FedEx Pilots: Living in MEM

[Juan Tugo]

For all of us considering a career with FedEx, how is the QOL in MEM...suburbs, entertainment, schools, crime, etc.? Short question, I know, but if any of you could give us an idea of what it's like and whether or not you would recommend it, that would be great.

Thanks,

JT

 

[Huck]

I drive 5 hours to work. From Alabama. That answer your question?

 

[SF3CA]

I grew up here and I am trying to figure out a way to get out. This is one of the most screwed up cities in America. Cost of living is decent and that is about it. The schools are terrible, and the crime is worse than the schools. The government is corrupt, and the race relations are the worst in America. Our congressman's family is the biggest joke in Memphis, but he and his family get re-elected every year. You would think he would have a good handle on the city after growing up in DC, going to law school in Michigan, flunking the barr and having his first job out of law school be U.S Congressman because his dad "handed him the baton" I will say this though, I think he is more honest than his father.

If you live here, you will want to live in the burbs. Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett or Arlington. These school systems are o.k., but not the greatest. If you live in the city, better buy your kid a glock or a smith and wesson if you send them to school.

 

[VaB]

We live in Collierville and it isn't to bad, despite what the other guys have said. C-ville and G-town (that's Germantown for all you gangstas) are pretty nice with tons of other Fedex guys. There's also Bartlett, Cordova, and Lakeland.

I've been here in this area for 3 years now and we often talk about leaving, but I just can't get on board with commuting. I know alot of guys are going to say that commuting isn't a big deal, and it probably isn't. But it doesn't compare to driving home. Whenever we start thinking about moving, I think about the 2 week reserve period I had last month when I was home the whole time instead of sitting in a crashpad with 3 other stinky guys looking at internet porn. mmmmm... internet porn.

The city is screwed up, but the burbs do a good job of keeping themselves removed from that place. As soon as Willy gets voted out of there, it has a chance of getting better. I think he got 90% of the vote last year.

Whenever I hear guys talk about how great commuting is, like operating ANC-MEM then catching the 4 am jumpseat to Tampa 2 hours later, I think they are nuts and falling prey to the "my situation is great and I must therefore talk it up" syndrome. On the other hand, maybe I have that disease when saying that living here is good. I guess it just comes down to picking your poison and living here works for us right now.

However, one thing is driving me crazy. Everytime I meet someone new here I get the "What church do you go to?" recruitment speech. It makes me want to get in the car and drive out of here and leave all my possessions behind. Bible thumpers are rampant. Nothing against the thumpers reading this, of course.

Just my opinion, you'll get 4200 more.

 

[Goose17]

I couldn't agree with VaB more, on ALL accounts.

I have lived here for almost 3 years as well. I live in Germantown and it works for us. Good neighborhood. My kids are too young for school, but from what I have heard, the Collierville and Germantown schools are the best in the area.

I will probably become a commuter sometime in the next 4 years. It depends on progression, pay, and seniority. Memphis is not where I want to spend the rest of my life, but it works well for us now.

Ditto the thumpers!!!

Goose17

 

[adqrip]

You may want to check out northern Mississippi, I was flying in to MEM the other day & MS is building a four lane road to I-55 and it appears this road will link to MEM. There are two Corp of Engineers lakes in the area. I looked at this area and as far south as Oxford (dreaming my daughter would go to law school at Ole Miss). But my bride wanted to live in ATL near her sister. so guess where I am.

I do envy the guys that live here for getting to be home on reserve. hope this helps. rip

 

[spanky2]

Speaking of FEDEX commuting .... a friend of mine from days in the AF has to have the commute to beat all commutes. He is based in Subic and lives in Germany. I asked him if he fell on his head and does he go east or west to get to work. He used to live in MEM.

 

[AlbieF15]

on those "thumpers..."

Bros,

When a Southerner asks you to visit their church, here is what they are implying....

"....we like you and would like to get to know you better..."

"...we'd like to see you somewhere outside of work..."

"...lots of our social fabric in this community is faith based activities. We'd love to get to know the "real you" better..."

"...we hope our kids meet good people....like YOUR kids...."

