| After almost 20 years of living and working in the St. | | | | popular attractions of the area is the Bristol Race |
| Petersburg/Tampa part of Florida, and after living | | | | Track. People come from far and wide to see the |
| through nine hurricanes, we decided to make the | | | | races in March and in August. So many of our friends |
| move to what we considered to be the "real" South, | | | | and family are envious because we live so close to |
| Bristol, Virginia. | | | | the NASCAR track. |
| I have written before about the neighbors we had in | | | | Bristol is also the birthplace of Country Music, and it is |
| Florida, they were not caring, they were not friendly, | | | | kept alive by presenting concerts, collaborating with |
| they really did not seem to care about anyone that | | | | local organizations, taping programs for national |
| lived around them. Now, there might have been a | | | | broadcast, and maintaining archives of recorded music |
| few that did, but they really were the exception to | | | | and spoken word. |
| the rule. Most of them just could not be bothered | | | | There is live music every night of the week here. |
| with anyone...they were too busy working to keep | | | | There is always something to do or hear in this area. |
| their heads above water in a state that was | | | | The Paramount Center for the arts serves as a |
| supposed to be one of least expensive to live in. | | | | showplace for the arts in Bristol. They feature |
| Guess they were wrong. | | | | nationally known musicians, host Broadway touring |
| Now, Virginia is just the opposite. Here in Bristol, | | | | shows, and present a varied line-up of performances. |
| Virginia, I have the best neighbors. You could not ask | | | | There is always something to do in Bristol, and my |
| for kinder, sweeter, or more caring people to have | | | | husband and I take advantage of this whenever we |
| as friends. They are always there if you need them. | | | | can. |
| If someone is sick, then they bring food to you, they | | | | Real Estate is also more affordable in Bristol. A home |
| give you flowers from their gardens to plant in your | | | | that we could not have afforded in Connecticut, and |
| garden, they phone each other to tell of one of the | | | | the kind they just didn't have in our part of Florida |
| neighbors mom that passed away, and make enough | | | | either. That was one of the reasons that we are |
| food to feed their family for a week. They want to | | | | here, we could afford the home we wanted, a home |
| share with you. It is a true neighborhood. | | | | with high ceilings, and big rooms. That was what we |
| Something I have not experienced since I lived in | | | | were looking for, and never thought we could afford. |
| Bridgeport Connecticut in the North End when I was | | | | But we could afford it here, because the taxes and |
| growing up. We had neighbors there, that you could | | | | the insurance are not as high as it was in Florida. |
| depend on. It is the same here in Bristol....they really | | | | Florida went out of sight because of the 9 hurricanes |
| do care about each other, and I care about them. | | | | we had in one year. The insurance and taxes just |
| Beside the great neighbors we have here, we have | | | | went sky high, and we decided we had enough. The |
| great weather, not as much snow as Connecticut, | | | | same way as many others in the state are doing. |
| and not the horribly bitter cold that we had there | | | | We packed up everything and moved here. We are |
| either. Still have the change of seasons, which I didn't | | | | glad we did. I miss my children in Connecticut, so we |
| realize that I missed since I moved from Florida, | | | | are closer to them now. Takes about 12 hours, but |
| but....strange as it may seem, I did miss it. I missed | | | | that's not bad compared to driving to Connecticut |
| seeing the beautiful yellow, orange and redish gold | | | | from Florida. Now, that was a drive! |
| colors that fill my view from all the windows in our | | | | All in all, we are very happy to be living in the "real" |
| large Victorian home. | | | | South, with people that we care about, and that care |
| There are so many other amenities that make Bristol | | | | about us. It's nice to be included in their parties, their |
| such a great place to live. Because we are right on | | | | holidays, and their family gatherings. So very different |
| the border of Tennessee, all of our services are | | | | from what we experienced in our old neighborhood. |
| shared. We only have one Chamber of Commerce. If | | | | Here, our friends are our family! |
| you want to know something about Bristol | | | | If you are interested in a small town that wraps their |
| Tennessee, or Bristol Virginia, the Chamber is the | | | | arms around you when you move into your home, |
| place to go. | | | | and opens up it's heart to new people, then consider |
| We are also known for the thirteen colleges we | | | | moving to our new favorite part of the South, Bristol |
| have in our area, and of course one of the most | | | | Virginia, you won't be sorry! |