Winchester: What's the "Catch?" (Newport News, Reston: real estate, rental, insurance)
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RR, if you do ever succeed in moving to Winchester (with a manageable commute - that is the catch, I'm afraid, just as it is for Fredericksburg), I will be so ridiculously jealous. Have you ever thought about transferring to (or applying to a job with) an agency that's a bit farther out? I think you said you worked in Herndon part of the time - will this become more permanent in time (i.e., fewer details, or whatever, to Tysons)? I'd do the same, but the sort of gubmint work I do (or don't do.. as I think I've mentioned before, my office seems to be very overstaffed, and the political climate there is unpleasant, to say the least) is very specialized, unfortunately.
Everytime I read your posts, I can't help but think it's not the geography of where you are living, but the people you're surrounding yourself with. I worry that you think Winchester is Mayberry and you will meet Sheriff Taylor at one of the Mom n Pop stores and share some good laughs about Barney. I get not liking Reston, I would absolutely hate to live in S Dakota or try to live in Manhattan on my salary, but as corny as it sounds......
Home is where the heart is. If your heart isn't happy, sitting on the porch ain't goin' to help that much.
Just my 2 cents
Hmm... I live with someone I adore, and I still hate it here. I honestly think DC suburbia (with a few notable exceptions) is actually not well... This might sound crazy, but I think as a community (or set of 'communities,' if you want to call the census-designated places that make up most of these such an elevated term) it's actually dysfunctional to the point of being ill, and I can really feel this seeping in to my soul whenever I have to go out and about in (most of) this area. It's like a place that is functioning because it literally has to, due to all the (mostly government-related) work in this area, and people obviously need places to live (and do other stuff - even if just barely). But it's not 'functioning' through any efforts of its (or its planners', or leaders', or infrastructural administrators') own. DC suburbia has three things going for it - location, location, and location. It doesn't have to be appealing in any other way, or function very well, or serve as any sort of development innovator - it is still going to be packed with people, with more wanting in all the time.
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Location: Fairfax County
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RestonRunner86
I want to live somewhere where I can sit on a front porch and invite a neighbor over to shoot the breeze. I want to live in an area where you get trick-or-treaters. I want to live in an area where you can go to the grocery store and bump into three people you know from work, church, college, etc. I want to live in an area where driving isn't a daily essential. I want to live in an area where people seem to value other people equally as themselves. I want to live in an area where people don't think you need to work yourself to the core just to bank enough money to buy flashy things to impress others.
You just described some parts of Fairfax County. Maybe not parts of Vienna, or McLean, or Clifton, or Great Falls -- but there are plenty of other places in Fairfax County that fit your "wants" list.
I've lived here my whole life and worked for many years in law firms and have met my fair share of wealthy individuals with expensive cars, big houses, etc. Most wealthy people I know do NOT parade their wealth, they simply live their lives and yes than can afford expensive things. I can't help but think that its more about you than "them". I get wanting to have a home of your own and I didn't buy in this area until I was 36! You have moved to the Nations Capital, this IS a very transient area, it comes with the territory. If you truly hate it here, get a job in a small town in a mom n pop accounting office and be done w/ it!
Hmm... I live with someone I adore, and I still hate it here. I honestly think DC suburbia (with a few notable exceptions) is actually not well... This might sound crazy, but I think as a community (or set of 'communities,' if you want to call the census-designated places that make up most of these such an elevated term) it's actually dysfunctional to the point of being ill, and I can really feel this seeping in to my soul whenever I have to go out and about in (most of) this area.
Can you elaborate on why the area is "dysfunctional"? I think if you're going to say it's not aesthetically pleasing to you or that it lacks certain amenities, that's a fair point and you're certainly entitled to that opinion. Calling it "dysfunctional", though, is a bit harsher and I think you need to back that up with examples of why this area is not functioning as it should.
Aside from the traffic, which definitely qualifies as that word, I think the area functions pretty well, both work-wise and play-wise.
