Move back to DC from Denver (pros and cons, to live, food)

[maciesmom]

Really, no place is inherently "better" since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so to speak. If you've made a move, after lots of research, which sounds like what the OP did, then it is pretty unfair to ANY new place to expect to love it right away. It really isn't how life generally works. The friends, family and familiarity you left behind all look pretty nice when you are in a new place and lonely or bored. Just keep in mind you chose to leave, gave it thought, so everything wasn't as rosey as it now looks from afar. I think the timetable outllined by the PP was pretty accurate - although not everyone's experience as pointed out by another poster. In any event, a few months is not a fair trial for any city. If you want to truly give things a chance, I would say at least a year to feel not lost and alone and at the minimum 2 years to stop referring to wherever you came from as "home" -as in we're going home for Thanksgiving this year...You might never come to love Denver (or any area honestly) but as long as you've made the emotional and financial commitment to coming here, then you might as well give it a fair chance.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by 2bindenver

oh and I miss lightening bugs.

If I left, I won't miss miller moths.

When my oldest was about 6, we went to visit my BFF in DC. She and my friend's little niece had a great time catching lightning bugs. DD had never seen them.

Really, OP, if you're having trouble supporting yourselves, you may need to move on. Only you can decided what's best for you, but rest assured, it does take time to assimilate. After we moved here, I got a better understanding for people who had emigrated to the US. Even if it's better, it's a change.

[treedonkey]

Originally Posted by nelumbo

My experience has been rather different:

year one: amusement at novelties of new area
year two: increasingly annoyed at not finding things that I want
year three: exhaustive search for things that I find are missing here
year four: give up on finding what I want, and focus on finding a way to move back east

The 'things' here ranges from retail to food to activities to people. I didn't really miss the east coast initially, and now I really really want to go back. Honestly, I can't think of anything special about the area that I'd miss after I leave (since I have no interest in mountain/outdoor activities).

I'll give you that, but either way three years seems to be the 'magic' number. The point is, a year is barely enough time to get your feet wet, and even after 2 full years most folks would still be in a period of adjustment. If you've given it over three full years and still feel as you do than I agree that it's time to seriously consider moving on.

Just out of curiosity, from someone who lives and breathes the mountainous outdoors... what else is there of interest in life? Bowling/Billiards? Watching pro sports? Partying? Or just old friends and familiar places? I'm really not trying to give you a hard time, but, besides that last one, it's beyond my current understanding, so maybe you could enlighten me...

What is it that you want? What are you missing?

[maciesmom]

Just out of curiosity, from someone who lives and breathes the mountainous outdoors... what else is there of interest in life? Bowling/Billiards? Watching pro sports? Partying? Or just old friends and familiar places? I'm really not trying to give you a hard time, but, besides that last one, it's beyond my current understanding, so maybe you could enlighten me...

Obviously I can't answer for others, but having lived in a variety of places over my lifetime, I think that people who prefer areas like DC etc really miss the "intellectual stimulation" , the fast pace, the career focused (or obsessed depending on your POV) etc etc. Some people thrive on that. Me? I hated it. I do miss a few things (Washington Post Style Invitational), hopping on the metro to be downtown etc but I am a midwesterned/westerner at heart. Whenever I go back to visit I do enjoy it but I have no desire to live like that every day. I like a more relaxed lifestyle (and I really really hate humidity). Others really enjoy that. To each his own.

[seethelight]

Originally Posted by georgethecat

I can't believe I'm saying this after months (years) of deliberation about moving to Denver from DC in the first place, but we are thinking of moving back to DC from Denver. We're quite torn up about it, but we can't seem to find comparable jobs here - and telecommuting to DC (which we're both still doing) isn't feasible in the long run. We love the outdoors - we have spent every weekend in the mountains since we moved here 12/08. But we miss friends, familiarity and success. How long does it take to get used to a new place?

I have been in Boulder for five years now and look forward to the day when I can return to the D.C. area. I too miss my friends and the East Coast mentality, which I would take any day over what I have seen in the West.

When we first moved here my son was in middle school and made a lot of friends that first year, however every single parent that was dropping off kids at our house, dropped them off without coming in to introduce themselves, and every single parent(s) would wait in the driveway and call their kid on the cellphone and wait for them to come out. This NEVER happened in D.C. To this day it is still happening.

