How Come So Few Questions About Jobs? (Arlington, Mount Vernon: buy, salary)

[Rabbitluvr]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

Funny you would cite Colorado Springs as such a great place to live. It has exponentially less going on culturally than Denver or Boulder. That tells me a lot.

No offense intended but the part in bold is a rather arrogant thing to say. It may be true that The Springs doesn't have DC or NY-style museums, libraries, nightclubs, etc. but please do not be so narrow-minded to assume that those things make a place a 'great' or even a 'good' place to live. Not everyone is into 'culture' and projecting an attitude of superiority about it only reinforces the negative stereotype many others subscribe to about this area.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Yeah i'm sure you'll find a few but go check out some of the others and you'll see a lot more.

Yup, and you know what else you see? Whining from those who moved to the town, couldn't find a job (or are severely underemployed), and are now blaming that particular forum for encouraging them to move to the area.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Rabbitluvr

No offense intended but the part in bold is a rather arrogant thing to say. It may be true that The Springs doesn't have DC or NY-style museums, libraries, nightclubs, etc. but please do not be so narrow-minded to assume that those things make a place a 'great' or even a 'good' place to live. Not everyone is into 'culture' and projecting an attitude of superiority about it only reinforces the negative stereotype many others subscribe to about this area.

Yes, but I think I can assume how you feel about here based on your location.

This must be a hot topic. Six pages of posts so far!

[Rabbitluvr]

Originally Posted by brenpilot

People only move here for jobs. The DC area is a great place to visit, but so awful a place to live that people would rather struggle to survive in places like Colorado and California than move here. If I didn't work in an industry that forced me to be here, I would be long gone as well.

Must say I agree with this.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Rabbitluvr

Must say I agree with this.

Do you feel that way because you're disaffected and alienated in some way? It's aesthetically pretty pleasing here so there has to be some other reason. Not like we live in a desert or smogville.

[CaliTerp07]

I don't know anyone who moved here because they thought DC would be a cool place to live. I know a ton of people who got job offers they couldn't refuse from their company, and decided to "suck it up" for a few years and focus on building their careers and gaining the experiences they needed to move on to bigger and better things in their home states or somewhere better to raise a family. I know even more people who got job offers, came to visit, and turned it down. Most recently a family friend in Lancaster had an offer in Arlington. Nearly twice the salary, believe it or not...but he had no desire to raise his daughter in this environment.

I don't like NoVA--the weather's horrid in my opinion (I don't go outside half the year thanks to humidity or slushy nasty cold), the bugs are bad, the traffic's bad (took me TWO HOURS to go from Edsall Road to Shirlington on Wednesday at 2:00--so I don't buy that it's only the long distance commutes that are tough!), the stress levels are high...but with degrees in IT this is the place to be until our resumes are impressive enough to garner job opportunities in places we want to be.

When we start thinking about kids in a couple years, we'll be out of here if possible. I don't think this is an ideal place to raise children, despite all the opportunities here. I'd rather go someplace more relaxed and "down to earth", like the areas my husband and I grew up in (small so cal beach town and podunk baltimore county).

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

I don't think I'd advise anyone to move anywhere without a job but I would encourage someone to start looking for a job here while still living somewhere else. However, I'm just not seeing that many inquiries like that for the size of this job market. Don't hate me because I like the idea of living in a sought-after place.

I think its pretty well accounted for

A. We get folks looking specifically cause of the job market - NOT cause its desired in the way Calif, Colo, or even NYC are

B. Lots (not all, but LOTS) of the jobs here are specialized

C. There are other ways to seek out employment from long distance other than CD

D. To the extent people DO use CD to seek out employment in this area, they use the DC forum more than the NoVa forum.

[CaliTerp07]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Do you feel that way because you're disaffected and alienated in some way? It's aesthetically pretty pleasing here so there has to be some other reason. Not like we live in a desert or smogville.

I don't think it's aesthetically pleasing. Pretty to me is palm trees and no humidity! To each and all their own.

[Rabbitluvr]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Yes, but I think I can assume how you feel about here based on your location.

My dislike of this area has to do with the arrogant elitist 'better than flyover country' attitude that seems to be in vogue here. It has nothing to do with culture as I like museums, restaurants, etc. I just don't have to be around them 24-7-365 to appreciate them. That is why some folks will say DC is a great area to VISIT.

Plenty of places in the Midwest have 'culture' too but the bonus is that it comes without the snotnosed arrogant folks who seem to only care about career, money, and status.

[chariega]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Do you feel that way because you're disaffected and alienated in some way? It's aesthetically pretty pleasing here so there has to be some other reason. Not like we live in a desert or smogville.

not sure i make the connection between his/her posts and him/her being disaffected or alienated. it really is a matter of personal opinion, like I mentioned earlier. just because you've made friends in a place (or even have family there) doesn't mean you'll love it forever. this area is a mixed bag, and has some awesome qualities but I can see why people don't like it very much. it really doesn't have much to do with the money they make, where they work, etc. It really boils down to personal preference.