"...we've been taught the nicest thing to do is help others find the same peace we are trying to find. We hope you are happy..."

You may have to sneak out of town to have a beer with a Baptist (just kidding folks...) but most of the Methodists, Lutherans, Catholics, etc might even have a beer watching the game with you AFTER church on Sunday. Don't get too wound up about folks asking you to join them. Take it as an honest compliment that you are the type of person who they want to know better and who they would like to develop a meaningful friendship with. Nobody will be asking you to pass snakes or drink Jim's Jones's cool aid.

Personally--although Memphis isn't my town and has its drawbacks, a shortage of really nice people is definately NOT one of its problems. There is good food, good booze, good music, a great minor league ball park, and a pretty good casino just 40 minutes away (my crashpad is the Grand, BTW...) There are places I avoid at night, but so far I've found a smile and a "howdy" to most Memphis folks, black or white, usually gets a really warm response back. No place is perfect, but your attitude has a lot to do with how happy you are anywhere. There are a lot of other places I've flown that aren't nearly so warm...

 

[mar]

You said it brother.

No place is perfect, but your attitude has a lot to do with how happy you are anywhere. There are a lot of other places I've flown that aren't nearly so warm...

...and he ain't just whistling Dixie.

 

[VaB]

More on the thumpers

Albie,

All due respect, but since you don't live here, I'm not sure you're in a position to tell me what these people mean when my wife and I start getting hassled about their church. I don't want to turn this thread into something completely useless, however since you brought it up. When I have to listen to people give me their 10 minute schpiel on why there church is the best, what it can offer me, blah blah blah, and I'm telling them the entire time that I'm all set in that department and they keep rambling on, well, bro, I consider that being hassled. I see it all the time when my kids and I are at a playground and I start talking to other parents. It always starts the same way to. "Where are you from?" "How long have you been here?" and after that it's inevitable. "What church do you go to?". And if they're GTBC people, forget it. I think they must get a finders fee for new signups or something.

You are right though, alot of really nice friendly people. I try to do my part and be one of the friendly ones and make the best of living here since I think we're going to be here a while. I'm actually starting to like it. I get filled with dread when I think of driving in the Tampa traffic I saw on vacation a month or 2 ago and longed to get back to the easy Memphis traffic. Especially easy at 2 in the morning when I'm driving in for my late call trip to Narita. Sweeeet.

So, until you've lived here and seen the aforementioned action first hand, and of course depending on your own affiliation, you can't imagine the amount of annoyance caused by such a constant "assault".

Albie - In the interest of keeping this thread useful to those that want to know more about living here, maybe this conversation should be carried on via PM, with the exception of one public rebuttal to my "heathen" words. I don't want to see this head off in a direction of so many other threads I've seen.

Anyway, all you newhires, move on down to Elvis town. It's taken 3 years, but I love it here. Or should I say ya'll?

Later

 

[AlbieF15]

VaB,

What I meant was "you must be a pretty nice guy if all these folks want to get to know you better..." I certainly didn't mean to imply anything hostile or judgemental. The "attitude" part of my post was generic--not aimed at you. As a military guy, I heard people talk all the time about how much Sumter, SC stunk. How awful Alamogordo, NM was....how bad Anchorage could be, and certainly how backward and terrible and full of hicks Panama City Florida really is. I had a great time in all those places... My point was some people (not you and not your thread) carp about their towns all the time. I've found good stuff everywhere I've been stationed...

I bid O&Bs frequently, and spend quite a bit of time during the month piddling around M-town. I will sometimes also have a day or two between trips and I'll hang out locally. Also have quite a few friends I visit up here regularly--in C-town, G-town, Mud Island, mid town, etc. Also considering purchasing a modest N Missississippi home as a crashpad. You are right--I don't live here full time. However, the time I have spent has warmed me to the place quite a bit since I first showed up 2.5 years ago.

That's all I meant...really.

Fly safe.

