Why Did You Move Out Of Maryland.... (Silver Spring, Bethesda: rent, insurance)

[Mike Jones 1999]

Originally Posted by AeroGuyDC

I'm from NC now living in MD...please enlighten me on what exactly in MD is comparable to the cost of living in NC? lol You eliminated housing, and that's a fair assessment. But I can tell you right now I suffered sticker-shock just going to the grocery store!

...my wife and I now live in the Metro Atlanta area and I can tell you that it seems almost everything in Maryland (lived in PG & Howard Counties) was more expensive than where we live now.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Originally Posted by The_Fairfaxian

(bashing Southern MD for their racism however is slightly more justified).

x2!

[tercel95]

I have lived in Southern MD for a while now and don't experience the blatant racism that you guys are describing. Here in St. Mary's county there is a definite redneck population that is inherently racist, but there are no hicks in pickup trucks, toting shotguns, driving down the road yelling at black people... There is also a large population of transients and working professionals down here because of PAX River Naval Air Station... I wouldn't let worries of racism keep you out of this area...

[AeroGuyDC]

Originally Posted by Mike Jones 1999

...my wife and I now live in the Metro Atlanta area and I can tell you that it seems almost everything in Maryland (lived in PG & Howard Counties) was more expensive than where we live now.

I totally agree. The South has many advantages, and one of those advantages is paying a lot less for the same thing!

[AndrewMarks]

Growing up in Louisiana, I bought my first home when I was 20 and still in college. I bought a beautiful 1927 1500 sqft 3/2, restored it, modernized the kitchen, refinished the original hardwood, etc. Even with improvements, I only spent around 100K. Calling my move to the DC area "shocking" is an understatement!

[Mike Jones 1999]

Originally Posted by AndrewMarks

Growing up in Louisiana, I bought my first home when I was 20 and still in college. I bought a beautiful 1927 1500 sqft 3/2, restored it, modernized the kitchen, refinished the original hardwood, etc. Even with improvements, I only spent around 100K. Calling my move to the DC area "shocking" is an understatement!

....right!!! Add a family to it and....WOW!!!

[ToughLuv]

I left Baltimore because I just wanted change, I just knew for a fact there were cities out there much better then Baltimore, right now I temporarily live in Newport News, VA aka "the city with no class"...But im checking out Houston and Atlanta area..really im looking into a place actually in Atlanta city, but its really nice..

[amandasm]

Please, allow me to vent for a minute. I was born and raised in Calvert County, Maryland. I'm a Ward. I was "one of the good ole boys" (girl). Not any more -- there are new sheriff's in town.

My belief is this: the politicians are greedy. Not to say that this is so surprising, but they are unashamed and unrestrained in their greed in Maryland. Also, the culture of the area, mostly due to D.C. being so near, and the cost of living is, one must "get what you can regardless of the cost to others". Because of this, people are running around, running people over and into the ground, just to get by. It's like in the book the Tao of Pooh... Marylanders are "Bisy Backsons." (translation: I'm busy, be back soon). It gets into your blood, similar to an accent. It's a very contagious attitude. And I HATE it. My parents are the perfect example of this: judgmental, they don't like anyone "different", they cow-tow to their high society friends, etc.

My family and I spent all of our savings, sold our home on short sale, and moved sight unseen (because we couldn't afford the trip AND the new house) to Canton, GA. It's too soon to say we're perfectly settled. We've only been here a month. But, it is really wonderful so far. First of all the house is 4,000 square feet at $1500 per month versus 1600 square feet for $2200 per month (and that's AFTER a loan modification).

My kids are truly thriving, which I haven't seen in quite a while! They have friends out the Wazoo, and they have freedom to play in the neighborhood park without much supervision. And I am slowly, but surely learning to exhale....I want this Maryland 'tude to leave my body. Sure, Maryland is beautiful and there are crabs and all of my childhood best friends are there...

