Why I left Maryland (Annapolis, Crofton: for sale, townhouses, find a job)

[cutgarden]

CountryGirl and Childoffaaco, two excellent posts IMO. As stated elsewhere, I love it here in Carroll County. I wouldn't live in Baltimore, PG, or Montgomery on a bet, though. We've been to Dewey Beach in Del (3 hour drive) and are getting ready to visit Deep Creek (3 hour drive). Saying all of MD is like the urban areas is like saying all of Pa. (where I'm from originally) is like Philly.

[iminer]

Originally Posted by Georgia

In South Carolina everything is slow. Maryland have alot more opportunity then down South as far as growing a very successful business. The income,high paying jobs,excitement,fun,joy.

Now,I have learn some things about US.someone like to live a tranquil life,and others are tend to imposing life style.

[*CountryGirl*]

Very true. Some prefer a more low key, small town atmosphere while others enjoy the busy more urban areas. It doesn't mean one is better than the other. Its a personal preference.

[somnambulist]

Originally Posted by childofaaco

We're referred to as "America in miniature" for a reason, and it's more than just geography. Just as the entire country does not have a single, unified culture, neither does Maryland.

It's interesting that only the natives seem intent on defending the apparent merits of their beloved state, whereas it's apparently us transplants who are mistaken.

A cursory glance through the boards for other states does not turn up threads in similar veins such as "Why I left Montana" or similar threads denigrating their respective states, and certainly not any such threads that have reached seven pages in about a month. To me, that says a lot...

[katherine59]

Try living in NJ. Except for the football factor, we have all the issues you listed plus a ton of pollution and the most corrupt state in the country. Out taxes are ridiculous and someone listed us as having the "dumbest drivers in the nation" MD is where we want to go - so much better than Jersey!

[Hashiriya]

I agree with the "hard to label the state as a whole" sentiment.

I AM a native Marylander, but I really identify myself more with the DC Metro Area. DC is VERY different from Baltimore, which is consequently VERY different from, say, Charles County, Rising Sun, or Garrett County.

Parts of MD are very similar to WV, whereas Potomac feels like Greenwich Connecticut.

If you want a smaller southern city and that kind of atmosphere, it's safe to say that nowhere near DC is the place for you, lol. DC is New York in a seersucker suit. Don't be fooled by it's south-of-the-Mason-Dixon-Line location, it's still a big Northeastern city.

The counties (both MD and VA) that directly border DC are very similar to the city, generally liberal and affluent. Other parts of the state are very much the opposite.

You might, however, really like Charles County, as it really does feel like it's an offshoot of Savannah or something.

Jersey isn't the most corrupt state in the Union, it's just the stinkiest. Rhode Island is BY FAR the most corrupt.

[vivo]

Originally Posted by somnambulist

It's interesting that only the natives seem intent on defending the apparent merits of their beloved state, whereas it's apparently us transplants who are mistaken.

A cursory glance through the boards for other states does not turn up threads in similar veins such as "Why I left Montana" or similar threads denigrating their respective states, and certainly not any such threads that have reached seven pages in about a month. To me, that says a lot...

basically people want jobs, decent pay, decent traffic. safety, decent col, nice people and decent climate although that's probably last on the list. places like nj, md, socal are expensive, traffic sucks, perhaps nasty people etc. most people in md , probably around 80% live in the major counties: hwd, aa, bmore city and co, moco, pg, hfd. also I bet the dc burbs are different from the bmore burbs. I don't see that comparison brought up often.

[*CountryGirl*]

Originally Posted by somnambulist

It's interesting that only the natives seem intent on defending the apparent merits of their beloved state, whereas it's apparently us transplants who are mistaken.

A cursory glance through the boards for other states does not turn up threads in similar veins such as "Why I left Montana" or similar threads denigrating their respective states, and certainly not any such threads that have reached seven pages in about a month. To me, that says a lot...

