Joel Otero

LOVING MY NEIGHBORHOOD

We like living in Greater Memphis and think it’s a nice area for families. We have access to high-quality schools, entertainment, activities—and all with a great cost of living. We live in a great neighborhood in the suburbs of Arlington with kids the same age as ours. 

My wife also works for St. Jude and we have three children - 16, 14 and 3. My oldest son is focused on getting into college; my middle child is an athlete-artist involved in so many school activities; and my three-year-old daughter is very active, curious and into everything.

Most of us are runners in our family, so we like to head to the local parks and get some exercise. A lot of my time outside of work is taken up by driving kids around to their activities, but we also enjoy gardening at home. A usual weekend includes errands and kid’s activities, time at the park and planning for a big meal on Sunday. We often hang out with friends on Saturday nights.

EXPLORING ON WEEKENDS

Memphis is perfectly located for road trips. You’re close to big cities–Chicago, Atlanta–that’s the great advantage of living here. We like Nashville a lot and recently went to Branson, Missouri for a long weekend. Our family takes vacations and smaller weekend trips several times a year. 

ACTIVITIES FOR ALL

Memphis is a very diverse city. You can experience a variety of cultures in the neighborhoods, and it has something for everyone, whether you’re into nightlife, family activities or recreational and outdoor activities.

Shelby Farms Park is amazing. They have equestrian activities, trails, hammocks for relaxing; and in Arlington we have plenty of parks, too. 

The city is big but it feels accessible and walkable. These are exciting times because I see so much new stuff happening, and there’s more to come.