 

[TonyC]

Re: More on the thumpers

Albie,

All due respect, but since you don't live here, I'm not sure you're in a position to tell me what these people mean when my wife and I start getting hassled about their church. I don't want to turn this thread into something completely useless, however since you brought it up. When I have to listen to people give me their 10 minute schpiel on why there church is the best, what it can offer me, blah blah blah, and I'm telling them the entire time that I'm all set in that department and they keep rambling on, well, bro, I consider that being hassled. I see it all the time when my kids and I are at a playground and I start talking to other parents. It always starts the same way to. "Where are you from?" "How long have you been here?" and after that it's inevitable. "What church do you go to?". And if they're GTBC people, forget it. I think they must get a finders fee for new signups or something.

You are right though, alot of really nice friendly people. I try to do my part and be one of the friendly ones and make the best of living here since I think we're going to be here a while. I'm actually starting to like it. I get filled with dread when I think of driving in the Tampa traffic I saw on vacation a month or 2 ago and longed to get back to the easy Memphis traffic. Especially easy at 2 in the morning when I'm driving in for my late call trip to Narita. Sweeeet.

So, until you've lived here and seen the aforementioned action first hand, and of course depending on your own affiliation, you can't imagine the amount of annoyance caused by such a constant "assault".

Albie - In the interest of keeping this thread useful to those that want to know more about living here, maybe this conversation should be carried on via PM, with the exception of one public rebuttal to my "heathen" words. I don't want to see this head off in a direction of so many other threads I've seen.

Anyway, all you newhires, move on down to Elvis town. It's taken 3 years, but I love it here. Or should I say ya'll?

Later

I grew up in Memphis, moved away for an Air Force career, and returned to avoid commuting and to raise my family. I've listened to a lot of complaints about Memphis, and most of them I understand.

First of all, consider that the majority of FedEx pilots commute, and their experience with Memphis is, for the most part, restricted to those hours in the hub durings turns betweent 11PM and 3AM, and their time in the crash pad. I don't care where a crash pad is, there's going to be some negatives. You're away from home, away from your family, and waiting for "the call." Even if you're in a nice part of town with plenty of amusements, it's still not home.

And the time at the hub - - I hate it and I'm FROM here. Imagine all these guys standing around in the middle of the night, looking like zombies in a stupor, drinking the free coffee and eating the free popcorn - - not because they like either, but because it's something to do. They pass the time by talking to each other about the layover hotel they just left or the awful town they're headed to, they wait for the announcement over the PA "Tonight's movie is Speed 2" or for the announcement "Any crewmember on Flt 1234 to Grand Forks, come to flight coordination for a new release" (Oh, no, the dreaded new flight plan.) If that's all I knew of Memphis, I'd hate it, too.

On the other hand, as Albie has already mentioned, the town can be as good as you make it. There is plenty to do for anybody - - from culture and leisure to sports and night life. Yeah, and there's plenty of hospitality and lots of churches. (What's GTBC?) If you can't find something to do, you're just not looking.

In Memphis there are a variety of VERY nice places to live - - and there are some dangerous places to live. I wouldn't want to send my kids to Memphis City schools, and I'm not into private schools, so I don't live in Memphis. Shelby County schools, on the other hand, are quite good. Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett - - all previously mentioned - - are part of the county school system. I don't care for Germantown as a place to live - - I can get more house for my money almost anywhere else. And I don't care for Collierville - - I never enjoyed "base housing," and FedEx pilots are rampant there. I live in none of the above, in a non-incorporated part of the county north of Bartlett, my kids go to excellent county schools, and I'm very pleased. As I type, 3 of my kids are on band trips to St. Louis and Orlando. They're getting an excellent, quality education.

You might also consider, as has been mentioned, north Mississippi also. I don't esteem their schools as highly, but some might disagree. Their tax structure is different - - TN has no income tax - yet - but the property taxes are generally higher. A bit farther away are Tipton County and Fayette County to the east and north of Shelby County in TN.

There are good things, and there are bad. (What city doesn't have both?) What you focus on will determine what you see. Tonight I'll see a nice dinner on the town.

By the way, VaB - - where do you go to church?

 

[VaB]

What's GTBC?

If you lived out this way, you'd be very familiar with Germantown Baptist Church. I think those folks get the highest finders fee of them all.

