Nearly two years have passed since my husband and I made the decision to move out of state from our Indiana home. We both love the Smokey Mountains and the time seemed right to take a leap of faith. In July 2021, we purchased our dream farm in East Tennessee. But change is never easy. Now we’re just two Yankees transplanted into Appalachia trying to adapt to the significant challenges set before us.
This is not to say we didn’t anticipate potential obstacles with this decision. Certainly, moving our household plus my husband’s garage/shop almost 500 miles was at the top of the list. Rather than hire movers, we chose to purchase a retired U-Haul truck to transport our “stuff.” Even though this part was tough, I doubt we ever would have found anyone willing to pack up all his tools, automotive parts, construction supplies, and equipment. So many loads of household items went to Goodwill. Yet, I thought the packing would never end. The move was horrific, but we made it all in one piece (in peace). Thank you, Jesus.
With everything now on the farm, the difficult part was over. Right? Not hardly. Organizing it all while also trying to renovate parts of the house and repair the barns and fencing is still an ongoing project. For a time, my daughter and her husband lived with us while looking for a house to purchase. Not long after their twins were born, the water coming to the house from a natural spring stopped. With new babies to care for, having no water was a disaster none of us knew how to fix. You don’t call the water company or a plumber when your water comes from the mountain. Thank goodness our neighbor came to the rescue and helped my husband clear out the roots and plants clogging the flow from the spring box.
Since that episode, we’ve had no further problems with the spring and have plenty of crystal-clear water delivered right to our sink faucets. We learned to overcome these types of challenges and individual hurdles. But change is never easy and adjusting to it takes much longer to accomplish.
Mountain culture and dialect are vastly different than that of the flat lands to the north. I must listen closely, or I’ll misunderstand expressions or enunciation of certain words. Even the term, Appalachian, isn’t pronounced the way I learned it as a child. Northerners say “ap-uh-ley-chee-uhn”. But mountain folk call themselves “ap-uh-lach-uhn” with the third syllable like the latch on a door. Mispronounce this one word and everyone knows you’re not from around here.
Most people are friendly and will politely correct you. However, there are a few individuals resentful of the many outsiders moving into the area and will let you know it. I imagine they’ve had bad experiences with newcomers who transplanted into Appalachia then decided they wanted to change the culture to match the place they came from. The anger people feel about this lack of respect is fully justified.
Be that as it may, my husband and I have no desire to change the mountain culture or the dialect. We just want to understand it. The beauty of this place and its people amaze me in so many ways. Even so, we’ve taken awhile to adjust and find a way to fit in. As we meet more people in our church and get better acquainted with our neighbors, some of our unease is lifting. It helps that my husband’s coworkers at his new job are welcoming him into their community. Slowly, we’re acclimating to this new place.
Like plants dug from a garden far away, God gently lifted the soil to make a spot in this mountain garden for us. Initially, we wilted with the stress of the move. Although, with nourishing rain and careful tending by our Creator, we are starting to grow until soon we will be thriving. Yes, my husband and I are just two Yankees transplanted into Appalachia struggling to fit into a new and different culture. Change is never easy. But with God’s help, we’re overcoming these challenges so we can transform our mountain farm into our forever home this side of Heaven.
Don’t be afraid of change, because it’s leading you to a new beginning.
Joyce Meyer
Dr. Montgomery, Greetings, it was good to read your message this morning. I hope you’re doing well.
Blessings, Jacquie Green
Moving is always hard, but transplanting into a new and different culture is tough. Having been a NC farm girl all my life, I’m familiar with the challenges you mention, as well as the ongoing work and maintenance required to keep a farm going. In my childhood, we also got our water from a spring. Although it tasted wonderful, the maintenance needed to keep the water coming into our house was, at times, overwhelming. Welcome to the South, dear friend. I know you will continue to acclimate and will soon feel at home and cared for by your neighbors.
Thank you! Things are definitely getting better but it has been more of a challenge than we expected.
we transplanted to NE tennessee from the other side of the country and couldn’t be happier here! send me a personal message if you’d like to get together for coffee!
We’re over our greatest hurdles. I’d love to hear your thoughts. We met in Henry’s class at the Blue Ridge conference. It would be nice to see you again. Coffee sounds wonderful! I sent a PM.