I miss Roanoke! (Lynchburg, Reston, McLean: apartment, crime, how much)

[Teebyrd86]

I must admit that I miss my friends that I met during my 2 years there and I miss everything about it... Wish I was still there!! I like Nova but it just isnt the same... Anyone want to switch with me and let me come back??? hehe.. I just havnt given Nova the time of day yet I guess. One thing I REALLY miss is my 2 min. commute to work, now I have a 25-40 min. commute based on traffic. Errr

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by Teebyrd86

I must admit that I miss my friends that I met during my 2 years there and I miss everything about it... Wish I was still there!! I like Nova but it just isnt the same... Anyone want to switch with me and let me come back??? hehe.. I just havnt given Nova the time of day yet I guess. One thing I REALLY miss is my 2 min. commute to work, now I have a 25-40 min. commute based on traffic. Errr

Take me with you to Roanoke! Please, pretty please!!! All in all I'm sorry to hear that you're having some difficulties settling in. You seem to have a pretty optimistic outlook on life in general, and I'm sure soon you'll start to acclimate better to life in Herndon. Granted I'm not happy living just down the road from you in Reston myself, but then again that is my own fault due to lack of research. I know I'm happiest in places like Roanoke, Fredericksburg, Staunton, Winchester, etc.---places with history, more down-to-earth people, housing prices that aren't sky-high, etc. My commute is typically 40-45 minutes every morning to get to McLean from Reston---about 7 miles. I know this place won't be permanent for me.

So...I think I still owe you a cawwfeee!!

[Teebyrd86]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

Take me with you to Roanoke! Please, pretty please!!! All in all I'm sorry to hear that you're having some difficulties settling in. You seem to have a pretty optimistic outlook on life in general, and I'm sure soon you'll start to acclimate better to life in Herndon. Granted I'm not happy living just down the road from you in Reston myself, but then again that is my own fault due to lack of research. I know I'm happiest in places like Roanoke, Fredericksburg, Staunton, Winchester, etc.---places with history, more down-to-earth people, housing prices that aren't sky-high, etc. My commute is typically 40-45 minutes every morning to get to McLean from Reston---about 7 miles. I know this place won't be permanent for me.

So...I think I still owe you a cawwfeee!!

Yeah I just got transferred to Gianesville :-\ sucks!! I think this is a cool place to live and it does have some rich history (its the nations capitol just up the road!). I am only here to get a stepping stone in my career with this company but I certainly dont see myself here for the long term either. Yes that coffee would be nice! Thought you forgot mr!!!!!!

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by Teebyrd86

Yeah I just got transferred to Gianesville :-\ sucks!! I think this is a cool place to live and it does have some rich history (its the nations capitol just up the road!). I am only here to get a stepping stone in my career with this company but I certainly dont see myself here for the long term either. Yes that coffee would be nice! Thought you forgot mr!!!!!!

Naw. I didn't forget. I've been getting sick a lot lately with the stress from my job, my meager finances, the traffic, lack of sleep, and loneliness in this big drafty apartment at night (Wow! I sound like a case for Dr. Phil! LOL!) Luckily you'll be reverse-commuting most of the time. An administrative assistant at our agency lives in Gainesville and works in Herndon, and she doesn't really like the commute from what I can tell. She leaves very early. If I don't leave before 6:35 or 6:40 myself for work I'm stuck in 45 minutes of traffic to get to McLean.

Proximity to DC is nice, and I've enjoyed wandering around the National Mall and seeing all of the sites. I hadn't been here since 2002, and I'm impressed by how much more gentrified the city is since that time. Unfortunately I just don't want to spend the entirety of my 20s eating soup for dinner (as I did tonight), battling gridlock to go a mile, and trying to befriend people who suddenly fall of the face of the earth.

I really can't wait to scope out Roanoke. It sounds like it's my type of place, although I'd cringe to be 8 hours away from my family back in PA.

