From Tallahassee to NOVA (winter, compared, supplies) - Northern Virginia - Virginia - Page 4 - City-Data Forum

modelpenguin · 09-21-2011, 08:47 PM

i just moved here 6wks ago from Tally and i'm still in the growing pains stage. like the previous poster mentioned, the state income tax hurts (there's a reason why everyone retires to FL!). also, VA has an emissions test and more expensive car registration/tax than FL, plus buying the all weather tires within the next few months and having those put on. a single car will be about $200 a month in gas. i would also suggest thinking about investing in a good GPS or GPS app that has traffic updates since the area is nothing like the roads in FL. the moving expenses do add up quickly, too.

oh, one thing that caught me off guard was few roads have a middle lane for turning. be cautious of cars in the left (read: fast) lane suddenly stopping traffic because they have to make a left hand turn and the roadway provides no means of help. it's hilly and curving up here, so it's possible to be coming around a corner at 45mph and a car is stopped in the left lane because they need to make a turn. why there's no middle lane is beyond me. huge safety hazard. anywho...

your salary is going to be tight for two people, but it's doable if you're both good at budgeting. after living in Tally for several years and knowing where you're coming from, IMO, it's worth taking the job to get up here. once you're here, then you can add that job to your resume and begin looking for a higher paying position. it's not unusual from what i've heard and seen so far. my job made me a counter offer as well, but it can't beat being in NOVA/DC and having a plethora of opportunities available that Tally cannot match over a career.

one of the hardest things for me was actually grocery shopping. all the stores here are different than FL, and i've tried out most of them while exploring the area. the best one so far as been Wegman's, plus they have a rewards card. there's a nice, huge, outlet mall at Potomac Mills for shopping since you'll likely need to buy winter coats, boats, etc. no more flip flops in the winter!

best of luck moving up here! it might be tough at first, but i think it's worth it!

plucas001 · 09-22-2011, 06:26 AM

@modelpenguin -- I may just print out what your response for the future when it gets tough

, thanks for that very insightful response. I am glad that you took the time to encourage me, being that you know the feeling of wanting to "escape" Tallahassee. I have been trying for years.....

To the residents of Tally: I do not mean to be so harsh, I just do not think that Tallahassee is suitable for a young city boy like myself (me and my wife are from the Miami area).

Smoke_Jaguar4 · 09-22-2011, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by modelpenguin

one of the hardest things for me was actually grocery shopping. all the stores here are different than FL, and i've tried out most of them while exploring the area. the best one so far as been Wegman's, plus they have a rewards card. there's a nice, huge, outlet mall at Potomac Mills for shopping since you'll likely need to buy winter coats, boats, etc. no more flip flops in the winter!

best of luck moving up here! it might be tough at first, but i think it's worth it!

Whenever we visit family in Florida we make a point of stopping at PUBLIX. I really wish they would move north.

RUSDC · 09-22-2011, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plucas001

@modelpenguin -- I may just print out what your response for the future when it gets tough

, thanks for that very insightful response. I am glad that you took the time to encourage me, being that you know the feeling of wanting to "escape" Tallahassee. I have been trying for years.....

To the residents of Tally: I do not mean to be so harsh, I just do not think that Tallahassee is suitable for a young city boy like myself (me and my wife are from the Miami area).

Manassas aint gonna be different, I am afraid.

You want city life? You are gonna be bored to death in...Manassas....

plucas001 · 09-22-2011, 11:44 AM

LOL @ RUSDC. At least there will be a mixture now. I can get the thrill all day long and come back to boringsville. Wherer I am at now, its 24/7

RUSDC · 09-22-2011, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plucas001

LOL @ RUSDC. At least there will be a mixture now. I can get the thrill all day long and come back to boringsville. Wherer I am at now, its 24/7

Tysons? Thrills? Ha!

bmalbert · 10-19-2011, 12:30 PM

I just moved to the DC area from Tallahassee last year, and as a young married couple (30 and 28) we run as fast as we could from Tallahassee as soon as my wife got a job offer here.

We currently live in Fairfax and commute via Metro into DC. The good thing about living here vs. tallahassee is even if you live out in the burbs, at least DC isn't too far away. In Tallahassee, there's nothing around until Atlanta and Jacksonville.

plucas001 · 10-20-2011, 05:41 AM

I couldn't have worded that any better myself man. We have been enjoying ourselves like no tomorrow here already. But I guess that is what advice is for, taking it or leaving it. We do not regret moving here at all!

Alster · 10-20-2011, 10:55 AM

Nice dude...Im moving up from the South Florida area...I feel your pain, been wanting to escape this place for years...Looking forward to moving to that area too! Best of luck to you

modelpenguin · 10-20-2011, 06:18 PM

glad you're enjoying it up here. i've seen so many FL transplants on the board lately, we should form our own little support group.

i'm loving seeing the leaves change! i've ordered all my winter clothing/gear, and the last of it arrived today: an electric blanket and an ice scraper/brush. i think i might plug in the electric blanket tonight just to break it in.