Moving Can Change Your Life
Sometimes Change is Good — Life From the Mountain
So you think you might wanna move. As you can see from the photo of the signpost, situated directly in ‘Downtown’ Blairsville, you have many choices, albeit far away. So if you’re thinking of moving, there ya go. If you want to visit though, here’s some information.
Our choice to move after a visit here was a secondary choice—more on that in a minute.
Looking to move?
We had spent over two years looking at and considering, anything and everything. From the islands off the coast of Honduras to the islands off the Belize coastline to Mexico, Portugal, and Puerto Rico we looked, but when push came to shove we decided to look within the US.
So we made a list of what we wanted and narrowed that list down to the important things we each sought. This list finally became these items:
- Small town
- Low crime rate
- Low housing costs
- Lakes and rivers
- Mountains (low humidity)
- Mild four seasons
Our little town here has everything mentioned, and its very friendly nature. In fact, if one looks up information on the town, the one constant you will find is “friendly people”.
From the website www.exploregeorgia.org there’s this: “Blairsville provides the best of the best when it comes to peace, quiet, and comfort. Residents of this area are privy to big backyards, plenty of uncrowded space, little noise pollution, and virtually no traffic on morning commutes. The locals are also some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet.”
The listed population in Blairsville rose from 625 (2010) to 725 (2021). Everyone here speaks to you, and responds with a wave, a smile, and younger ones (well they are almost all younger than me) with “yes sir”. That is not an exaggeration.
Location, Location, Location
When we began last Spring (2021) our searches took us to South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and eventually Georgia. One place I had discovered and really liked was Murphy, NC. It met all the required criteria.
We flew out for one week in August 2021. We both wanted to see what it was like in the hottest part of the year. It was amazing. We spent the first 4 days with a Realtor looking all over and around Murphy, NC. Every time we put a contract on a property, it had already sold. We had 2 days left, and on our very last day before we had to fly back to Arizona, we found our home. That’s what I call a “nail-biter”. Our home in Arizona had already been sold.
What changed in our search? Location. The Realtor asked us if we ever considered Georgia (we had not) and told us if not we were making a huge mistake. She mentioned Blairsville, GA specifically. She was correct. Our home is on a mountain top, 2 miles below the NC border and 25 minutes from Murphy, NC. in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and 10 minutes from Nottely Lake. Perfect.
We got lucky. On the very last day, we had 2 offers accepted, after none for 5+ days. Both fit what we were looking for, but one was still heads above the other. Not too big, but bigger than what he had before in square footage. And on a mountain top, with just single-lane, gravel and dirt road, winding through the forest, gravel road to get up there. It has 1.25 acres, forests on three sides, a few neighbors but not on top of each other… incredible beauty all around. And views most would die for.
Now what?
Did I mention how unbelievably friendly people are here? Stand in line at the grocery… you’re in a conversation. Bank? The same. Restaurant? The same. Walking around town? The same. People who you have no idea who they are will wave and greet you. The bottom line is, as we learn about the area, the town, and the people and immerse ourselves in everything here our decision to move here is reinforced daily.
A couple of other things also…
- Listening to the local radio station, I just learned something from the DJ today. A popular term used here is “Bless his/her heart.” What this usually means is whoever is being referenced is very nicely being called an idiot. With a smile of course.
- And that’s another thing… talking with folks here takes some getting used to. The southern accent is something that puts one in the habit of listening very closely to what is being said. Since most people don’t listen to anything anyone has to say nowadays, that’s a good thing.
- That accent is, by the way, a heartbreaker when it’s a beautiful woman speaking. My god almighty that has twisted my little heart around in so many ways … and it still happens now.
In the 60s The Beach Boys had a hit titled “California Girls”. The first stanza in the song had this: “And the Southern girls, with the way they talk They knock me out when I’m down there.”
Exactly. Every. Single. Time.
What else can I say? There's a lot more I can say about this area, and that will be another story or three as I will be digging into the history of this area. And there is a LOT of history. But for now… well… relax, grab more ice for your sweet tea. I’m almost done here.
I went into town Sunday (most everything is closed Sundays and if you want to buy a beer, well it’s why sweet tea is so loved I reckon) to take some photos.
Walking around the town square taking these photos, every person in every car with local Georgia plates that went by me, waved and smiled… male, female, young, old… all of them. Tourists though (from Florida) ignored me, refused to stop to let me cross the street, and just plowed on by. The law here in Blairsville is pedestrians MUST be allowed to cross. I never liked Florida anyway.
This area is perfect for us. I would highly encourage anyone to visit and see for themselves. If nothing else… if not the lakes, the rivers, the mountains, the hiking trails … everyone should experience at least one time the great people of this little town. There is nothing else like them or this town anywhere I have ever been. It really is just plain friendly.
Just don’t move here.
