I hate DC and I am blowing this joint!!! (Fairfax: transplants, house)

[speedoflight]

I think you've hit the nail on the head regarding uber paying job (dollar amounts on paper) and uber long hours, uber stress. There's always a catch as to why the job pays more. I mentioned "dollar amounts on paper" because the more you earn, the more you pay in taxes, so in reality, the amount may not be as much as you think it is. I live in the SF Bay Area, land of all the ubers you've just mentioned. Everyone works and works and WORKS. And did I say WORK again? Stress level is always very high here because cost of a home here is enormous. Many people I know have left for less stressful living options in the country.

Originally Posted by Muffin Man

Unless you have roots in the area, or need the uber-awesome paying job, with the uber-long hours to boot, to help you max out your lifestyle/spending limits, there are far better, less stressful living options in this country.

[ringgold]

Sorry if I am late to respond to this post. I lived in the area for nearly a decade. I will agree that traffic sucks and people work a lot. But they make great money for their work. I have to disagree on the weather. I am from Michigan and DC doesn't know the meaning of winter. Mid 40s for a high in the winter is not as cold as mid 30s in New York or mid 10s in Michigan. Snowfall is light and does not require the use of a snowmobile. There is a feel to DC that you can't get anywhere else. I would love to move back to the area one day.

[Dogbert]

I have lived in the VA/DC area for over 40 years.

I absolutely agree that the area is now inundated with workaholic, self-centered, materialistic, "me and mine first" a$$holes and it is only getting worse. You can still find some areas where someone will say "hello" as you pass or even give you a dollar if you are short of change at the check-out. But then you also get the MS-13 idiots, road rage on a daily basis, incompetant beuracracy, a permanently running game of "one-up-manship." When someone asks "what do you do" don't think for a minute they are intersted in you-they are just gauging where on the status list you stand.

The weather does suck, the traffic sucks, the people suck, the taxes suck and the HOA's suck too. The only good things here are the schools and the variety of good ethnic restaurants.

[nbdinz]

I agree, and San Diego (my home town) is a great choice... the traffic will be slightly better, but you won't be escaping it! "The 5" is a very congested... since it's the closest and most convenient north-south route.

Yes, people in DC are very self righteous and workaholics... which makes the city gloomy a lot. The vibe in DC is great one day... terrible another. Come live here and feel it. (( Suburbs not included in that, btw ))

[MikeyCNY]

I know plenty of people in Northern VA who live in places like Pentagon City, Crystal City, Arlington, Alexandria, and they walk to work or walk to the nearest metro station.

As for me, I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and compared to the NYC area, I find Northern VA/DC to be cleaner, friendlier, and less hectic. I happen to think the Northern VA is the best place to live in the US: liberal-minded, easy-going folks, top-notch schools, decent weather (I like the 4 seasons), etc...

[FleeingFloridaForever]

...because I have always had pleasant experiences all the times my son and I have visited D.C.!!

My son and I have visited several times and at different times of the year for the past two years.

So many people smiled, spoke to us without us speaking first.
One afternoon we were walking past the White House and my son had on his ski-hat that had several multicoloured strands on the top (kind of looks like dreadlocks all different colours) and one of the White House guards in the booth yelled to him with the loud speaker, "Hey, cool hat!" and later that week we were standing at the street corner intersection waiting to cross and a business woman in her "Capitol Hill-type black suit" was standing next to myself and my son and finally she smiled and said, "I just have to say, I've seen you walking around the last few days and I just have to touch your hat, may I !" and after she touched the coloured strands she said, "That was cool, I thought it was his real hair, thanks!" and we laughed. Businessmen would walk by us and smile. True, the colour of the suits are all dark, but it IS a professional town and I liked it because coming from Cental Florida area, most of us are very, very casual and are mostly in our cars puttering around and don't really pass each other on the sidewalks. I love the suit/tie and rush of the city!

I had store clerks and restaurant clerks laughing. My son and I were sitting in a McDonalds and I was reading a small map of the city and a gentleman was sitting two table over and he asked me if I had seen any museums and he very friendly and he said he had lived in DC for 10 years and loved it there.

We went all over the DC areas and felt so happy and warm there. We did not experience rudiness at all. I did not drive, but was driven around and I did not notice the traffic much. I usually tune out traffic anyway (turn up the music in the car instead of boiling up the blood pressure). We have rude drivers here in Kissimmee and do the same things as on the DC/VA roads.

Central Florida to ME - is small scale compared to DC.

