Lake Living

“Life just doesn’t get any better than this…”

In the fall 2013 print issue of Ideal Living magazine we told a few stories about living on the lake.
Here are a few more…

Nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, the clear waters of Lake Tellico beckon retirees.

Diana and Chip Miller, Tellico Village, TN

Living all around the country in the past, Chip and Diana Miller had never lived in the South until 2006 when Chip was transferred to Oak Ridge, TN. “We live on a golf course across from the lake. The fall is beautiful on Lake Tellico and we’re only a days drive from everywhere. ”

“We were considering places to retire with a low cost of living, low taxes, a moderate climate close to the southeastern U.S. Tennessee is a great place to retire without spending an arm and leg. “

Both Diana and Chip are avid golfers, playing together every Sunday and with women’s and men’s groups throughout the week. Diana’s women’s group supports 18 charities. She volunteers every Wednesday. “There are so many activities that you can choose how you want to help.”

In addition to their active lifestyles with golf and volunteering, the Millers are known for entertaining. They host an annual “Cinco de Mayo” party where they cook all of the food for 45 to 60 people. Their kitchen has 2 prep areas, so entertaining is easy. They utilize both indoor and outdoor spaces for parties. In the mild climate of eastern Tennessee, they can entertain year-‘round outdoors.

Joe and Laurel Marlette of Tellico Village

Life on the lake is a veritable playground for adults and children alike. “We have a couple of wave runners, a sailboat and a 24′ cruising boat, not to mention kayaks, knee boards and a paddle board. We love the water, so we build somewhere to attract the family.”

“We had about 30 people over last week. We have two grown sons that are married with children, so we wanted to build something that we could all enjoy.” Originally from Ohio, they moved to Tellico Village 12 years ago.

“We’ve lived in a lot of places, but the people here are really special. It’s a great community with so much to do and enjoy.”
Frank & Jo Kolarich of Swan Ridge on Dale Hollow Lake, TN

“From our deck we can see 40 or 50 miles. The serenity is one of the best things about living on the lake. It is so beautiful and calm. We’ve even sat on our deck and seen bald eagles fly right by.”

The Kolarich’s moved to Swan Ridge on the 28,000-acre Dale Hollow Lake from Florida 6 years ago. They boast of Dale Hollow Lake as one of the cleanest lakes around. According to Frank, one of the best reasons for moving here was the boating and fishing.

“You see many kids floating on rafts with grandparents near by. We personally love how refreshing it is to jump off into the large freshwater. We have really fast waverunners that we take to marinas around the lake for lunch. We love to fish on the lake and we can do that all year long.”

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