Why Did You Move Out Of Maryland....

[PunkGuy]

I agree with most of the negatives already posted:
high cost of living
crowded/traffic

I lived in MoCo from 8 to 18 (grad G'burg HS in 1987) and loved it.
I went back in 2007 (HS Reunion) and it seemed (at least where I grew up) to have gone down hill.
Lakeforest Mall used to be a pretty decent mall, but when I went back it was over run by "hoodlums" (and no, I don't mean black/hispanics...just "rough" looking people of all races)

My wife and I had to move back with the folks in 2003 (?) for a bit, and her 15 mile commute took about an hour. That is ridiculous!

We've just moved from the south after 5 years (ugh!) to Colorado and love it.

[Vixxon29]

I agree totally with you! Moved from md for the same reasons. But though generally rediculously over priced, there are still a few "unsafe" places to live for decent amount......lol!!! Honestly i was fed up to my eyeballs with the fony "plastic" people who were stuck up snobs!

[global_gal]

Originally Posted by 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)......

I must agree. I have stayed away from CD b/c of very neg. opinions about where people live; so while doing some research I tiptoe back onto this site only here to collect bits of info. that is useful.

Having said that (perhaps I am simply writing to myself), I recently return to Mont. County from NYC for 2 reasons - build quick and large income AND be able to drive around town a bit easier. OK, I am using Maryland for my advantage. Being from upstate new york and living here from 2000-2005, it was hard to melt into Maryland (specifically silver spring). I own a home in NY which I rent out, and feel pained at the cost of housing and seemingly little freedom that some people have here. Maryland is so abundant, but maybe the lack of mom and pop places and "old" neighborhoods with seniors walking to the store, etc. might have taken out some of the character that, in my opinion, lacks in the area, and it shows. Maryland is not the worst, but it is d**m expensive - unjustified. Thx.