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Warm summer afternoons with Smoky Mountain breezes cooling the evening to a perfect sleeping temperature. Winter days seldom falling below the freezing mark and often reaching the fifty degree range. Mornings are magical, filled with opalescent sunlight filtered through delicate mists which make you believe that fairies do still exist and dance beneath the forest leaves. Flowers growing from every imaginable surface, needing only to be placed in the rich, loamy soil to take root and grow strong. Birds and small woodland animals are everywhere outside of the immediate downtown area, making it easy to remain in touch with Nature. Life moves at a slower, gentler pace. The rush and hustle of the Midwest is nowhere to be found. The people who live here, surrounded by the beauty of Nature constantly, have a kinder, pleasanter attitude towards life in general. The threat of a terrorist strike seems remote here, gang activity is not a major concern. residents can leave their front doors unlocked during the day while they are at home, and occasionally forget to lock their vehicles for the night, with no dire consequences. These were the qualities that drew us to the Asheville area. They are real, and they still exist. |
Other aspects of the area have become more apparent after being here for a six month period. Some have been pleasant surprises. Some have not. At this point, I must admit that there is no "perfect" place. Asheville is a combination of good and not so good, a series of trade-offs, like any other place in the world. There are disticntions among the citizens... a fact so noticable that the local paper "The Asheville Citizen Times", has written about it on several occasions. The distinctions go something like this: Natives - Those born and raised in the Asheville area who seem to resent the.... Transplants - Those who have chosen to make Asheville their home.. The division is real, and can make itself felt when a "transplant" is seeking employement in an environment run by "natives"! Here are some quotes from the "Asheville Citizen Times" letters to the Editor: By
Asheville Citizen-Times Your front-page story, "Area transplants, rapid change create friction with WNC natives," (AC-T, Aug. 5), was very enlightening. I see that it is also posted on your Web site. I will encourage as many Americans as I can to read it. Now they will know that unless they were born and raised in the city of Asheville, they are unwelcome here. Dick Jones, Asheville By
Asheville Citizen-Times In your story, "Area transplants, rapid change create friction with WNC natives," (AC-T, Aug. 5), regarding friction between ``locals'' and ``newcomers,'' a `local' says, "... these newcomers are building ... humongous homes, making our taxes go up." First, taxes are going to go up, no matter what, it is only a question of how much. Secondly, the owner of a relatively modest house (in Haywood County) valued by the tax assessor at $100,000 will pay $610 annually in county tax. The owner of a house valued at $400,000 will pay $2,440 annually. The owner of the larger house pays four times as much; what does he get for that? Nothing from the public schools, because his children are already educated. Nothing from the Department of Social Services, because he is well able to care for himself. There is only a remote possibility he might need to avail himself of fire or police services. The property owner most likely to drive up taxes is the one with a house-full of children, and the problems attendant to that circumstance - the one who is likely to partake of the full menu of county services. Those services are paid for, in the main, by the taxpayer who pays the higher taxes, and yet makes little, if any, claim on those services. Ted Kirby, Waynesville
I simply must respond to the letter, "Transplants not to blame for all the woes in the mountains," (AC-T, Aug. 17). Yes, most of you transplants have grown children and do not use the schools or the welfare system. However, did you ever stop to think about the impact you make on our roads or on our landfills? I for one would like to leave my house one day without facing overcrowded roads, grocery stores and restaurants. So, as far as your tax dollars are concerned, I know that we mountain folks would survive just fine without them; we have always been fighters and survivors. I am tired of hearing all the transplants complaining about us mountain people; I know that the road that brought you here also goes in the opposite direction, if you dislike us that much. Sherrie Griffith, Maggie Valley |
Advice to those who would make the jump from a teeming Metropolis like Chicago, New York, or Los Aneles, to a quiet, more rural setting like Asheville: 1). Before making that move, be sure you have a considerable nest egg available -If you do not have your own portable business firmly established, you will need something at least in the range of $50,000 to live on and ...... 2). Plan to rent a place for six months to a year before making that final and very major decision to invest in a permanent home. 3). Understand that there will be a very noticeable difference in the cost of living and rate of pay as compared to what you have been used to in a larger city. This fact is NOT lost on the native residents. Unfortunately most places do require a "Salary History". This can be a strike against you when interviewing with someone who has not had the same opportunities that you may have had previously. 4). Undersand that the job options will be far more limited while standards of qualification are much higher. Because so many of the training programs are STATE FUNDED, a masters degree is required for most positions as a trainer or technical support staff in any government funded program, regardless of the amount of certification or years of experience that you have aquired. 5). Understand that the "good ole boy" system is alive and well in rural Americana and you will be hard pressed to "get anywhere" without contacts. Networking is essential in this environment. 6). Understand that all of the above will be increased tenfold if you happen to be a woman. |
Having said all of that, is it a wise move? That remains to be seen. |
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