Warrenton, Winchester quality of life (Reston, Manassas: apartment, renting, condos)

[cadgbd]

Is Winchester or Warrenton relatively safe friendly walkable towns? I want to stay away from the congested expensive areas near DC.

I am looking to get away from the stress and high cost of living near DC while remaining within striking distance of a computer/network technician job in NOVA.

I dread moving closer in where the high costs of renting would force me to share a house with complete strangers. I need my own apartment and to live in a place where people are friendly (read the thread on NOVA being the most avoiding place).

I am hoping that Winchester, Warrenton, or some other town near Shenandoah will be livable. I do not mind the commute because I hope to start a business or find work locally.

So my main question is about the quality of life, what's it like to live there? I am in Portland, Oregon now (where employment is cut-throat). Will I be in for a rude shock, or a pleasant surprise?

Thank you.

[dod236]

Lived in Winchester for 2 years. It was safe and nice, but really nothing to do (at least for me).

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by cadgbd

So my main question is about the quality of life, what's it like to live there? I am in Portland, Oregon now (where employment is cut-throat). Will I be in for a rude shock, or a pleasant surprise?

You will be in for a few surprises. Whether it will be rude shocks or a pleasant surprise depends on how you see things. The attitude is very different here. Virginia is the land of upscale suburbia, and people here like it that way. McMansion is not an ugly word here, it's something desired. Virginia is very small business friendly, which is one of the reason we have so many jobs. But this means we have a different attitude to land ownership and zoning laws than they do in Portland. For example, laws restricting urban growth don't go over well here. But people also have a strong respect for the environment here. Hiking, kayaking, recycling, all those things are big here. We have a lot of parks.

[nvared]

If you were to live in Warrenton or Winchester and need to go in for a job, the commute is going to be very rough because of the traffic and take you quite awhile. So much for walkable and liveable which is completed "X-ed" out because of that commute. If you like Portland, enjoy riding a bike, walking, taking the bus, etc., and I've been to Portland a lot, it will be very different. You may have to try and live somewhere around Manassas which is cheaper than farther in or maybe you could find a basement apartment in a residential area. Something like that would work better than Warrenton or Winchester. Keep in mind it's suburbia whereas Portland has a lot of nice, older, and interesting neighborhoods.

[normie]

Let me put it this way.

A shopping mall is being constructed.

In Portland, you're likely to hear someone say:
OMG, those f**** developers are at it again. Let's sneak over there at night and spray paint it with protest messages. Maybe we can even set it on fire!

In NOVA, you're likely to hear someone say:
OMG, that's great! I hope it has a Super Target.

A developer wants to build a community of 500 townhomes and office buildings on the edge of the suburbs.

In Portland, you're likely to hear someone say:
Not gonna happen, we've got urban growth boundaries.

In NOVA, you're likely to hear someone say:
How exciting, have you seen the plans? About time we got some growth out that way. (and you'll also hear a bunch of people say: "I like those new smart growth designs, we need to build even more places like this. So what are we going to get in exchange? Let's get at least a few new parkways and maybe an interchange or two. Oh, and a cultural arts center.")

You buy a new pair of birkenstocks.

In Portland, you're likely to hear someone say:
Cool, very fashionable dude, very hip!

In NOVA, you're likely to hear someone say:
Aren't you going to be cold in those shoes? Oh well, as long as you're comfortable... so what do you think of this security clearance proposal (in other words, fashion is not a subject of interest and neither is being hip. You can wear polyester, even clothes that are totally out of date, and in many places people won't even notice. All they care about is the quality of your work.)

Someone says he can't go to an event because he has bible study that night.

In Portland, you're likely to hear someone say:
OMG, how embarrassing! Bible study? That's totally un-cool.

In NOVA, you're likely to hear someone say:
OK, that's cool. Catch you next time. (in other words, religious bigotry is not OK here, including bigotry against Christianity and prayer. In Portland many people think it's hip to mock Christianity. That does not go over well here at all. We have an extremely diverse population and it works because everyone is respected.)

Someone has planted a field of marigolds on a hillside

In Portland, you're likely to hear someone say:
That's so uncool. How dare they plant something that isn't a native plants! Who cares if it's their f**** private property, I say it's a crime against the people! Let's go pull them all out, show them they can't just go planting those f*** flowers wherever they want.

In NOVA, you're likely to hear someone say:
How pretty! Let's plant those in our neighborhood! Plus, some petunias. Oh, and rose bushes. I hear marigolds will keep deer away from the roses.

