Northern Virginia native who moved South and is homesick

[Skapov]

Originally Posted by Peripateticshutin

Same here, only I moved to the Seattle, WA suburbs. I thought I was also going to a "more laid back" part of the country that has a lower cost of living than the DC area.

The only advantage was that I could get a nicer house for less out here.

Things about NOVA that I liked better:
1. Nicer, better built homes. You won't take having a finished basement and at least some brick construction on your home for granted again if you move West.
2. Decent public services: power and water utilities typically work, the metro rail, good roads, a well funded police force that will actually try to arrest criminals (trust me, you spend some time in the Pacific NW and you'll see what I'm talking about).
3. Sports: the Caps finally start having a good season and I'm not there to attend any games. DC is criticized as a bad sports town (compared to what, Philly, haha) but at least they have teams in every major professional sport.
4. Friendlier people: yeah, that's right, you can say that the people in NOVA are very self centered and inconsiderate on the road, etc. Stereotypically everyone is careerist and has to compare paychecks.
But, there is none of this "natives vs. non-natives" crap like you find in other cities. It's pretty easy to just converse with people. Mostly, people work in some type of professional industry or the govt so you have something in common.
5. Weather: unbearably hot summers and getting snowed on in the winter are nothing compared to 9 months straight of overcast skies and low sunlight.
6. Location: you can drive to places like Boston, Philly, NYC or take the amtrak. You can hop in the car and head south or west and see the countryside.
7. Culture and history: try living in a town whose crowning achievement is an observation deck built in 1962 and you'll learn to appreciate all that the DC area has to offer.

Great point-by-point comparison! I moved to DC Metro area (Md side) from Chicago in 2006, and at first I really really hated it here! But after I got a new job downtown and no longer had to do the looong commute to Rockville every day (3hrs/day stuck in traffic mostly), I began to soften to this area. I guess, what I really hated was the commute, and also back in 2006 SFH prices were like $600k for anything decent so that was a HUGE turnoff. Hubby & I were planning on returning to the Midwest after about 2-3yrs, but then he was offered a job from contractor to Fed. employee, and the real estate prices have come down, and now I find the area has kinda grown on me. The gardening season is really long in NOVA/DC Metro, unlike in Chicago where you get 10 months of winter and can only enjoy your garden a very few months. I grow orchids and they love the plentiful sunshine & humidity here, and people should never underestimate the value of a sunny day!

[leighland]

Originally Posted by springfieldva

Wegmans, Whole Foods, Trader Joes (in that order, for me).

See you at Wegmans-Just there yesterday...again....

[almonsss]

I just moved to rural Colorado from Cantilly and i'm having a hard time finding a job.

[JLK706]

Hey! Funny I found this old thread. I am back and it was the best decision I have made! Charlotte is nice but it has nothing on DC and Nova other than cheaper houses.

I have only been back a few weeks but I feel like I am home.

I agree, it takes leaving to realize how good it is. Oh and I agree with the person who moved to Seattle and commented about natives vs non natives... that is a huge thing in Charlotte and totally ridiculous. Get over yourselves and deal with the non natives. You definitely don't hear that in this area.

[DWS43]

Congratulations!

I left for a job transfer almost 10 years ago. While I did meet my husband in NYC, we now have young children and I want to come back.

I know the traffic is bad and things have changed so much since I lived in NoVA, but everytime we come to town to visit no one wants to go home. I hope we are able to move back also.

[cityhopper]

Originally Posted by back2dc

I moved to Atlanta in mid 2007 for just over 4 months for my job. HATED IT! I can't imagine how bad Charlotte must be -- I had to pass by it on I-85 on the way to and from job interviews in DC.

I've been back in DC for almost 10 months now -- in Arlington. You don't realize how good the DC area is until you've been gone.

Come back!!!!

Similar to my story (somewhat). I am not native to NOVA/VA but lived in Hampton Roads for several years and Richmond for one year. I moved to Atlanta and stayed for two years and moved back to VA. Left VA to try ATL one more time (currently) and I am in the process of planning to relocate to NOVA by a REQUESTED job transfer.

There are somethings I really like about Atlanta, but I really *heart* VA and hope I will enjoy living in NOVA

[01va571]

Happened to me except it was Saint Louis. That city sucks..... Same situation

[citydweller]

Originally Posted by cityhopper

Similar to my story (somewhat). I am not native to NOVA/VA but lived in Hampton Roads for several years and Richmond for one year. I moved to Atlanta and stayed for two years and moved back to VA. Left VA to try ATL one more time (currently) and I am in the process of planning to relocate to NOVA by a REQUESTED job transfer.

There are somethings I really like about Atlanta, but I really *heart* VA and hope I will enjoy living in NOVA

Interesting posting. So did you like living in Hampton Roads vs Nova? What part of HR?

[Caladium]

I can really relate to the OP. I grew up in Arlington and couldn't wait to get out of here. Went out west to Manhattan Beach in southern California. Had a lot of fun there but found out I really missed Nova. When we got a chance to come back we jumped at it. Who knew? Nova's one of those places you love to bash, but when you leave it you realize there are a lot of good things here.

[normie]

Originally Posted by back2dc

I moved to Atlanta in mid 2007 for just over 4 months for my job. HATED IT! I can't imagine how bad Charlotte must be -- I had to pass by it on I-85 on the way to and from job interviews in DC.

I've been back in DC for almost 10 months now -- in Arlington. You don't realize how good the DC area is until you've been gone.

Come back!!!!

When we retired we moved to our vacation home in Dahlonega, GA. We love that place for vacations, but found out living there was a little boring. And the hospitals are much, much better here (important at our age). After a year we moved back. Kept the place in Dahlonega, though. It's still my favorite to go for long vacations.