Franklin, Tennessee SperlingViews

I moved to franklin 6 years ago. I am a native New Yorker. Franklin is a very pretty place. However, if you are not a right wing republican, which I am not, you will find it very hard to fit in. If you are not a church goer - or do not go to church - you are ostracized as life here seems to revolve around church. I find the populace here to be very narrow minded and regressive. I sometimes feel as if I am living in the south circa 1950. This makes me very uncomfortable although some may thrive in this atmosphere. There is absolutely no diversity here - everyone looks the same and believes the same. I do not think I can live in Franklin for many more years. Also, there is nothing to do. Another downside is that everyone is of the same socio economic background - rich. IT is hard to fit in.

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re: Politics and religion - 1/15/2008 - 4/4/2008
Frances. I was a native New Yorker, originally from Long Island. I moved up to Westchester later because it was an easier commute to NYC where I worked for 16 years. I have lived in Northern Virginia for the last 22 years. My wife and I bought a house in Franklin about 2 1/2 years ago. Our daughter lives in the house and we plan to retire to the area in a few years. We love the area. There is plenty to do between Franklin and Nashville. The Frist Museum, the Ryman Theater, Gaylord Opryland, Riverfront, country music honky tonks, football, hockey, good restaurants, etc. People living in the New York City area are subjected to a tremendous amount of available activities and diversity and don't realize that there are such laid back places as Franklin. Sure I miss some of the great ethnic foods, Broadway and the like but I'm happy to be out of the liberal Democratic State of New York and all that went with it. I am a moderate conservative Republican. I've been back to the land of taxes about 20 times to visit relatives and friends. Each time I visit, the congestion, the pollution, the rudeness of people, the high prices, etc. serve as reminders of why I left. I'm Jewish and having lived in Virginia and spent time in Franklin / Nashville, I've found it easy to fit in with the majority of folks who are not Jewish. I think it boils down not only to how others treat you, but how you treat others. Admittedly, Northern Virginia is cosmopolitan and upper class income, so the transition from NY was not as great. But I love Franklin. I have found country folks are warm, friendly and welcoming. So they go to church and activities that revolve around church. What's bad about that? If you are Jewish wouldn't you go to Temple and participate in activities there? Big deal. Get over it. Get a life. There's all kinds of activites around the Franklin / Nashville area. Maybe you should take up an instrument, or learn to sing. Wearing cowboy boots and being a big firearms person didn't hurt my assimilation, it really boils down to what you project. What specifically did you find narrow minded and regressive about the populace? 32% of them have 4 year college degrees.

re: Politics and religion - 1/15/2008 - 4/4/2008
Frances. I was a native New Yorker, originally from Long Island. I moved up to Westchester later because it was an easier commute to NYC where I worked for 16 years. I have lived in Northern Virginia for the last 22 years. My wife and I bought a house in Franklin about 2 1/2 years ago. Our daughter lives in the house and we plan to retire to the area in a few years. We love the area. There is plenty to do between Franklin and Nashville. The Frist Museum, the Ryman Theater, Gaylord Opryland, Riverfront, country music honky tonks, football, hockey, good restaurants, etc. People living in the New York City area are subjected to a tremendous amount of available activities and diversity and don't realize that there are such laid back places as Franklin. Sure I miss some of the great ethnic foods, Broadway and the like but I'm happy to be out of the liberal Democratic State of New York and all that went with it. I am a moderate conservative Republican. I've been back to the land of taxes about 20 times to visit relatives and friends. Each time I visit, the congestion, the pollution, the rudeness of people, the high prices, etc. serve as reminders of why I left. I'm Jewish and having lived in Virginia and spent time in Franklin / Nashville, I've found it easy to fit in with the majority of folks who are not Jewish. I think it boils down not only to how others treat you, but how you treat others. Admittedly, Northern Virginia is cosmopolitan and upper class income, so the transition from NY was not as great. But I love Franklin. I have found country folks are warm, friendly and welcoming. So they go to church and activities that revolve around church. What's bad about that? If you are Jewish wouldn't you go to Temple and participate in activities there? Big deal. Get over it. Get a life. There's all kinds of activites around the Franklin / Nashville area. Maybe you should take up an instrument, or learn to sing. Wearing cowboy boots and being a big firearms person didn't hurt my assimilation, it really boils down to what you project. What specifically did you find narrow minded and regressive about the populace? 32% of them have 4 year college degrees.

