Sevierville, TN

I watched the best show last night--CNBC's "House of Cards"...it was a fascinating look at how we got into the current mess, complete with interviews of the folks who made the decisions that started it all (and they remain totally unrepentant, I might add!) The show goes through the origins of the loans, the development of lucrative bundling of the loans that produced a huge demand for them--and how young people who had literally worked as "pizza delivery" people a month earlier were making 20K a month selling these loans. They then were packaged up, rated AAA and sold to municipalities looking for safe investments--enter Norvik, Norway. This is well worth the couple of hours to watch--highly recommended!

CNBC HOUSE OF CARDS

Ok- OK---- it doesn't get all the advertising and hype of the two other sister cities (Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge) and most people who don't live here can't pronounce the name (how many times do we hear SEEVER-VILLE???) but without all the attention, it turns out it's a pretty perfect place to live. Some of the advantages are:

•· Accessibility-with new roads and exsisting back roads, you can get around to what you need even in times of high traffic with little inconvenience.

•· You're five minutes from everything-schools, church, groceries, the new hospital, courthouse, LOWES, movies--- just about all the things you need if you live here full time.

•· In most areas, you get city services (like water and sewer)

•· It's relatively flat so isn't shut down as often in winter

•· You can get to the national park anytime you want

•· It has great established neighborhoods of full-time residents that foster a real community.

•· Home prices have remained relatively stable in the area. This is because Sevierville is home to many local business people and permanent residents.

I grew up in this area, close to the mountains, and went away for a long time. I always knew I would come back, and one day my husband and I said "just do it" and so we did. We've been back almost 2 years, and cherish every minute...here's some reasons why!

•1. The people are genuinely nicer.

•2. There a 4 gentle seasons with just enough highlights like a snow day here and there to keep it interesting festive (this is meaningful to those in Florida who have to Christmas shop in their shorts).

•3. The pace of life is a little slower-it's easier to let go once you learn to downshift....yes, it IS mandatory to have a 3 minute personal conversation before you get around to asking for the fax to be sent...

•4. I finally learned about the "bless her heart" thing---it's not always a compliment, but delivered with such sincerity and southern charm that you don't realize it isn't a compliment til 10 minutes later.....

•5. You get to drive through the national park on the way to work and when you get to work you are still in the park, you get to listen to the stream bubble all day, and watch the trees and snowflakes and maybe see the 3 bears that hang out in the parking lot

•6. There are lots of people who have a connection to the natural beauty and serenity of this special place-they "get it"

•7. It has a small town-ness but close enough to bigger cities if you need them-(just seem to need them less and less)

•8. It's really festive--you have never seen a town that decorates with lights and flowers and parades etc. etc. like Gatlinburg!

OK--- it's more than 5!