[roanoker 4]

NoVa is not one of my favorite places either but I love DC! I have been impressed with how the City has improved Pennsylvania Avenue, the waterfront, Connecticut Avenue and especially Logan Circle. I have never felt strange visiting DC with the marble monuments, museums and the general atmosphere of an important world center. Its exciting to be so close to DC. Before the traffic mess up there it was possible in the 70's to drive from Roanoke to The Mall in about 4 hours with plenty of parking available(I was a small kid then). We would spend the day and drive back to Roanoke the same day. That was before the terrorists, traffic, security, high prices, ad nauseum of todays mixed up world. I don't think anyone really likes living in NoVa its just important to be next to one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Too bad you weren't in Roanoke tonight(Halloween) I couldn't believe all of the
people dressed up in costumes downtown. It seemed all of the clubs, bars had some contest. I thought I was in a much bigger city. And they say there are no "young professionals" here. They must come here for Halloween.

[touretteboy65]

Originally Posted by roanoker 4

NoVa is not one of my favorite places either but I love DC! I have been impressed with how the City has improved Pennsylvania Avenue, the waterfront, Connecticut Avenue and especially Logan Circle. I have never felt strange visiting DC with the marble monuments, museums and the general atmosphere of an important world center. Its exciting to be so close to DC. Before the traffic mess up there it was possible in the 70's to drive from Roanoke to The Mall in about 4 hours with plenty of parking available(I was a small kid then). We would spend the day and drive back to Roanoke the same day. That was before the terrorists, traffic, security, high prices, ad nauseum of todays mixed up world. I don't think anyone really likes living in NoVa its just important to be next to one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Too bad you weren't in Roanoke tonight(Halloween) I couldn't believe all of the
people dressed up in costumes downtown. It seemed all of the clubs, bars had some contest. I thought I was in a much bigger city. And they say there are no "young professionals" here. They must come here for Halloween.

What's your take on Roanoke? My family & I will be taking a run up there in February to check things out. We have two young children, so we're really concerned with the quality of schools. I'll be retiring from my job here, but still plan on working full time once we move. We'll be leaving the Orlando, FL area to get out of this oven and all the crime & congestion that comes with it. Although we're looking for less of the above, we don't want to be living in an area that is boring and too far away from the creature comforts (good retail, restaurants, entertainment, etc), but still, we would like a little more room to enjoy the beauty of nature (homes on 1-3 acre lots) . Any help would be most appreciated. Thanks.

[roanoker 4]

Of course I am a fan of Roanoke. I have always known it had a great quality of life before MONEY magazine discovered us a few years ago and put us at the top of their many lists. The print media in this country has not discovered this part of VA and to be frank there are a lot of folks in the more populated parts of VA who have an image of Roanoke as a "railroad town". If more people would visit they will discover railroading is long gone here. Because of VA Techs' involvement, the area is becoming a major medical center with many jobs created. Also, similar to Asheville NC, we are becoming a tourist center. I can't believe all of the tour buses now who visit our new Art Museum and vibrant downtown market. The public schools are excellent, especially in the affluent areas. We seem to have a problem with the local
people who don't want our quality of life spoiled by more development but I think it is inevitiable. We have more rail service from Lynchburg now to DC and it is hoped the renovated train station here will provide rail soon. You can still spend the day in DC(a longer day because of the DC traffic)and come back to Roanoke the same day. I am a travelogue of Roanoke I guess so if you need anymore info please let me know.

[540_804]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

My commute is typically 40-45 minutes every morning to get to McLean from Reston---about 7 miles.

Im absolutely certain I would lose my mind if I had to commute that long for such a short distance!!!

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by roanoker 4

You can still spend the day in DC(a longer day because of the DC traffic)and come back to Roanoke the same day.

With high-speed rail? Yes. Driving? No. If you're planning to drive 4 hours each way (4.5-5 with heavy DC congestion), then ultimately you'd be leaving at 6 AM, getting into DC for 10:30 AM, then leaving by around 4 or 5 PM to get home at a decent hour. I would never drive 9 or 10 hours in one day just to enjoy 6 or 7 hours somewhere.

[Teebyrd86]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

With high-speed rail? Yes. Driving? No. If you're planning to drive 4 hours each way (4.5-5 with heavy DC congestion), then ultimately you'd be leaving at 6 AM, getting into DC for 10:30 AM, then leaving by around 4 or 5 PM to get home at a decent hour. I would never drive 9 or 10 hours in one day just to enjoy 6 or 7 hours somewhere.

It really depends on when you leave and what route you take Scran. I take I-66 to I-81 and it isnt that bad NOTHING like taking I-95 anywhere. I can be from Herndon to Roanoke in less than 4 hours if I leave between 10am and 1pm.