Ashburn/Leesburg areas have become very congested

[looktowindward]

The Gloucester extension (to Nokes) will help some of the Waxpool/Wegmans mess. That is supposed to be happening right now. It would be nice if they extended Russell Branch as well. The eventual southern extension of Loudoun County Parkway to 50 and Old Ox should also relieve some of the traffic that is bypassing the Greenway via Waxpool.

That being said, One Loudoun and Loundoun Valley are still building, and Kincora will build eventually...

[Mike from back east]

Fairfax Mom, we spent decades in Fairfax County and understand your feelings.

Wife is a NoVA native, grew up in Broad Run Farms, went to the little school house in "Old Sterling" and graduated from Leesburg HS. Rte 28 was one lane each way back then, no Ashburn existed except for the old country store (Partlow's?), no Dulles Town Center, Dulles Toll Road was 2 lanes each way, no Fair Oaks Mall, no Fairfax Town Center, nothing but open land on Rte 50 west of Hwy 28.

We lived 30 years in Chantilly (Brookfield) but by 2004 we were retired ready to get out of there....the gridlock, the prices, the rat race zoo of it all. Get out of there we did, asap.

In 2005 we moved to Colorado Springs, and wow, what a different world. Dry air, clean air, actually rather mild climate here along the Front Range (I-25 corridor, where most all the jobs and people are in COLO), no traffic to speak of, and best of all - AFFORDABLE housing. We were here 3 months before we heard a horn blow, and when we heard it we turned to each other and laughed. We were back in Chantilly one day last year, checking out the old 'hood, and a split second after the light turned green we got the horn, and we turned to each other and laughed.

Look on realtor.com for zip 80920 and see how affordable housing is here compared to NoVA these days.

People should look into getting a job out here if they can, it's cheaper than the DC Metro area and cheaper than most of coastal / big city California or Seattle, etc.

BTW: Where are you moving to?

Thanks!

s/Mike

[Nancy in Nokomis]

We are moving to a semi-rural area of Florida - husband will make a big salary for FLA - even though we are taking a pay cut to leave NOVA - we cant take it anymore! In Fla we can buy a home for cash - no mortgage - even though we will rent at first - Fla is not good for jobs but I always wanted to live on the beach and I love hot, muggy weather - I really do - it has been a lifelong dream for me. Colorado sounds like a good choice too.