It's certainly the "bible belt" here, even major networks include religious programming. I don't mind that. We found a really great church down here that we attend twice a week. I haven't seen one bar yet...and there are no music festivals this summer that I know of. That's what Calvert County does --- drink, and heavily! No wonder, I'd start running from reality too, if I didn't get the hell out of there. Just turn on Busted or Speeders on MTV and you'll see Calvert Countians behaving badly any day of the week!!

My 'rents are not very happy with me, but I had to make my own decision on this. I was scared at first....but I am definitely starting to think that it was the best decision I've made so far and I'm not looking back!

[amandasm]

I was born and raised in Silver Spring it's never been down to earth or small town to me. I didn't grow up by any farms and I don't like to fish. That's what's great about Maryland it's not just one certain type of person that lives or lived here. We have cosmopolitian people,fishermen,small town families, suburban families,farmers,transplants,people from other countries,etc. Newsflash Mo County has been filled with so-called"Yankee-transplans" since Kennedy was president it's nothing new and not every immigrant who lives in Maryland is illegal. Don't blame people from up north either Maryland has always been considered a half yankee half southern state(nowadays it's seems more like three quarters yankee) This goes all the way back to the civil war

True, but everyone knows this. don't think that you're giving anyone a lesson here.

Coming from a native Marylander you couldn't be anymore wrong. I got along with people from "up north". They don't really think that we're beneath them they just act weird at first because we're different from them and it's a different place to them which they eventually get used to cuz they never wanna leave lol. Now if you act like a conservative jackass then yeah you won't get along with anybody here because for the most part maryland is Blue America and it's BEEN that way for a long time once again this isn't anything new

They act weird at first and then they get used to a different place "cuz" they never want to leave -- you're no academic.

Why are you filled with so much hatred? Some of these comments are borderline racist

No, they're not...it's reality. Just like slander and libel. can't prosecute if it's true. Some, emphasis here on "some", people who are not native English speakers expect us to bend to their will in some ways, sending their non-english speaking children to public school with no english training beforehand -- just causes our children to suffer because they can't move on to real lessons.


America was founded by a group of people who had it taken away by immigrants. Guess where those immigrants came from? Hint: It wasn't from Mexico. Should we try to get rid of them too and give the land back to the Native Americans??? I have a question are were you born in Maryland? Can you even name the last time or even a time when republicans had a stronghold in Maryland? The transplants from the north have nothing to do with that

Well, I was born in Maryland and I whole heartedly agree with the original post here. I am not proud of the way we founded this country...are you? It was genocide!! Now, we cannot share resources in this economy with those that don't have citizenship...to do that is suicide.

A high cost of living believe or not is a good sign that you're state is doing good and has a great economy. People actually want to move here. This is a great place to become successful. Those other states that you listed people only move there because they're affordable safe heavens that are not quite big league like it is in MD. They HAVE to move to those places they don't have much of a choice.

It is not a great place to become successful. It a great place if you already are successful. Retirees and DC elitests can afford to live there, but that's about it...unless you inherited land or a house, etc. BIG LEAGUE! Whatever! Don't have much of a choice??? Idiot.


Sagging economy??? Maryland has one of the strongest economies around. There are sectors in MD that are recession proof(federal government). We may be the 5th most dangerous state but we are the RICHEST STATE in the union. PG county alone has a higher income than 80% of North Carolina. One of the states that you talk so highly about. Baltimore is starting to get in heavy with the biotech and medical field you can't put it on the same level as a Detroit or Pittsburgh. A recent article stated that Baltimore is the most progressive "rust-belt" city if you can even call it that anymore. Yeah because crime only happens in Baltimore, Philly, Detroit and Jersey and nowhere else. What about the high crime in places like Atlanta, Richmond, New Orleans, Houston and Charlotte??? What do you link those to they're not decaying rust belt cities

Are you a Federal Gov. employee? Doubt it. Are you even an adult yet? Those cities aren't decaying because they're growing...very simple. They are clean and yes, there's crime, but definitely not like Baltimore.