My son and I just loved the vibe of the DC - all the historic sites and culture. Of course, when night fell,, we were back inside for the night - just as we do back home.

As far as making friends if living there..I am the type I don't worry about having to make friends or hang out. I am a homebody type. I have work acquaintances, but I hang with my son or I do things by myself. I've always been independant that way. Nothing wrong with people that have to be going out with others or visiting each others homes. I just don't bother. Funny to think about it, I have several "work" friends that I've known for 15 years at the same job and we never social outside of work..We are older and are set in our ways, I guess. I see the twenty-something co-workers going out together ( I think,,,"been there - done that" )

I tend to keep to myself in my apartment building. As neighbours, we wave or smile as we pass each other, but I don't get involved with anyone. But, I know in an emergency we could knock on each others' doors for help (just like during the 4 hurricanes we had two years ago).

The weather was great everytime we were there. I was there from different months (March/June/July/Sept) weather. Coming from lightening capitol Florida I liked the cold, crisp air. If they think July is hot/humid in DC -- they should really try it here in Central Florida........

I feel how you preceive your surroundings is greatly affected by your mood and mental well-being towards your hometown. I don't find Kissimmee area enjoyable anymore, but I love DC !?! Oh, well. I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the people and sights and weather in DC/VA and I really want to return..........and live.............(SOMEDAY).....

[verobeach]

Originally Posted by FleeingFloridaForever

...because I have always had pleasant experiences all the times my son and I have visited D.C.!!

My son and I have visited several times and at different times of the year for the past two years.

So many people smiled, spoke to us without us speaking first.
One afternoon we were walking past the White House and my son had on his ski-hat that had several multicoloured strands on the top (kind of looks like dreadlocks all different colours) and one of the White House guards in the booth yelled to him with the loud speaker, "Hey, cool hat!" and later that week we were standing at the street corner intersection waiting to cross and a business woman in her "Capitol Hill-type black suit" was standing next to myself and my son and finally she smiled and said, "I just have to say, I've seen you walking around the last few days and I just have to touch your hat, may I !" and after she touched the coloured strands she said, "That was cool, I thought it was his real hair, thanks!" and we laughed

I guarantee you, they were either tourists just like you or the woman compelled to touch your son after watching him walk around town for several days is just plain spooky.

I left D.C. for Florida two years ago and I haven't looked back. It is the core of self-centeredness. Everyone is so busy polishing their image, making big bucks, that they'd rather walk past you than crack a smile. I use to see single diners, al fresco, out with their dogs because it probably took too much energy to have a real relationship. If I had the whole US map to chose from, D.C. would be dead last. It was the loneliest two years of my life.

[canofcorn]

With all due respect you can have Northern Virginia. The worst place I have ever lived by far.

[El General]

Originally Posted by jmarkd

Catholics will appreciate this anecdote: at the church I attend, 30-50% of parishoners leave after Communion, before Mass is even over. Presumably it's to "beat the traffic." My wife is not Catholic, and we also attend a Christian service, and in that church's parking lot I have been door-dinged and cut off. Something like that happens every week. And these are the churchgoing folk!!!

The LAPD leaves Dodger games in the 6th inning, so they can beat the crowd, too......As far as the Hokies; 3/4 of the people wearing the VT logos, couldn't get accepted there, if their lives depended on it.

There is an abundance of really unhealthy looking people here,. I think it is the cubicles and complete lack of sunshine. A new study says that Vitamin D deficient person are 60% more likely to suffer a major heart ailment. I was driving a bus to the grocery store to pick up a group of mostly mentally retarded students. I thought they were ready to leave, when I saw a couple of them in the front of the store. But, it was just two Giant employees on a cigarette break.

Also, the amount of morons, who make good money working for the government, but don't do anything of value is just too hard to count around here.

[Alanboy395]

Originally Posted by canofcorn

With all due respect you can have Northern Virginia. The worst place I have ever lived by far.

ditto, i've lived in some cities with mixed reviews (Sumter, SC and Hampton/Norfolk, VA) and can honestly say this is the worst place i have ever lived.

Yesterday it took me 40 min to get from Hybla Valley to my apt in Landmark and this was after a day which two guys picked a very old lady to rob who had not even $100 over the folks who were higher-yield targets right after she walked out the door in Hybla Valley.

I'm sick of all the traffic, sick of the ESL culture here, sick of the cold-hearted people, sick of all the yuppies, sick of the cops who wont enforce the speed limits (especially inside and on the beltway), sick of the extremely high cost of living, just straight up sick of it all!

Hopefully next year i can post on "How i left Northern Virginia!"