[normie]

OK, now that I've had some fun, here are some answers to your specific quesions:

Originally Posted by cadgbd

Is Winchester or Warrenton relatively safe friendly walkable towns? I want to stay away from the congested expensive areas near DC. Yes. Both are safe, although Winchester has a few problems that are at the petty crime level. Both have walkable areas, as well as a few neighborhoods that aren't that walkable. You'll need a car.

I am looking to get away from the stress and high cost of living near DC while remaining within striking distance of a computer/network technician job in NOVA.

I dread moving closer in where the high costs of renting would force me to share a house with complete strangers. I need my own apartment and to live in a place where people are friendly. Most people are friendly here, IMO. You can probably afford your own apartment in towns like Herndon, Reston, Sterling, as well as other areas closer in.
(read the thread on NOVA being the most avoiding place). Don't believe everything you read. Do you believe all the negative comments people write about Portland. Some of the extreme comments on your forum should be taken with a grain of salt--same thing goes with comments about NOVA.
I do not mind the commute because I hope to start a business or find work locally. Sure hope that works out for you because commuting from those towns would be a royal pain. But, thinking positively, NOVA is a very good place to start a small business.

So my main question is about the quality of life, what's it like to live there? Personally, I love it here. I deliberately chose to move here because I like the lifestyle here. However, I am also a person who loves the suburban way of life and I like living in a diverse area with lots of growth. If those things don't appeal to you, you may not like it here.

[cadgbd]

Everyone, thank you very much for the helpful comments.

Normie,

Your tag line "i can't thing clever to say here" fits you perfectly. The offensive nature of your post does not dignify the energy to help you and your warped perceptions. I am now sitting in a Christian coffee house. There is an open mic or acoustic performance every night. People are very friendly and open. There are families and veterans and all sorts of good decent folks here. You would be pleasantly surprised and want to live here. People visit here and fall in love and never leave. This is almost the number one destination for people looking for a better life.

If you ever do visit, you will miss some vast tracts of pristine beautiful land that has been recently developed. Upon that land sits vacant condos and vagrants and gangs. People can't afford birkenstocks. There are lots of students from Multinomah Bible College. They are very nice except that they aggressively try to convert people and get menacing and abusive about it sometimes, so you should feel quite at home.

You said: "We have an extremely diverse population and it works because everyone is respected"

Read This: http://www.city-data.com/forum/north...place-ive.html

I used to be like you. I thank my lucky stars that I got away for a while. Such a stunted, shallow, and naive personality, bland and tasteless. If you ever do awaken from your torpor I feel sorry for you. "There but for the grace of god go I."

[normie]

Well, I'm pretty typical of the people you'll find here. So, if I rub you the wrong way you might want to rethink whether or not you really want to move here. If you do decide to move here, people will be very welcoming. But... you may not like it here very much.

As for my comments on Portland, they're based on my experiences during the time I lived there. Sorry if you find it offensive. It's an exaggeration, of course (on both sides)... but not that much of an exaggeration.

[cadgbd]

Normie,

When were you in Portland? It has changed quite a bit. There a re lots of McMansions in the suburbs. Many radical leftist and bums have moved away since the post 9/11 era.

I was just asking advice where might be a good place to live. I grew up in DC and thus know all about the rude mean inconsiderate nasty people. I am a computer technician dress the same in any city and not into fashion (no tattoos or piercings). I don't like polyester because it feels bad, is flammable, and girls hate it. Anyway there are good people to be found everywhere, killjoys notwithstanding.

[cadgbd]

"Well, I'm pretty typical of the people you'll find here. So, if I rub you the wrong way you might want to rethink whether or not you really want to move here. If you do decide to move here, people will be very welcoming. But... you may not like it here very much."

I recall years ago as a kid we were listening to a band at the Blues Alley or something. In the bathroom was a caricature or some pigs looking eager and bug eyed at a stage. It was explained that the eager bug eyed pigs represent the audience. It took me many years to understand, why is it that artists would revile their paying customers?

While in reverie, listing to music that you really like, remember that your post is an anathema.

You live in a mausoleum, but... it is a mausoleum for the living. Then go pay money to see a "cultural event" waiting to be thrilled and awed. Waiting for release from your dull anesthetic suburban hell. The artist looks into the crowd and sees little piggies with big eager eyes and perked ears waiting for a treat. Joy-killers paying money for a little joy from the very people that they grind their boots into. How ironic.

By the way many people do not like the over development in NOVA especially in Fauquier County, and I ain't whistling Dixie. As you say, there are lots of people like you around, but.... not everybody likes it either.