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Old 05-11-2009, 04:33 PM
 
Location: Home is where the heart is
15,402 posts, read 28,941,346 times
Reputation: 19090

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If you're new to NOVA, welcome! I'm sure you have a lot of questions about your new home, and this forum is a wonderful place to find answers.

But there's one question that comes up again and again, and the answer is the same:

Try to live as close to work as possible.
If you can keep your commute under 15 miles, your quality of life will be so much better.


Yes, you can find a nice neighborhood near your job. Rest assured, most of NOVA has nice neighborhoods, and there are lots of good schools. We will be happy to help you find the perfect fit, but the first thing we'll ask is where your job is. A rough idea of the price range you're seeking helps, too.

NOVA is a wonderful place, but traffic here is really bad. Really, really, really bad. So trust me--when you're cruising the internet looking at houses, don't even bother with the ones that are 30-40 miles from your job. But the good news is, our nasty traffic is the only thorn in the rose that is NOVA. Life here is pretty good. So once again, welcome to Virginia.
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Old 05-11-2009, 04:36 PM
 
Location: Maine
2,497 posts, read 3,404,043 times
Reputation: 3851
Normie, that's one thing I think (I hope!) everyone here will agree to!
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Old 05-11-2009, 04:38 PM
 
Location: Marshall-Shadeland, Pittsburgh, PA
32,616 posts, read 77,591,433 times
Reputation: 19101
Quote:
Originally Posted by normie View Post
. But the good news is, our nasty traffic is the only thorn about living in NOVA.
That's the only word of your entire post I will disagree with, but overall the benefits of NoVA far outweigh the negatives in my eyes. Traffic in NoVA may be dense, but just pop a good CD into your car's CD player, crank it up, and enjoy the ride. For me my ultimate stress relievers are Enya, Coldplay, The Verve (especially love "Bittersweet Symphony"), Dido, and The Cranberries.
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Old 05-11-2009, 06:03 PM
 
Location: Alexandria, VA
15,143 posts, read 27,769,264 times
Reputation: 27265
I think a number one runner-up MUST be: stay calm, driving is crazy but it's not worth popping a blood vessel over - just laugh, think to yourself "what an idiot" and continue on - do NOT engage in aggressive driving.
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Old 05-11-2009, 06:23 PM
 
Location: Home is where the heart is
15,402 posts, read 28,941,346 times
Reputation: 19090
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flamingo13 View Post
I think a number one runner-up MUST be: stay calm, driving is crazy but it's not worth popping a blood vessel over - just laugh, think to yourself "what an idiot" and continue on - do NOT engage in aggressive driving.
I love it! Yes, being calm and laughing at it all is definitely the key to being happy. Some people just love creating high drama wherever they go, IMO they make life miserable for themselves and everyone around them. You're absolutely right, the only way to live here is to laugh at traffic (and at the occasional idiot) and not take things too seriously.

And, the good news is... if you end up having to deal with tension at work or in traffic, at least NOVA has plenty of peaceful places where you can escape. Lots of quiet neighborhoods, and lots of peaceful parks and hiking trails.

Last edited by normie; 05-11-2009 at 06:31 PM..
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Old 05-11-2009, 07:22 PM
 
Location: Alexandria, VA
15,143 posts, read 27,769,264 times
Reputation: 27265
I couldn't rep you again Normie - but the bottom line (I think) to living anywhere - be positive
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Old 05-11-2009, 07:37 PM
 
Location: Marshall-Shadeland, Pittsburgh, PA
32,616 posts, read 77,591,433 times
Reputation: 19101
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flamingo13 View Post
I couldn't rep you again Normie - but the bottom line (I think) to living anywhere - be positive
It won't let me rep her either. D'oh!
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Old 05-11-2009, 07:37 PM
 
Location: Huntersville/Charlotte, NC and Washington, DC
26,700 posts, read 41,727,010 times
Reputation: 41381
Quote:
Originally Posted by normie View Post
I love it! Yes, being calm and laughing at it all is definitely the key to being happy. Some people just love creating high drama wherever they go, IMO they make life miserable for themselves and everyone around them. You're absolutely right, the only way to live here is to laugh at traffic (and at the occasional idiot) and not take things too seriously.

And, the good news is... if you end up having to deal with tension at work or in traffic, at least NOVA has plenty of peaceful places where you can escape. Lots of quiet neighborhoods, and lots of peaceful parks and hiking trails.
Apparently, they dont exist in Alexandria. Every place i go here, i hear nothing BUT noise.

A couple of other pieces of advice. MD drivers are horrible and VA (Fairfax Co in particular) loves giving traffic tickets.
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Old 05-11-2009, 07:53 PM
 
4,709 posts, read 12,672,167 times
Reputation: 3814
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alanboy395 View Post
VA (Fairfax Co in particular) loves giving traffic tickets.
They don't give out nearly enough tickets!

I had a great thing happen the other day....I was driving my school bus down Rt 123 and had just activated my warning lights to unload some students. Just ahead of my stop location, the FCPD motor squad officers were working radar (I hate the expression "speed trap", because it's NOT a trap). My bus apparently obscured the view downrange of the motorcycles, because at least a half a dozen cars blew by my bus (with red lights flashing) at well over the 50 mph limit.

4 or 5 officers walked out into the 2 travel lanes and waved them all over....man, that did my old heart good!
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Old 05-11-2009, 07:54 PM
 
4,709 posts, read 12,672,167 times
Reputation: 3814
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alanboy395 View Post
VA (Fairfax Co in particular) loves giving traffic tickets.
They don't give out nearly enough tickets!

I had a great thing happen the other day....I was driving my school bus down Rt 123 and had just activated my warning lights to unload some students. Just ahead of my stop location, the FCPD motor squad officers were working radar (I hate the expression "speed trap", because it's NOT a trap). My bus apparently obscured the view downrange of the motorcycles, because at least a half a dozen cars blew by my bus (with red lights flashing) at well over the 50 mph limit.

4 or 5 officers walked out into the 2 travel lanes and waved them all over....man, that did my old heart good! Even the kids cheered!
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