One other note about the religious thing and then I swear I'm done. Just tell 'em your Catholic and supposedly they leave you alone.

I really do like it here, don't anyone mistake what I've said. They also need more multisport racing events here.

Later.

 

[busdrver]

.....and many Fedex guys have chosen to retire in this area.

 

[TonyC]

One other note about the religious thing and then I swear I'm done. Just tell 'em your Catholic and supposedly they leave you alone.

Hmmmm. Maybe they just count my kids and assume.

 

[VaB]

Hmmmm. Maybe they just count my kids and assume.

How many?

 

[PCL Flt-ops]

MEMPHIS IS DOWNRIGHT DISGUSTING.

 

[Rabid Washcloth]

I spent the first 27 years of my life in Memphis. It’s nothing but a big version of Mayberry. Every time my wife and I go back in town, we see someone we know at the first place we visit (bar, grocery store, restaurant, etc.). Memphis tends to be a second-rate town with visions of grandeur. The city gov’t will never, never make the right decisions on the way to spend the taxpayers’ money. When you watch or read the news, the slant is always racial. The city is run by/for blacks, the county is run by/for whites. Voluntary segregation is in effect.

The neighborhood I grew up in has gone from a place where my mother wouldn’t think twice about letting me ride my bike home from a friend’s house at 9PM, to a place I wouldn’t enter without a being in a tank. The problem with that is it’s all moving east, towards G’Town and C’ville (Cordova, once a great unknown area has now been trashed). Granted, G’Town and C’ville are cities of their own, but they’ve even shown a downward trend in the recent years due to the “exodus”.

To sum it up, Memphis is a cesspool. A friend in Nashville (snobby, but nice town) once referred to it as “the armpit of Tennessee.” The only reason my wife and I go back is to visit family and friends.

I’m proud to say I’ve never been to Graceland - Elvis was the first Spice Girl.

 

[VaB]

MEMPHIS IS DOWNRIGHT DISGUSTING.

To sum it up, Memphis is a cesspool

That'll about cover the flyby's.

 

[plattsburgher]

Tony C wrote: ..."Any crewmember on Flt 1234 to Grand Forks, come to flight coordination for a new release"...

If you guys think Memphis is bad, get on that 1234 to GFK in Jan or Feb.

 

[cl-65link]

Shelby county schools in the Cordova/Bartlett areas may have been "good" in the past, but I hear the city has "annexed" those areas all the way to the county line. Germantown is about to become an island surrounded by the Memphis city limits. I lived in Cordova for 4 years, glad I'm not there anymore.

 

[TonyC]

Shelby county schools in the Cordova/Bartlett areas may have been "good" in the past, but I hear the city has "annexed" those areas all the way to the county line. Germantown is about to become an island surrounded by the Memphis city limits. I lived in Cordova for 4 years, glad I'm not there anymore.

Cordova is unincorporated, and as such is subject to annexation, Bartlett is not - - Germantown is not - - Collierville is not - - and certain portions of the unincorporated county areas designated as Bartlett reserve are not. Arlington is not - - and I'm not sure about Lakeland. Memphis did annex part of Countrywood recently (Cordova) - - another sad day for Shelby County.

 

[AlbieF15]

More on Memphis

What a great time to be in Memphis (not flying!)...

Saw Offspring last night (missed seeing George Clinton and the funk crew), but tonight it is Fuel, Inidgo Girls, Collective Soul, and Puddle of Mud. Charlie Daniels Band is around today or tomorrow too--decisions decisions. Memphis in May/Beale Street Music Festival is a blast!

Beer is $3.00 and watching all the pretty young things in halter tops is free. Just hope I don't have a drug test with all the second hand Marijuana smoke I smelled last night!

Memphis may not be your cup of tea Jan-Apr, or Jun-Dec, but Memphis in May ROCKS.

 

[VaB]

Albie, I get the feeling that you're trying to talk yourself into moving here. What say you?

