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I lived in Alexandria and Arlington for six years after college during tech boom of late 90s. I worked in Tysons and Herndon but honestly area lacked character. It was all strip malls and chain restaurants. Everyone bragged about their new home in Ashburn but area had nothing but horse farms and manufactured town center. No beaches close by either. Culturally, you might be in for a shock as lots of native Virginians still think they are old south. I am not a gun owner or bible thumper but realize that is a part of NoVA culture still. Perhaps that is for you. DC is a small city. You come to realize it after several years, same spots over and over - Georgetown, Capitol Hill, Adams Morgan. Most of it is downright scary. It is nowhere near NYC. Not even in same breath on cultural level but pretty city in places. Highways like Beltway, 95, Dulles Toll Rd., 66, Leesburg Pike/7..horrible..and I lived in NJ, NYC, and CT. Sorry, a good area for some but not my cup of tea for change of pace from NY area.
Don't have to apologize to me. I'm very happy with our decision. I will say - there's a reason the D.C. area is booming. Sorry it wasn't for you.
After 40 years in CT, raising three boys and both of us in public education for 33 years for me and 35 for the wife, we also decided is was time to leave CT. When we did the comparisons to other states with no income taxes, it was a no brainer.
Yes, we moved to Florida and we live in a wonderful 55+ community. As we are coming up on 1 year in Florida, we too have been doing the money comparisons. It looks like we will have an extra $28,000 to $30,000 in our pockets.
Two of our sons and their families with 3 grandsons still live in CT. We will visit in August and they come down in February. And yes there are many aspects of CT we will miss. But the housing market in CT has not come close to recovering from the 08 - 09 crash. It took us two years to sell with 7 price drops. Our house lost a 1/3 of its value. But property taxes continued to rise. Our house here in Florida is comparable in size and costs a lot less.
As Headedwest said - yea we get hot and humid, but I'm not paying a plow guy, I don't have to shovel and use a snow blower. I don't have to deal with heating oil and 4 to 6 tons of pellets a season.
A number of posters have gone off topic on this thread. The rules of this forum actually do not allow "goodbye" threads. Since Kidyankee is not leaving the forum, I had let this thread continue. If off topic posts continue however I will be forced to close it down. JayCT, Moderator
For the second time, the area suits our lifestyle better (additionally, their taxes are less and salaries higher!).
ok..ok. I have friends there and boy it is not cheaper for them. Best of luck.
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