Everytime I read your posts, I can't help but think it's not the geography of where you are living, but the people you're surrounding yourself with. I worry that you think Winchester is Mayberry and you will meet Sheriff Taylor at one of the Mom n Pop stores and share some good laughs about Barney. I get not liking Reston, I would absolutely hate to live in S Dakota or try to live in Manhattan on my salary, but as corny as it sounds......
Home is where the heart is. If your heart isn't happy, sitting on the porch ain't goin' to help that much.
Just my 2 cents
I have to agree. People who are unhappy are rarely made happy because they move. Location doesn't make people happy or unhappy. I loved living in Vienna and now love living in far western Loudoun county. I did not move here to be happy. No place can make someone happy.
I love walkable and sustainable living (i.e. being able to wake up in the morning and walk or bike to a lot of my needs). Winchester offers me that. Winchester also offers it at a fraction of the cost you'd pay for it in Arlington, Alexandria, or The District. It may be less "chic", the people may have trade school or community college educations instead of Ivy-League degrees, church may play a more active role in people's lives, etc., but that's all fine by me. I just don't have what it takes within me to be "cutthroat", and sadly that's what I've seen a lot of here.
I really think it takes a lot of cognitive dissonance to believe that commuting an hour and a half each way to work will fulfill your dream of walking and biking to everything.
What's with the term ''power commuting''? What's powerful about spending 4 or 5 hours a day in a car? Who wants a work day that is 14 hours long? Add 8 hours of sleep and that gives you 2 hours a day at home to enjoy that small town atmosphere. That's barely enough time to make dinner, clean up the kitchen, and take a shower! You would spend your weekends doing nothing but laundry, errands, and home maintenance. Buying an older home? That means even less time for enjoying the country or running or hobbies or anything else. You won't have time to sit on your porch!
The reason people don't live in Winchester is because they want to spend those 4 or 5 hours a day with their family, not in a car.
Singles do not live in the exburbs because there are so few places for them to go. Where would singles go to meet people? I hear singles in Leesburg and Purcellville complain about that ALL the time and those towns are MUCH closer in and Leesburg has MANY more singles than Winchester. I suggest you talk with a few 20-somethings in Winchester, before you make a move. How many gay guys do you think live in Winchester? Your dating choices, and even friends choices, will be severely limited since most people in their 20's want to live where there are other single people in their 20's.
In the evening, Rt 7 backs up outside of Leesburg. Some days it's really bad, especially when it rains or snows.
Personally, I would HATE being in a car for 4 or more hours a day just to live in a small town where there's nothing to do. Even as a retired person, I find myself driving to FC at least a couple of days a week, and it's only 45 minutes for me. If I lived in Winchester, I wouldn't bother, but I would not choose to live that far out. Winchester has a few nice blocks downtown, some nice furniture and antique stores, but the rest of it looks just like the rest of the country, and isn't particularly appealing.
If you have trouble finding dates and friends in a populated area like Fairfax County, things will be even worse in Winchester. Unless you can find that one random guy who nice, single, AC guy or plumber, most likely living with his folks, and just happens to be single and gay, forget about it. Single, college graduates, do not settle in Winchester, gay or straight, male or female. If you had a partner, that's different. I bet there are some gay couples who have settled there for the same reason that some straight couples have gone there, it's the only place where they can afford to buy a house. Most couples want a house or at least a condo. You don't have to buy your first house yet, you're only 24. I would never advise any single person to move that far out. Too many singles can't wait to get OUT of the exburbs!
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(set 16 days ago)
Location: Sleep and work in Arlington, VA; party in Washington, DC
12,038 posts, read 11,967,542 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Denton56
I have to agree. People who are unhappy are rarely made happy because they move. Location doesn't make people happy or unhappy. I loved living in Vienna and now love living in far western Loudoun county. I did not move here to be happy. No place can make someone happy.
I disagree to a point. I was absolutely miserable in NoVA. Now that I'm in KY, while I'm a distance from happy, I'm not miserable even though I'm facing the challenges here.
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