 

[AlbieF15]

Nope. Alaska mountains and streams, and NW Floridas beaches and bays are where I plan to divide my time. No F-15 units out at Millington, either... However, having midnight -3am available for BBQ, booze, and music (or a Tunica run) after a pm O&B ain't a bad way to kill time. I'll be in the park tonight (likley with rain gear) listening to the bands. I'll also be jetskiing on Arkabutla and/or Sardis lakes in July and August on either B-reserve (raging in a.m.) or before show on some pm out and backs. Entertaining doing some jetski exploring of the Might Mississippi this summer too, but that dark water with its 6 mph current and viturally NO boat access points is a bit intimidating. The lack of boat ramps might be trying to tell me something... Any boaters with solid data points?

As for your GTBC folks....I think you can spray for those! Its all of us middle of the road Methodists who want you to go to Church with us Sunday after boozing with us Saturday night that will wear you down!

We have years of friendships and ties on the Gulf Coast, and a lot invested in our lives there. I don't expect to leave. I'm just discovering my "TDYs" to Memphis are uncovering some pretty fun stuff to do. Honestly not trying to ruffle anyone's feathers...

 

[TonyC]

Entertaining doing some jetski exploring of the Might Mississippi this summer too, but that dark water with its 6 mph current and viturally NO boat access points is a bit intimidating. The lack of boat ramps might be trying to tell me something... Any boaters with solid data points?

You know about Shelby Forest, right?? (Free on Wednesdays)

 

[furloughed]

NO boat access points is a bit intimidating

You don't even have to go as far as Shelby Forest. Try the north end of Mud Island which is basically downtown. There is a very nice boat ramp and parking area there. That is where I put in my duck boat when I go a couple miles upstream to duck hunt.

 

[Falconjet]

Walking in Memphis

We moved to Collierville about 2 years ago while waiting for a class date at FedEx. Having spent 20 years moving around the country it was nice to finally pick a spot to live for our own reasons. The main reason we chose to live here is so that I could see my family once in a while. Having spent the last year and a half on reserve and with little hope of moving off reserve for another few months at best, a year or two possibly, that has turned out to be a good choice.

Collierville is a nice city of about 30,000 people just about 23 miles from the hub. It reminds me a lot of Northern Virginia because it nice wide streets, large brick homes, and a lot of parks. Its just about 10 times as humid as NoVa. When I go for runs along the greenway trails I say hello to people and they actually say hello back. I just spent a week out in California and couldn't even get eye contact with people when I went running past. The people down south are still pretty friendly for the most part, which is what I really like about the south.

There are some nice, high scoring, neighborhood schools in Collierville and overall the Shelby county school system is actually pretty good. Certainly a step or two up from the public school system in Mobile, AL, which is where we came from and where I would have liked to have stayed, but just didn't want to commute if I didn't have to. When we did our househunting trip up here we found a great neighborhood and a nice house, and my wife really liked the school, so that was that. She was also able to find a part time (by choice, full time was available too) job at the Baptist hospital in town only about 5 miles from our doorstep.

I don't care much for Memphis proper, although there is a nice kid's museum, zoo, and botanical gardens that my wife and kids love to go to. The music festivals that Albie mentioned are very popular, as is Beale Street. The crime issue in Memphis proper is certainly an issue, but name a large city where crime isn't an issue. I personally prefer to stay away from ANY large city, and crime is an issue everywhere, certainly something to consider anywhere you live.

As a commuter you will end up spending more time away from home while on reserve or trying to fly the pm side of the schedule. If you live in a city that is an outstation you may get to bid trips that originate in that city (after a deadhead from Memphis that you would just bank) when you are senior enough, and you will get to spend a lot of time at home. Most of those trips are am trips though, so you will spend most of your flying doing hub turns. Not the end of the world, its just a matter of what you would prefer to do.

The bottom line is that if you have a compelling reason to live in a particular place (family, job, home town, whatever), FedEx is a great company for a commuter. That has been documented on several other threads.

If you don't have a compelling reason to stay put, moving to Memphis will make your life a lot easier at the outset and enable you a few more options about what type of trips you would prefer to fly. Then all you have to do is shrug off all the "oh I'm sorry" comments you get from the guys who don't live here when you tell them where you live, and smile as they run off to catch their jumpseat home at the end of your trip.

Best of luck.

FJ