If these 10 things sound familiar, it’s likely you’ve spent a long time living in Tennessee—and they’re a sure sign the Volunteer State has truly shaped your daily life.
1. You treat allergy season like a battleground
Every spring, the pollen and mold send you scrambling for allergy meds and tissues; you can’t remember a time when you breathed clearly in April.
2. You keep bug spray and pest control on autopilot
From cockroaches to mosquitoes to brown recluse spiders, dealing with bugs is an annual ritual—exterminator visits are just part of your schedule.
3. You’ve gotten used to brutal summer humidity
Sticky, sweltering heat from May to October is your reality, and you measure summer in windshield shade covers and air conditioning bills.
4. You’ve weathered your share of tornado warnings
You instinctively check the NOAA app, know where your safest room is, and have spent anxious nights watching the radar during severe storms.
5. You expect slow or limited public transportation
If your Tennessee town even has a bus route, you know driving is usually the only reliable way to get anywhere.
6. You roll your eyes at Nashville traffic
Long commutes, construction zones, and rush-hour headaches are nothing new, especially when visiting the fast-growing cities.
7. You know the sales tax stings
Every transaction with Tennessee’s high sales tax leaves you wishing groceries were just a little cheaper.
8. You’ve adjusted to spotty healthcare in rural areas
Doctor and specialist visits often mean a long drive to the nearest city—and you’ve learned to schedule months in advance.
9. You brace for extreme weather surprises
Thunderstorms, tornadoes, and occasional flooding are a fact of life, and you never ignore a weather alert.
10. You’ve seen Tennessee change—and not always for the better
Rapid growth and newcomers have affected housing prices, traffic, and even local traditions, making long-time residents nostalgic for “the old days”.
Live through enough of these, and it’s a sign Tennessee truly feels like home—for better or worse.
SOURCES
(https://thehonestlocal.com/pros-cons-living-tennessee-moving/)
(https://www.sroa.com/blog/local-guide/pros-and-cons-of-living-in-tennesee)
(https://homeia.com/city-living-guide/the-pros-and-cons-of-living-in-tennessee/)(https://www.redfin.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-living-in-tennessee/)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP1iy1jQ3sQ)
