Sounds like you all need to take a couple of weeks and just drive around the area, mingle with the people eat in restaurants and diners, attend some church services of your denomination, and see how you like it.

A central place to start with would be Knoxville, within reach of the Great Smoky Mountains park and tons of small towns within hours drive.

Personally, I've been all over the Western hemisphere but east Tennessee will always be my home.