I absolutely adore Chattanooga. I'm a 2nd-generation Austinite (and had only ever lived outside of Texas for about six years... Oakland & Nashville), and moved to SE Tennessee, sight-unseen, six years ago, to help Twin build his home in the National Forest. I now live in a 100-year-old cabin inholding, just minutes from downtown.

Cost of living is very low; internet has so many gigabits [optical, up to synchronus 10GB+ direct to home] you won't even believe it — and the local ISP is one of best-rated in country. Electricity is VERY INEXPENSIVE, traffic is minimal for a city of this size (so many interstates / highways).

My mother, living in Austin, just died... and honestly I really don't see any reason to return to my hometown (having found Chattanooga) except for the rare wedding/funeral. When I do return to either ATX or SFbay, my anxiety and distaste(s) for the world return.

This is still a homely town, with homely people, and simple good times. For the wrong person, this place can become a self-inflicted hellhole (e.g. Meth, prostitution, trafficking... all very high here). With the highest per-capita of churches of any US city, it's interesting how questionable some of the morals are around these parts (Good Ole Peoples' Clubs).