Tell me about Little Rock . . . - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Benzadmiral · #1 04-09-2007, 10:46 AM

. . . and Arkansas in general.

After being rear-ended by an illegal alien -- my latest Reason to Leave New Orleans (I think I'm up to No. 6,728 now) -- I've been looking around in more areas. I hear good things about Little Rock: It's not too big or expensive, it gets some fall, spring, and winter, there are mountains nearby, etc.

Anybody live there? What's it like in summer? I work currently as an office manager for a private university; do I stand a chance of being able to find work, either in academia or in the real world? What are people like? Crime? Other negatives?

I think I might just drive up next month and spend a couple of days looking around. . . .

Dee8go · #2 04-09-2007, 11:12 AM

I lived there briefly in 1972. Not too bad. I moved from there to Fort Smith and lived there for five years. I liked it back then. You might find it somewhat boring having lived in N Orleans, but it all depends upon what you're into. For hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, etc. Arkansas is not too bad at all.

G-Benz · #3 04-09-2007, 11:18 AM

They finally completed construction of their major interstate east-west artery...that's a MAJOR plus!

Dee8go · #4 04-09-2007, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G-Benz

They finally completed construction of their major interstate east-west artery...that's a MAJOR plus!

They had I 40 when I was there in the seventies. Which one are you talking about, G Benz?

G-Benz · #5 04-09-2007, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee8go

They had I 40 when I was there in the seventies. Which one are you talking about, G Benz?

Yes, I-40 is there, but they were in the process of widening it to six lanes...total pain passing through one winter around lunch rush hour, but a breeze last year!

Benzadmiral · #6 04-09-2007, 12:16 PM

Dee8go, I've lived here in The Swamp nearly all my life. What little excitement factor the place had for me was canceled in August-September of '05, with Hurricane Katrina.

What I want now is someplace with a lot less than 250 days a year of sticky heat, with fewer surprises like crime and hurricanes, and where I can explore and have a comfortable quiet life!

softconsult · #7 04-09-2007, 12:37 PM

Less humidity? Looks to me like Little Rock is awfully close to Memphis. Memphis has ungodly summer humidity.

How about Chattanooga or Knoxville? I live in the Tri-Cities area of Tennessee (Johnson City). I've lived around the country and traveled all over the east. This area is growing, has very low crime, and has the four seasons, but nothing extreme. No state income tax and low cost of living. Also has a State university with a new pharmacy school.

Steve

Benzadmiral · #8 04-09-2007, 01:03 PM

Softconsult,

JC sounds good. Do you have to travel far for a good Benz shop?

What are the other cities in "Tri-Cities" -- Kingsport and Bristol, or is the "Tri-Cities" area much bigger than that? How far apart are the other members of the triad?

I was thinking about Asheville, NC, which is about 60 miles away, right? But everything I read says it's expensive to live there.

I won't mind humidity (well, not much) as long as there are two mitigating factors: widespread, effective air-conditioning, and a shorter summer. The warm season starts in early March and can last into December. Here, the old Thanksgiving song that starts "Over the river and through the wood/To Grandmother's house we go" should be rewritten as "Over the bridge and round the potholes/And wipe the sweat from your brow . . ."

softconsult · #9 04-09-2007, 01:28 PM

Yes, Asheville is just over the mountain about 45 miles. I lived there for about a year. More expensive, state income tax, more cultured, a lot of retired yankees with money.

JC, Bristol, Kingsport, Elizabethton are all about say 20 minutes apart. Johnson City is the best of the 4. It is progressive, and has all the restaurants. I ended up here on a corporate transfer and really just decided to stop moving. Bristol is 35,000, Johnson City about 50,000 and Kingsport around 35,000 or so. Elizabethton is smaller. Perfect compromise between small town life and big city life. Knoxville is 90 miles away all interstate. The interstates aren't trashed like I40 through Memphis- Little Rock.

This is pretty much a lilly white area. Has always been that way and I expect it will stay that way. There is, of course, some poverty, but little gang activity and extremely low violent crime.

