Columbia is very happening and due to the high concentration of affordable apartments, is the locale of choice for a lot of young professionals in the area. It's one of my highest recommended places for people that will work in DC/Baltimore. I know you said you're not only looking for bars/clubs, but Columbia has a handful of good ones: Nottingham's, Sonoma's, the new Greene Turtle, etc. Shopping at Columbia Mall is good - upscale, clean, safe. Restaurants are good, and you have Old Town Ellicott City nearby as well for shopping and dining. Also, you are correct in saying that it is a very family-oriented area as well...
Despite my Columbia rave, if you don't mind a 30 minute commute, it sounds like you'd have infinitely more fun in Annapolis - take everything I just described about Columbia and turn it up a notch. I live there now and it's an absolute blast - with a lot more to do (a walkable downtown, boating/fishing, Navy college football, crab feasts, art galleries, etc.) Plus the requisite young singles meat market bars & clubs, with better music than you get in Columbia
Good luck!
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Relocating to Columbia
Annapolis #1, Columbia #2, forget the rest!
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