TVA's hiring

Energy Central reports that TVA will need thousands of new employees in the South to meet their nuclear maintenance (and probable expansion) plans.

I'm glad to hear that. My husband and I have been tinkering with going back "home" to Northern Alabama. I have a good feeling that the area will experience a nice economic uptick in coming years. Aside from the attractive location for retirees, there could be a resurgence in nuclear that will bring thousands of jobs back to the Tennessee Valley, including at Browns Ferry and Bellefonte power plants.

Many of my friends here in the San Francisco area think I'm crazy for considering living in Alabama. Secret is, Northern Alabama and Tennessee are beautiful. Weather's not bad (not as nice as CA, but better than most places), cuisine is ok if you love fatty foods, golf courses and lakes/rivers are wonderful, there is no traffic, and for the price of our little 3/2 in Pleasanton CA on a postage stamp of grass, we can buy a McMansion on 10 acres, or a very nice riverfront home with private boat dock in Florence, AL. And just like in Pleasanton, Home Depot and Wal Mart are just down the road.

The downside? The nearest Starbucks is 45 miles away.