re: Politics and religion - 1/15/2008 - 4/4/2008
Frances. I was a native New Yorker, originally from Long Island. I moved up to Westchester later because it was an easier commute to NYC where I worked for 16 years. I have lived in Northern Virginia for the last 22 years. My wife and I bought a house in Franklin about 2 1/2 years ago. Our daughter lives in the house and we plan to retire to the area in a few years. We love the area. There is plenty to do between Franklin and Nashville. The Frist Museum, the Ryman Theater, Gaylord Opryland, Riverfront, country music honky tonks, football, hockey, good restaurants, etc. People living in the New York City area are subjected to a tremendous amount of available activities and diversity and don't realize that there are such laid back places as Franklin. Sure I miss some of the great ethnic foods, Broadway and the like but I'm happy to be out of the liberal Democratic State of New York and all that went with it. I am a moderate conservative Republican. I've been back to the land of taxes about 20 times to visit relatives and friends. Each time I visit, the congestion, the pollution, the rudeness of people, the high prices, etc. serve as reminders of why I left. I'm Jewish and having lived in Virginia and spent time in Franklin / Nashville, I've found it easy to fit in with the majority of folks who are not Jewish. I think it boils down not only to how others treat you, but how you treat others. Admittedly, Northern Virginia is cosmopolitan and upper class income, so the transition from NY was not as great. But I love Franklin. I have found country folks are warm, friendly and welcoming. So they go to church and activities that revolve around church. What's bad about that? If you are Jewish wouldn't you go to Temple and participate in activities there? Big deal. Get over it. Get a life. There's all kinds of activites around the Franklin / Nashville area. Maybe you should take up an instrument, or learn to sing. Wearing cowboy boots and being a big firearms person didn't hurt my assimilation, it really boils down to what you project. What specifically did you find narrow minded and regressive about the populace? 32% of them have 4 year college degrees.

re: Politics and religion - 1/15/2008 - 4/4/2008
Frances. I was a native New Yorker, originally from Long Island. I moved up to Westchester later because it was an easier commute to NYC where I worked for 16 years. I have lived in Northern Virginia for the last 22 years. My wife and I bought a house in Franklin about 2 1/2 years ago. Our daughter lives in the house and we plan to retire to the area in a few years. We love the area. There is plenty to do between Franklin and Nashville. The Frist Museum, the Ryman Theater, Gaylord Opryland, Riverfront, country music honky tonks, football, hockey, good restaurants, etc. People living in the New York City area are subjected to a tremendous amount of available activities and diversity and don't realize that there are such laid back places as Franklin. Sure I miss some of the great ethnic foods, Broadway and the like but I'm happy to be out of the liberal Democratic State of New York and all that went with it. I am a moderate conservative Republican. I've been back to the land of taxes about 20 times to visit relatives and friends. Each time I visit, the congestion, the pollution, the rudeness of people, the high prices, etc. serve as reminders of why I left. I'm Jewish and having lived in Virginia and spent time in Franklin / Nashville, I've found it easy to fit in with the majority of folks who are not Jewish. I think it boils down not only to how others treat you, but how you treat others. Admittedly, Northern Virginia is cosmopolitan and upper class income, so the transition from NY was not as great. But I love Franklin. I have found country folks are warm, friendly and welcoming. So they go to church and activities that revolve around church. What's bad about that? If you are Jewish wouldn't you go to Temple and participate in activities there? Big deal. Get over it. Get a life. There's all kinds of activites around the Franklin / Nashville area. Maybe you should take up an instrument, or learn to sing. Wearing cowboy boots and being a big firearms person didn't hurt my assimilation, it really boils down to what you project. What specifically did you find narrow minded and regressive about the populace? 32% of them have 4 year college degrees.

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