How did we choose? (Final chapter)

General Aesthetics:

We actually threw together a spread sheet to assign a numeric value to factors important to us:

• Cost of Living with a heavy emphasis to state and local taxation,
• Home School Friendliness,
• Proximity to mountains, and
• Four seasons

South Dakota and Wyoming seemed attractive to some adventuresome passion within. The wide open spaces of the west and the ongoing independent spirit that seems prevalent among the state residents remained very attractive to us. Making the transition from the south and especially very far south seemed a bit much for us. We considered both states to have winters that would be too hard of an adjustment for us. Looking around in the fall, it seemed a large number of the residents abandoned their abodes for points much farther south.

Texas, being so familiar to us and having a significant number of family members was tough to consider leaving. We wanted four seasons, however, and only the panhandle area allowed for this. The hill country area allows for some impressive vistas, but we had been weary and leery of influences from the border for quite some time. The ongoing political battles over immigration continue to impact areas that once were dear to us with increasing crime and drug trafficking. We also had lived through many years of watching the state and school districts increasing the property tax burden on residents.

When we learned that property taxes in Tennessee would be roughly 1/10th of our tax burden on comparable property values, that swung our desires to live in Tennessee much more favorably. Coupled with the beautiful mountains from middle Tennessee and continuing to the east, our decision was becoming easier and easier.

So, we began looking at properties in Tennessee, working our way from the northeast tip toward Nashville. On a fluke, we stopped by a property just outside of Crossville, TN and immediately fell in love with it. We made an offer before the end of the day and a few days later, negotiated a final offer. And here we are! Happy to be transplants in a beautiful state that allows us to pursue the various interests that had come to light - rural living with room for gardening and some livestock, in a house with a reasonable amount of space and just so happens to have a history that we love as well.

Recently, I found a video clip on the Grace to You website that expresses our comfort with making an important life decision that is within God's will:

Delight Yourself in the Lord (and Do Whatever You Want!)