The Biltmore estate is in Asheville. The story is that Vanderbilt had a climate survey done and determined that Asheville had the perfect climate. Not too hot, not to cold, 4 seasons, and low humidity. We have the same climate as Asheville.

We are at 1,000 feet and at the foot of the mountains. You can be up in the mountains in no time. Perfect area for hunting, fishing, boating etc. Beautiful area.

Typical Southern talking area, but you are used to that. A realtor friend recently closed a house deal with a couple from Michigan. Apparently, the 8 year old and the 12 year old asked the mother whether the people here was from another country. They couldn't understand the accents!

Steve

softconsult · #10 04-09-2007, 01:35 PM

Forgot the question about Mercedes shops. There are three. They are all in Kingsport which is 30 minutes away from Johnson City. There is a dealer in Kingsport. The reason for them being in Kingsport is the huge Tennessee - Eastman Chemical company and it's associated high dollar management people.

I have used all three and currently have settled on German Motors. Rudy is german and has been in business for I think 40 years. Honest, clean shop, and has that down home friendly approach.

So it's really not the issue it can be in a smaller area.

Steve

Hatterasguy · #11 04-09-2007, 01:40 PM

What about Colorado or Montana those seem like really pretty states.

Benzadmiral · #12 04-09-2007, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by softconsult

JC, Bristol, Kingsport, Elizabethton are all about say 20 minutes apart. Johnson City is the best of the 4. It is progressive, and has all the restaurants. I ended up here on a corporate transfer and really just decided to stop moving. Bristol is 35,000, Johnson City about 50,000 and Kingsport around 35,000 or so. Elizabethton is smaller. Perfect compromise between small town life and big city life. Knoxville is 90 miles away all interstate. The interstates aren't trashed like I40 through Memphis- Little Rock.

This is pretty much a lilly white area. Has always been that way and I expect it will stay that way. There is, of course, some poverty, but little gang activity and extremely low violent crime. . . .

. . . Asheville [has] the perfect climate. Not too hot, not to cold, 4 seasons, and low humidity. We have the same climate as Asheville.

We are at 1,000 feet and at the foot of the mountains. You can be up in the mountains in no time. Perfect area for hunting, fishing, boating etc. Beautiful area.

Typical Southern talking area, but you are used to that. . . .

Steve

Accents? Hey, a lot of New Orleanians sound more like Brooklyn cab drivers ('Hey, dawlin', whatcha doin'?") from '40s movies than like Scarlett O'Hara. But you're right, I'm used to the basic sound.

Not only several MB shops, but a dealer for parts too? Hmm. I need to rethink my road trip! One of the reasons I was considering Little Rock was that I could drive there in a day. Eastern TN from NO would be two days, one about 7 hours (to Chattanooga) and one about 4 (to JC), right? (Taking time out to feed me and the Benz, of course.) Not too bad . . .

Benzadmiral · #13 04-09-2007, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

What about Colorado or Montana those seem like really pretty states.

I've lived in Colorado, and loved it, but it's getting pretty crowded in the cities, and Denver is, I'm sure, no less expensive than when I lived there and made 2x the money I do now. If I got a sensible offer, I'd grab it.

Montana I need to research more. (The "Good Shops" forum lists very few MB places in MT, though.)

softconsult · #14 04-09-2007, 02:42 PM

Seems to me that finding a job is a huge factor. If you do elect to head toward TN, then pay attention as you head north out of Atlanta. Atlanta is rapidly growing north. Chattanooga area might be good. At 80 mph you are in north Atlanta in a shade over about 1.5 hours.

Steve

Benzadmiral · #15 04-09-2007, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by softconsult

Seems to me that finding a job is a huge factor. If you do elect to head toward TN, then pay attention as you head north out of Atlanta. Atlanta is rapidly growing north. Chattanooga area might be good. At 80 mph you are in north Atlanta in a shade over about 1.5 hours.

Steve

Yeah, I just looked at the East Tenn State U. website. Some open positions, none of which I'm qualified for. I suspect the department coordinators don't leave very often.

The area I really love is northern New Mexico, Albuquerque and (if I could afford it) Santa Fe. Hot but dry summers with cool nights, and snow in the winter, all sound good to me!