How does NOVA/DC compare to NYC? (Richmond, Arlington: quality of life, live in)

[aheadofthecurve]

Thanks everyone for the great comments, I hope they keep rolling in.

I can relate to dullnboring's characterization of NYC "diversity." When I grew up in central jersey, it was (and still is) one of the most diverse areas in the country. The cool thing about it was that everyone got along and shared a common culture. We didnt really distinguish among each other via ethnic clubs or things of that sort. To boot, most people were intelligent.

When I moved to NYC I was exposed to a different version of "diversity"--one that became a real turn-off for me. NYC is and has been an immigrant city. Throughout its history, it appears that as ethnic groups immigrated to NYC, they clustered in ethnic neighborhoods which persist to this day. This created a unique form of balkanized politics where unity was undesireable, but a distribution of power amongst the various groups was key to stability. This version of equality--where people remain divided but share power--is very contrary to what I was raised under. I dislike it, and in my opinion it closely resembes the national "diversity" agenda of polarization politics that we hear of too often. Needless to say, living in NYC opened my eyes in regard to this issue and many others. I am pleased to hear that individuals in VA are less prone to balkanization.

How difficult does everyone think it really is to make friends in NoVa/DC?

[Fairfax Mom]

My appologies to all - but people here are a little more boring - they seem to be more reservered and less "fun"

[saganista]

Originally Posted by aheadofthecurve

To boot, most people were intelligent.

Another plus for DC. There aren't many areas that can rival NYC etc. for above-grade gray matter, but this is one of them. Obviously, you don't need a PhD to sign a lease here, but there is a large cohort of not just well-educated but actually intelligent people in this area. Most often, that's a good thing...

Originally Posted by aheadofthecurve

How difficult does everyone think it really is to make friends in NoVa/DC?

Opinions may vary. In my own, it remains the case that truth is buried within the somewhat paradoxical idea that in the case of either friendship or respect, the only way to get any more of them is to try to give away as much of them as you possibly can.

[saganista]

Originally Posted by Fairfax Mom

My appologies to all - but people here are a little more boring - they seem to be more reservered and less "fun"

Well, DC isn't Las Vegas. What happens here ends up before a grand jury. That can have a somewhat chilling effect. :-)

More to the point though, I think there are different ideas of fun and that the mix of those ideas may be a little different here from that in some other places. If we were to give everybody in DC a Myers-Briggs test, we might find more here than in some other cities tending toward an INTP profile rather than toward an ESFJ profile. That's one way of looking at it at least. But according to Myers-Briggs, we all do the same basic things...we just go about them differently. Different strokes for different folks? Just means that one needs to be as flexible and adaptable as one can...

[TheseGoTo11]

DC and NoVA have become very ethnic with lots of Asians and Hispanics. But you really notice the lack of white, working class ethnic people compared to NY/NJ. This means great Vietnamese food, excellent Thai, Ethopian, and Indian, but atrocious Pizza.

Weather is definitely better, especially the earlier Spring, which is when temp differences between DC and NY are greatest. Not good enough if you completely hate snow, but winter never drags me down here like it did when I lived in NY and NE.

Can be easier to make friends here relative to some other places, because so many people are from someplace else. Although your initial living and work situation will have a lot to do with that. NY doesn't seem to have as many of the corporate-owned apt complexes that we have here, and they're like ghettos filled with 25-40 year old single professionals.

I always found NY crass, so I like that we get a lot of the culture without the showiness. Lots of bars here, but few velvet rope places. If you prefer to go out in a polo shirt and jeans than the latest Euro-garb, you'll like it here. DC people might try to show off when discussing their careers, but not in their dress like NYers. Understated appearances and simple fashion are more common here.

[Fairfax Mom]

Sigh....I miss big hair, flashy clothes and pinky rings.....

[caution]

I lived in Brooklyn for two years. I've lived in NOVA for about six years.

They're so vastly different I wouldn't compare them.

NYC has a population density rarely seen in the US. NOVA has sprawl.
NYC was built on public transport. NOVA was built on private transport.
NYC has a business vibe. NOVA has a federal vibe.

I suppose the things in common are:
more diverse than most places
traffic
high salaries but matching high cost of living

[vanyali]

Ha, funny. I lived in Manhattan for a few years, and Brooklyn for a few more years, and I would say the two were so vastly different that I wouldn't even compare them to each other.

[caution]

Agreed, I guess it depends on where you live, where you work, and how much time you spend in both.

Brooklyn is OK by me. Manhattan is wonderful :-).

I remember a lady at work from Staten Island. She was in an office full of people from Brooklyn. They gave her a hard time. I was like, isn't it the same city? "Noooooooooooo"

[Moth]

I have lived in both NYC and the DC area for most of my life.

City to City (DC/NYC), New York is going to win for pure excitement and fun, hands down. Not that DC is boring, far from it, but New York is just that and one compares it to Paris, London and Berlin. However, I would say that DC is more manageable and mellow. Its a very leafy town and there are a lot less people. It has most things found in NY, just in lesser quantities.

Now, comparing NOVA to the NYC suburbs (Westchester, Nassau, NJ), I would again give the edge to the greater New York area primarily because there is better public transportation. Lots of burbs there are actually old towns and small cities built around RR stations like in Europe. NOVA has a more southern, agricultural history although you would be hard pressed to find signs of it now. NOVA is cheaper though.

I personally prefer NY to DC, but the wife does not want to live up there and it is very expensive.

Oh...they both have horrific traffic. Indeed most cities have horrific traffic so that really should not be a consideration anymore except when you decided where to work and live.