[nashco]

With the exception of 4 yrs away for college and some years in NW DC in my 20s, I spent my entire 40 years in lower Mo Co (Bethesda, Silver Spring). Last year, I took my family, headed out west, and haven't looked back. Main reasons for leaving:

High cost of living (housing prices, TAXES! Everything costs less here - plumbers, electricians, gas, car insurance, babysitters, kids activities. When I got my first electricity bill I noticed that it was 1/3 of what my Pepco bill had always been with a similar sized house. Then I checked the rates, Pepco charges more than $.13 per kwh and here it is about $.06, plus Pepco loads tons of flat charges on top of it. Why is it so much more? Plus virtually every power line here is burried, even in older neighborhoods. Something Pepco says they can't do because of the expense. So, the power never goes out. Oddly enough, the only thing I've found that costs more is dry cleaning. Guess that its very competitive in DC.)

Crappy government (you'd think with all that tax revenue you'd get better services from Mo Co. I spent years fighting for basic improvements in our neighborhood that as far as I know never happened.)

Congestion! (and the road rage is INSANE. Truly scary. Why? Is it the water?)

Crime

The Work Culture (I have an identical managerial job here out west. We're just as profitable and productive but we don't have that DC every-issue-is-a-potential-crisis mentality. People don't hang around the office until all hours just because they feel like they have to to keep up with peers. People work reasonable hours and then leave to be with their families, go mountain biking etc... When I started my boss told me to take time to help my family transition, be involved in their schools, go to the gym at lunch time. I can assure you that nobody in DC every told me that in nearly 20 yrs working downtown).

People (a combination of rude, stressed and entitled white collar types and an angry, resentful underclass).

Entrepreneurship (one of the weird things I've noticed about DC and where it sorely lacks compared to other high priced places (eg NYC, SF) is the real lack of interesting local businesses. Retail is almost wholly dominated by chains. I wonder why? Here, its a different story).

What the area does have going for it is that it is the nation's strongest job market, which keeps brining people in. But, beneath the surface there are lots like me, professionals with families (making a good living but not $300k/yr) who have seen the quality of life in our region erode and can't wait to get out. I know more native Washingtonians that have bailed than have stayed.

I now live in a medium-sized city in the intermountain west with excellent schools, friendly and relaxed people, low taxes, fantastic recreational opportunities, almost no crime. Oh, and my drive to work is a stress free 10 minutes. I've been waiting for the day that I hear a car horn used other than for avoiding a potential collision - still haven't.

It is not until you've been out of the area for a while that you really gain perspective on all the things that you dreaded. For example, a simple trip to Whole Foods meant either finding the most inconvenient possible time to go so that you could find a space or waiting in line and fighting for parking - at a grocery store! At our local Whole Foods out here I've yet to see the parking lot more than 2/3rds full, even on a Saturday. Or, when I came out here for a job interview, I went downtown to look around. I found a parking spot, got out of the car, then instinctively started digging in my pocket for change. Then, I looked around. No parking meters! They still enforce time limits in shopping areas, but they don't look for every opportunity to soak you for more $. I can actually go to the movies without buying tickets in advance and people don't spend the whole time talking on their cell phones or interacting with the movie. Drivers stop at cross walks so I don't have to worry about my kids (as much). I could go on and on...

I've come to realize that the DC area has grown to have all the hassles of NYC (the cost, congestion, people) with none of the unique things that make the hassles worth it. People certainly certainly argue with merit that cities like NYC or SF are lousy places to live because they cost so much. But, they are also truly unique and exciting places as well that can justify the cost. If you are young or rich, they're fantastic. DC is expensive BUT without any of the benefits of a real world class city that justify the expense. It is 50% affluent suburb dominated by bland chain culture, 25% generic downtown, 25% scary slum. Yeah, there's the museums and the monuments, but day to day who cares. I still come back once or twice a year and see them then.