Best of luck to you.

[chisoxfan]

A friend of mine who was forced into early retirement and had a wish list quite similar to yours recently moved to Greeneville and loves it. It has easy access to Knoxville, the Tri-Cities and Asheville, N.C.

[Bdozen]

Originally Posted by janmarkel

My husband and I are contemplating moving south to leave the cold, dreary winters behind. We are mid-fifties. Both of us would still be working. My husband loves to play golf. I am a tole painter and love to learn new arts. We have been checking into some 55+ active adult communities, mainly for the golf and planned activities. I'm not totally convinced on going this route. We both like vibrant small communities close to larger cities for shopping, cultural activities, airports, etc. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

We're biased toward Loudon County for one particluar reason, we love to square dance and Lenoir City has the largest square dance club in Tennessee, the Little T Squares. Come join us.

[shoppingirl]

Paris, TN and KY Lake area. You can't beat it.

[12buttons]

Originally Posted by connieD

Sewanee -Monteagle Tennessee, gated communities, Clifftops,Bridalveil,Cooleys Rift, The Cumberlands at Sewanee, Timberwood...etc..Shake Rag, (they have a web site) adult classes offered at Saint Andrews Sewanee School yearly,
golfing, Bear Hollow,very nice dinner theater, The Stage, outdoor live entertainment, Bonnaroo, (Manchester, this weekend I believe) reminds me of woodstock. So many things to see and do around here as well.

you seem to know the area - could you tell me what the difference is living in Monteagle versus Sewanee price wise and culturally? If you're not episcopalian, will you feel left out living in Sewanee?

Land cheaper in Monteagle?Both places seem pricey - I do not want to live in a gated community...I want a gentleman's farm - any suggestions? thanks 12b

[knoxgarden]

You want vibrant, get a loft in downtown Knoxville or one of the waterfront condos downtown. There are some gorgeous ones being built. Walk to shopping, restaurants, theaters (live and movie), museums, parks. Take a free trolley to University of Tennessee which has lots of arts and crafts classes in its Personal and Professional Development programs.
If you want golf course living, try Fox Den in Farragut. When I was looking for a condo I looked out there and was pretty impressed with the way it was laid out and the homes. Very well designed and well priced. I decided I needed to be closer to downtown.
There are some really nice condos in Knoxville that don't look at all like condos. More like homes where someone else mows the lawn and does maintenance.