Yeah the scenery is beautiful, but it isn't enough to make one happy. If scenery alone would do it, then why are there so many people here not happy?

I always had a philosophy that if you have to think about something too long, then it isn't right. Some people adjust to the West and some never do.

[maciesmom]

Originally Posted by seethelight

I have been in Boulder for five years now and look forward to the day when I can return to the D.C. area. I too miss my friends and the East Coast mentality, which I would take any day over what I have seen in the West.

When we first moved here my son was in middle school and made a lot of friends that first year, however every single parent that was dropping off kids at our house, dropped them off without coming in to introduce themselves, and every single parent(s) would wait in the driveway and call their kid on the cellphone and wait for them to come out. This NEVER happened in D.C. To this day it is still happening.

Yeah the scenery is beautiful, but it isn't enough to make one happy. If scenery alone would do it, then why are there so many people here not happy?

I always had a philosophy that if you have to think about something too long, then it isn't right. Some people adjust to the West and some never do.

Wow - My experience has been the opposite! Maybe it's your neighborhood or school? I know all my kid's parents and they know me. Because the cost of living is so much lower and it's not so "dog-eat-dog", more often a parent can be home or at least home before 7pm. Interesting.

[formercalifornian]

Originally Posted by seethelight

I have been in Boulder for five years now and look forward to the day when I can return to the D.C. area. I too miss my friends and the East Coast mentality, which I would take any day over what I have seen in the West.

When we first moved here my son was in middle school and made a lot of friends that first year, however every single parent that was dropping off kids at our house, dropped them off without coming in to introduce themselves, and every single parent(s) would wait in the driveway and call their kid on the cellphone and wait for them to come out. This NEVER happened in D.C. To this day it is still happening.

Yeah the scenery is beautiful, but it isn't enough to make one happy. If scenery alone would do it, then why are there so many people here not happy?

I always had a philosophy that if you have to think about something too long, then it isn't right. Some people adjust to the West and some never do.

I've seen this a few times in our neighborhood, too, but thankfully most parents around here are more polite and social.

[nelumbo]

maciesmom, you can read the Style Invitational for free online at the Post's webpage.

Originally Posted by treedonkey

Just out of curiosity, from someone who lives and breathes the mountainous outdoors... what else is there of interest in life?

I enjoy making things - things with food, wood, cloth, fiber, paper, metal, whatever. I love cooking, gardening, crafting, playing music, and games. Clearly, many of these things can be done in any location, but it is more fun to have some direction or purpose. I found many more outlets/venues and a much larger community of other people with similar interests when I lived on the east coast. Here, I volunteer for community theater, which is fine, but I miss the other outlets.

It seems like many people in Boulder (where I live) spend almost all of their free time doing aggressive outdoor sports and activities. While I don't mind camping or whatnot, I prefer low-key sorts of things, and I'm fine with going camping or hiking once every other year - it just doesn't interest me that much. The most fun I've had when camping was on occasions where I spend 12+ hours a day cooking gourmet meals for a large group on an open fire, or most of the time playing cards. And I'd much rather visit a big wooded lake or river than mountains.

[D-town 720]

Originally Posted by EastBay-NowDCarea

DC and Denver are too different to compare. DC is big city life and Denver is more laid back and much smaller. Denver is much better in terms of outdoor life when it comes to the mountain scene.

The mountains are an hour away from DC, but the mountains look like large hills compared to the Rockies. DC is close to beaches, but still not that close since it's at least 2 hours away to the Atlantic, but 30 minutes to the Chesapeake, but that doesn't count.

If you like the mountains and the outdoor events that the mountains offer, then you can't go wrong with Denver. If you're more into your career then DC is an easy decision.

Ever been to Denver? How is it not the big city life? Its way more fast paced than the East bay. Cant see D.C. being so much more of a big city then Denver. I liked D.C. but it lacked highrise development badly and its downtown wasn't too centralized.

[maciesmom]

you can read the Style Invitational for free online at the Post's webpage.

I do occasionally but it's one of those things...I really prefer reading stuff "hard copy" and having someone around to discuss/appreciate it with. Not DH's cup of tea.