Holy mackrel (Woodbridge, Springfield, Fairfax: apartment, rent, home)

[ajzjmsmom]

We experienced our first bout of evening traffic on 95 last night, all I can say is "are these people nuts?" First off the people who start a wrestling tournament on a Weds night at 6 and then all these people who drive.

At least it helped my husband realize if we move back and we end up in Woodbridge or Springfield he WILL do the metro or a bus, instead of attempting to drive. The trip back to our apartment was a breeze though. LOL

[blu_monk]

better to go home between the hours of 3-5 or 7-9

[ajzjmsmom]

Originally Posted by blu_monk

better to go home between the hours of 3-5 or 7-9

That's what I told him last night, I would rather see him leave early in the morning and get off between 3 and 4. Most days it would probably work well, but there is that occasional last minute meeting or some screw-up out in the field that has to be resolved at headquarters.

[ChristineVA]

This is why I work 6:00 - 2:30 or 6:30 - 3:00. Those hours actually make for a very nice commute. After that, it goes downhill VERY fast! But, to be honest, unless you are living very close in, I don't know too many people who escape a brutal commute. I have friends who live in both Fairfax, Clifton, Centerville, and the like and they all have brutal commutes if they leave after 3:30 or 4:00.

[normie]

Originally Posted by ajzjmsmom

all these people who drive

Yup, nuts.

Originally Posted by ajzjmsmom

the people who start a wrestling tournament on a Weds night at 6

But that's really nuts.

Originally Posted by ajzjmsmom

At least it helped my husband realize if we move back and we end up in Woodbridge or Springfield he WILL do the metro or a bus, instead of attempting to drive.

So you moved here, then you're going to be moving back there, and then you're moving back here again? Talk about Holy Mackerel! I hop you're buying stocks in the moving van company, you'll be personally raising their profits.

[ajzjmsmom]

Originally Posted by normie

Yup, nuts.

But that's really nuts.



So you moved here, then you're going to be moving back there, and then you're moving back here again? Talk about Holy Mackerel!

Technically we didn't move here, we are temporary assignment, none of our personal belongings, only our clothes. No moving company involved, however if we do come back ,then there will be a moving company involved, but the gov't will be paying that. This was our "how many people get a chance to live somewhere for 6 months and see how they like it before they move there" trip. It has been eye-opening and we will see if we come back or not. He already knows he has a job here doing what he is doing now if he wants it.

Probably the only thing that would keep us from moving back early summer is if there is a freeze on moving moneys or if he got offered a job somewhere else in the field. He wants his GS 14 and it is easy to get it here.

[normie]

Originally Posted by ajzjmsmom

Technically we didn't move here, we are temporary assignment, none of our personal belongings, only our clothes. No moving company involved, however if we do come back ,then there will be a moving company involved, but the gov't will be paying that. This was our "how many people get a chance to live somewhere for 6 months and see how they like it before they move there" trip. It has been eye-opening and we will see if we come back or not. He already knows he has a job here doing what he is doing now if he wants it.

Probably the only thing that would keep us from moving back early summer is if there is a freeze on moving moneys or if he got offered a job somewhere else in the field. He wants his GS 14 and it is easy to get it here.

Oh man, so you'll miss the spring when we're at our best... but come back in the summer when it's hot? Bummer, that's a rough introduction to Virginia. Somebody ought to tell your husband's scheduling dept. that autumn and spring are the times to be here. (But, he's smart about getting that GS14. I think GS is short for gold and silver, because that's what it puts in your pocket.)

[ajzjmsmom]

Originally Posted by normie

Oh man, so you'll miss the spring when we're at our best... but come back in the summer when it's hot? Bummer, that's a rough introduction to Virginia. Somebody ought to tell your husband's scheduling dept. that autumn and spring are the times to be here. (But, he's smart about getting that GS14. I think GS is short for gold and silver, because that's what it puts in your pocket.)

Yes, we will miss spring but I will experience it 2011.

He would really prefer to move here for his 14 since the COLA is so much higher here, no where else other than CA and maybe Michigan or New York could he get the pay that he will get here.

There is a pretty big difference in pay here as a 14 as opposed to 14 pay anywhere else. Of course with that comes higher rent and of course the famous commute. His retirement is based on his high 3 and if he gets that here as a 14 or even a 15 it will be better for he and I in the long run. The good thing is he already has 3 months as a 14 so he would only have to be a 14 for 9 months and then he is eligible for a 15.

We are definately blessed that he has a good job with the gov't. The only drawback is that the dept he works for only has jobs in close proximity to the border, whether it be the southern or the northern.

[claremarie]

Welcome to one of the dirty little secrets of being a parent in the DC area -- no matter how well you chose your residence for its proximity to schools and workplace, at some point you will find yourself sitting on 95 South (or 66 West, or 270 North, or the Beltway....) during the worst traffic of the day, trying to get your kid to or pick him up from some far-flung sporting event or musical performance. While your other children are either crying in the car or waiting forlornly to be picked up at their own school or sporting event And your husband is conveniently out of town.

[ajzjmsmom]

Originally Posted by claremarie

Welcome to one of the dirty little secrets of being a parent in the DC area -- no matter how well you chose your residence for its proximity to schools and workplace, at some point you will find yourself sitting on 95 South (or 66 West, or 270 North, or the Beltway....) during the worst traffic of the day, trying to get your kid to or pick him up from some far-flung sporting event or musical performance. While your other children are either crying in the car or waiting forlornly to be picked up at their own school or sporting event And your husband is conveniently out of town.

yep, this sounds like the scenario that could be my life if we move back here