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I've called Washington, D.C. my home for just about 15 years (not necessarily the city itself, but the DMV area), and on Friday I was offered a job up in Chicago. I can't TELL you how excited I am to be moving to Chicago! But I do have some mixed emotions about leaving my childhood home...
I will say it was the right time to leave. Plenty of people come to this city looking for great opportunities, but I just didn't see any opportunity for me here. Throughout the course of the last year I have grown very tired of Washington, D.C./Northern Virginia. After visting friends in New York and family in Chicago, I came to realize how SMALL D.C. was. And I know this sounds harsh, but I also found it kind of a soulless place. Not because its home to the Federal Government and that's evil blah blah, but because it's SUCH a transient town, with people who come from all over the country, and it seriously lacks Chi-Town civic pride!
For a while I was ragging on D.C. all the time (pretentious people, awful traffic, etc.), but I think now I've accepted that it just wasn't the right place for me at this point in my life. It may be somebody's city, but it's not my city.
People thinking about relocating here, it does have a great deal to offer! Although, I will say, I would NEVER want to raise my kids in Fairfax County...way too competitive and way much pressure to be "an achiever"!!! But it has a lot of great cultural amenities and a lot of people here are wicked smart!
People, like me, who have been thinking about leaving, go explore other cities! This one may not be right for you. Despite its "steller job market", the city/surrounding areas may not offer you want you want/need to be happy. I needed more nice people and more entertainment options...sorry! Trying my hardest to hold back my snide D.C. comments.
Anyway, anybody else lived here, not been happy, and moved elsewhere? Where did you end up? What was it about D.C. that made it fall out of favor for you?
PS: ALSO, THIS CITY'S COST OF LIVING IS RIDICULOUS. I UNDERSTAND PAYING $3,000 FOR A STUDIO IN NYC, BUT IN D.C.?!?! YOU'RE WORKING ALL THE TIME JUST TO AFFORD TO GET BY! ($3,000 for a studio might be a bit of an exaggeration...)
Are people in Fairfax really that competitive? I may be moving there so I'm wondering. I know a few people from there, but they seem to be down to earth people. I never really interacted with a lot of the general population.
First, I don't agree with the Wash Dc Metro area bashing. I think it's a great place to live. It's expensive, because a million other people also thing it's a great place to live.
That being said, I think Chicago is a fantastic city. I've never lived there, but visited quite a few times. Both my husband and I agree..should the great opportunity arise, we would move there.
I don't think a million other people think D.C. is a great place to live and that's what drives the ridiculous COLA here. The job market here lures people.
And their quest for power and world domination and for some, world peace.
Congrats on the opportunity OP! Each city has its own advantages and disadvantages, and DC has the strong job market to lean on as its advantage. With that said, there will always be a trade off, and the lack of creativity and innovation seems to fall short in many sectors here(compared to other metros). Personally, once I build my resume a bit more I will be looking at a few cities and Chicago is definitely in the running. I'm sure you will love Chicago!
I don't think a million other people think D.C. is a great place to live and that's what drives the ridiculous COLA here. The job market here lures people.
And their quest for power and world domination and for some, world peace.
The evidence suggests that you're wrong. DC consistently ranks among the happiest metro areas in the country in polls. You might not like living here, but in general people do.
I don't think a million other people think D.C. is a great place to live and that's what drives the ridiculous COLA here. The job market here lures people.
And their quest for power and world domination and for some, world peace.
Perhaps it's just a matter of what social and professional circles you choose. What you describe is certainly here but it's not accurate to say it defines this area.
I run into people all the time who are perfectly happy here and, as noted above, the data also shows people are happy here. A lot of people enjoy a transit-oriented city with nice rowhomes, a lot of nightlife, cultural amenities, and interesting jobs.
Most people I encounter here are far from questing for world domination. They want to make a living doing something interesting and meaningful.
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