True Maryland Native--Informal Poll (Baltimore, Frederick: to buy, high school, university)

[pythagras]

Maryland's not so bad... except for the crime, taxes, traffic, grouchy people, pollution, and sprawl...

Eh such is life. I try to focus on the positives. The Metro goes farther into MD than into VA, as does the MARC. Thats not bad if you like going into the city. Jobs are easy to find. Schools aren't terrible... lost of diversity, I've never seen so much ethnic variety with suburbia, there are many intelligent people around the DC area.... err umm what else is there?

Oh... once you get used to this area, going anywhere else is like a vacation, right?

I'm still trying to come up with a catchy phrase to embarrass the state into lowering taxes. You know like "Taxachussets". Maybe "MaryTaxLand"? Or the "Merry Taxing Land". How about "May-We-Tax-You Land"?

[StuartSlate]

I was born at Washington Sanitarium and Hospital in Takoma Park (Washington Adventist Hospital) in 1959 and lived in Maryland until Thanksgiving 1997 when I moved to Florida. I lived in Mount Rainier from ’59 to ’67, attending Saint James parochial school on Rhode Island Avenue in Mount Rainier. Our family then moved to Bladensburg (Heights) in 1967 from where I attended (after the 66-67 school year) Rogers Heights Elementary, Bladensburg Junior High and Bladensburg High Schools - graduating in 1977. Later in life, I went to college at Prince George’s Community College and graduated from Frostburg State University – also in Maryland.

As an adult, I have lived in Barstow, Edmonston/Hyattsville, Chesapeake Beach, Bladensburg, Frostburg, La Vale, Cumberland, and then, once again, in Bladensburg – all located in Maryland, of course

I consider myself both a Washingtonian and a Marylander almost equally. However, if forced to choose only one designation, I see myself slightly more of a Marylander if only because I was born, educated, resided in and voted in Maryland for all of my resident years. However, at the same time, I was very much tied to Washington D.C. for both livelihood and culture - as was my family before me (MPD and D.C. DOT. My kid’s Great Grandfather worked in the White House for Eleanor Roosevelt).

When my Yankee (Massachusetts) parents settled in the area (my father had come to know and love D.C. while training in the city in the 1940s as a WWII serviceman. My old man never lived in the District after he got married because MPD regulations require officers to be on duty and carrying firearms 24/7 while in the District) they would not have ever dreamed of or even considered living in NoVa in that era.

When I was a kid, Virginia, even, NoVa was just very slowly emerging from its long and sordid history of Jim Crow. While I am not wishing to cast aspirations on your current Virginia neighbors, even a late baby boomer such as myself can remember a particular young man raised in Fairfax City whom I knew in the early 70s who was the biggest ‘hick’ you’d ever expect to meet in all of that Commonwealth at that time (although he surely was not). ‘Political Correctness’ alert --- I define ‘hick’ as a once removed, unrepentant, uneducated, backwards yokel. (That’s a joke)

Anyway, I feel a deep bond with the Metro DC area and the state of Maryland. No, one just cannot beat steaming crabs on steaming summer days on Chesapeake Bay. Rocky Gap was serene. And - while it is most certain that I have not lived in Maryland for 10 years – my kids still live there (PG and MoCo) and my parents and brother are buried in Cheltenham and Suitland (respectively). And, I myself one day expect to join them, ‘back home’.

Finally, for those City-Data contributors who can’t understand or grasp why someone who no longer lives in an area still holds a deep and abiding interest in and chooses to keep close tabs on a given locale let me say this: Get some life experience - live a little - learn a lot - and then again contemplate this question. I believe that with a little of the insight that life generates over a period of time this question will answer itself for them.

[mom2boys37]

Once I leave, I won't come back. It's funny, when I just go on a vacation, I dred coming back here. I have family here that have lived here for their entire life, just as I, but I won't miss just packing up and leaving. Even though I'm moving to Garrett, I don't even feel that is part of this state, as most don't up there. Well except the lakies.

[jessy0780]

I was born at PG County Hospital in Cheverly. I lived in New Carrollton until I was 7 or 8, then I lived in Columbia for 2 years. When my parents divorced, I moved back to New Carrollton to the house my grandparents have lived in since the early 60s. I lived there until I was 20, when I moved out to Glen Burnie for one year to live in an apartment. After that year, I moved back in with my family in New Carrollton for the next several years. I've been living in Elkridge for the past 2 1/2 years, which is the best place I've lived- in my opinion. I love my neighborhood and the schools are great and there is great shopping nearby (unfortunately!). I do miss my old neighbors that I grew up with, but since my family still lives there, I still get to see them from time to time.

[expgc]

I call Texas home now but I too was born in Cheverly at PG County Hospital. Lived in Capitol Heights as a child then attended St. Margarets Catholic School when we moved to Landover. Moved to Clinton as a teenager and later lived in Camp Springs. I couldn't take it anymore and moved to the Pacific NW at 21 and never looked back.

[marlinfshr]

Been a lurker but I'll bite. Born and raised in P.G. county (seabrook). Moved to Severna Park/Passadena area for awhile then on to Ocean City. Left the state by spending time in N.C., Stuart and Palm Beach Florida but missed the crabs when away. Lots of time between Florida and MD (can't stand the cold or that white stuff). Now I basically live in Costa Rica but summer in Ocean City as I am planning on buying a place in O.C.. But I'll still be gone for the winter come november.
Oh yea, spent a summer in NJ/NYand absolutly hated it. Got sick of hearing how good everything was there, how you could't get bread as good anywhere else, AAARRRGGG. I was so glad to get out of there.
MD has always been my home, just wish it was a little furter south.

[Gayella]

Hi! I grew up in Maryland in the dairyland area of New Windsor. I used to work on dairy farms in the summer while going through school. These are hard working people, I'll tell you. Was not involved in anything with the cities of Baltimore or D.C. so cannot tell you much about them but having moved away 31 years ago and living in an area where intelligent life is hard to find, I plan to move back to Maryland in '08. The south is not all what it is cracked up to be, trust me.

I believe that no matter where you go, you find your happiness within your own attitudes. Sure, people can influence that but you still can take charge of your own life. If I knew what I know now when choosing a place to live, I would have remained in Maryland and not moved to S. Carolina at all. Can't wait to return to sense and sensibility.

[Joykins]

I was born in Kafritz Memorial (remember that?) in DC, but spent my childhood living in Clinton (near the Surratt House). Moved to Silver Spring (north of Colesville), graduated from Springbrook High School. Went away for 4 years to Penn State. Moved back in with parental units after college, married, and moved to Germantown. Bought a townhouse in Montgomery Village a few years later. Still here. Wouldn't mind trying another part of the country to be honest, although I definitely have roots here.

[md to nc]

Was born in raised in Westminster, Carroll county. Lived there for 33 years until Nov 06 when we moved to North Carolina. Got to the point of not being able to afford living in MD. Cost of living is about the same here in Charlotte but for some reason hubby and I both are making more than in MD. Strange but true. Plus in Union Co, life is much slower which is a great relief. Just could not slow it down in MD. Went back to visit this past weekend for the holiday and could not wait to get back home to Carolina. Although I miss my parents and brother, that is all I miss.

[Rmx Christina]

Grew up in Anne Arundel county (Severn), moved Howard County (Ellicott City), got married and moved to Carroll county (Westminster), and just moved back down to Anne Arundel county (Odenton). Work in Odenton as well =) Except the cold and humid weather, MD is home for me. I remember going to the bridge in Annapolis and casting crab nets and family picnics at Sandy Point State Park. Not too far from the ocean, the mountains, tennis courts, shopping, and family. Everything I need is here.