So you are going to base an opinion of a state on one thread? Not every post in this thread consists of people putting down MD. Just a few disgruntled people who do not care for the area they happen to live in.

The point that is trying to be made is that you cannot judge the state as whole,by the opinions of a few, regarding certain areas.

I have lived in a few different areas of MD and have traveled to numerous others. Some I liked, some I didn't. It's a personal preference. There are some places I would consider living and there are also places, I may like to visit from time to time, but would not enjoy living there. There are also areas you couldn't pay me visit or reside.

Everyone has an opinion. But don't mistake facts for opinions.

If you do not like it here you are free to go. No one is forcing you to be here unless your job requires you to do so. If so, newcomers can benefit by the information given by native Marylanders. If you are not pleased with the area you are currently living, I am sure many on this board can give you suggestions if you simply post the type of area you would like to live in.

[marylandur]

I agree with some of the blurb below, but the people around here are
very nice. That is not the problem. The problems are definitely the
bad traffic - too few roads, overdevelopment, too expensive to live here
unless you have been here a while and had some time to inch up the
economic ladder. I remember living in close quarters in group houses and
dumpy apartments for quite a while, when starting out. You can visit other areas of the U.S. and find youngsters living far better. Yes, if you have to live in a rip-off economy, you should expect the culture, accoutrements that
say, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and other
expensive areas have. And the climate simply sucks here half the time with
the air pollution of the summer, hot muggy weather, cold, damp winters.

Cost of living here is high because of one thing - more jobs period, and more high paying jobs than anywhere in the country. That doesn't make this
area more affordable, it just adds fuel to the fire. There are enough yuppie
puppies and old established blue hairs to drive the price up of everything. Some parts of the U.S. you really have to struggle to find a job. In comparison, much of Maryland is the gravy train. Why the prices are so
out of wack - I still don't understand it - you have both parents working
and the kids ignored. What do you do next? Have your dog go out and
get a job? Part of the problem is that many of the new homes being built are
these huge $900,000 McMansions and the small, starter homes have all
but dissapeared. Condos cost at least as much as houses cost in other
parts of the U.S. And that is if you are very lucky or you find a condo
way out in the sticks.

The grocery stores are expensive. Just a screwed up place, economically, but when you are born here and have family/friend/job ties here, kind of hard to just get up and go. Perhaps retirement? Many Maryland/DCers migrate to Florida. Dream of mine is to go to somewhere dramatically different - Mountains in Colorado or Vermont or Pacific Northwest coast or Outer Banks, North Carolina etc...

If you love free museums and are a "culture vulture", this is a good place
to live, though I kind of prefer the more interesting (for me) music scenes of
Austin, Texas, New York City, or some of the California Coastal towns.

>I could handle everything else about this area: the extremely high cost of >living, the nightmarish traffic, the arrogance, the lack of any sense of >community, the crime, etc. However, still not being able to afford a house >within less than an hour's commute of where I work, even after being in my >career for more than seven years, is just too much. I'm constantly surprised >at the number of junior to mid-level careerists here who are relegated to >living in this area, which has traditionally been a career last-stop for >wealthier, more senior employees who can actually afford, and benefit from, >living in the area. I can't imagine many young graduates sticking around this >area after learning that it'll take about 10 years before you can even >consider affording a place to live that isn't a box of a condo.

>Granted, I know it's a metro area, and cities are more expensive. But, D.C. >somehow manages to have almost all the extravagant expense of New York >and Los Angeles, without a fraction of the cosmopolitan accoutrements that >make the expense worthwhile.

[AJ Styles]

^ Great post really is what I had to say only thing holding me back is I am still in school and am afraid of flying, but I will overcome both and leave this place. Many people here ask if I am from the South, because I do not fit with the people who have grown up in the same region as me. The place has god awful traffic and unfriendly people. How many true friends can you list? Everyone's ego is so explicit and overwhelming, that caring about others is not even secondary.