By Mike Hazlip—
Scott Meyer is calling it quits after more than 50 years living in the Golden State.
The combination of California’s higher cost of living coupled with what Meyer sees as a lower quality of life is part of his decision to move to Tennessee, he told The Sentinel in an interview this month. With lower property taxes and a lower cost of living, he expects to save about $20,000 annually by living in the Volunteer State. A retired race car builder and driver coach, Meyer said he also expects to save several thousand in registrations and gas for his vehicles.
Another factor for Meyer is being closer to his son, who he said moved to Tennessee after housing costs became unaffordable in California.
“We told the kids, go back east and let’s hook up, because my son can’t buy a house in California,” Meyer said.
Adding to the allure of a less expensive cost of living, is a change of pace for Meyer. After making a few trips back and forth, he said Tennessee offers an easier way of life.
“It’s just a much different way of life,” he said. “It’s like going back 20, 25 years. I remember people used to be just more warm, more friendly. (Today) everybody’s in such a hurry, everybody’s just out for number one.”
Meyer’s 1,728 square-foot home at 8509 Pearl Way is listed for $849,999 and offers three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a pool. There is also a detached garage with an upstairs apartment that Meyer built on the Placer County side of the property.
His property is located partly in Sacramento County and partly in Placer County due to a U.S. Government land survey in the mid-1800s that did not follow California’s county lines, according to Citrus Heights Historical Society President Larry Fritz. Meyer was featured last year in The Sentinel’s “Life on the Edge” series in a story titled “What happens when the county line runs through your home.”
Meyer previously told The Sentinel his lot had two parcels in Placer County, but he combined them when he built the shop. He said the county typically discourages combining parcels, but Placer County allowed it because there was no access to the back lot.
The home he bought in Bedford County, Tennessee, is on two acres of land with a lawn that stays green without a sprinkler system, Meyer said, a savings not only on his water bill, but in maintenance time and costs.
“It’s really pretty up there, everything’s green,” he said. “Two acres of lawn without any sprinklers. It’s a big deal.”
From last year: Why this Citrus Heights family is moving out of California
Moving closer to Nashville is another factor that Meyer said influenced his decision. An amateur guitar player, Meyer said he and his wife like to attend concerts and music events.
“Tennessee was always a destination for me because I’ve been to Nashville a few times and I really love Nashville,” he said. “Fun city and a lot of music. My wife and I attend a lot of concerts.”
That quality of life is something Meyer said is now missing in California because of higher taxes and cost of living.
“My tagline for California is: California takes all the fun out of living here,” he said.
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