How did you make the decision to move to DC? (apartments, home)

[regina george]

I'm so torn. Part of me wants to move back to NY but I think I'd have more job options in DC and the allure/challenge of a new city is interesting. I'm also worried about whether or not I'd like DC. I know the option to leave would be there but the older I get, the less I enjoy the idea of moving often.

For people who've made the move, how did you decide on DC versus (insert city)? Do you regret your decision?

[EastBay-NowDCarea]

I made the move from the SF Bay Area to DC due to career opportunities. And it was the right choice. I didn't like the first job I accepted so I put my resume on the market. I got several calls and within a week I was employed somewhere else - where I'm pretty happy.

The traffic sux! It's worse than the SF Bay Area. It also lacks the mountains and ocean, but makes up for it in other areas. Especially in its lush green environment. It feels like a lush green forest compard to the west coast.

I really like DC proper. I also love NYC, which is fours hours away. Baltimore is a nice change, but I wouldn't consider Baltimore as a reason to move here.

This past winter kind of sucked with the cold and lack of sunshine, but the money was coming in and that made the sun shine from the inside versus outside.

In summary, there are many career opportunities here in DC, and it has a lot of people from many parts of the world. The definite downer is the traffic. The weather is not exactly perfect, but you can deal with it as long as you have money coming in. Otherwise if money wasn't coming in my way I'd be out of this area in a heartbeat and would be back to California. Not that California is the greatest, but it makes up for its lack of by great weather and scenery.

[mettler]

I came here for the red haired girls and the metal, but I have been let down..but, I do enjoy playing all the indoor soccer. I like the snow and the proximity to the hills to snowboard, so I thought the winter was just fine. I am ready to sweat now though.

[Legs1357]

Well it was really easy for me...GW offered me a 50% fellowship for grad school. Good luck making your decision. Out of curiousity, you said "back to NY"...where are you living now?

[14thandYou]

I visited here a couple of times and essentially fell in love with the city. The aesthetic beauty, the big city amenities without the feeling of getting lost in an ocean of people, the greenery and abundant parkland, the embarassment of riches the city has in terms of cultural amenities, the enjoyable neighborhoods, the Metro system, the job market...it's one of the handful of U.S. cities I feel particularly attached to.

[juniperbleu]

My main decision was between home (Philadelphia) and here, but really it wasn't much of a decision. I didn't want to move "home" yet and it was easier for me to get a job here in a field I actually wanted. I like the city, the job opportunities, and the weather isn't so bad. I also went to school in Virginia and love the general area (VA, Eastern shore, MD, west to the mountains, etc).

[regina george]

I'm finishing up school in OK.

How did you find apartments?

[juniperbleu]

Originally Posted by regina george

How did you find apartments?

Apartments.com, Rent.com, and Craigslist. I also looked on some realtor's sites, but in the end didn't get any of those.

[JL2010]

I was commuting from DE for school every weekend for a year, and I got very tired of it. I had so much fun in DC, and I grew up in a big city where cars were not needed. I knew I could walk every where in DC, and I loved that idea. I quit my job (before market crashed) and became a graduate assistant and student. Life hasn't been the same since!! I feel like I belong Good luck finding your place!!

[goozer]

Originally Posted by regina george

I'm so torn. Part of me wants to move back to NY but I think I'd have more job options in DC and the allure/challenge of a new city is interesting. I'm also worried about whether or not I'd like DC. I know the option to leave would be there but the older I get, the less I enjoy the idea of moving often.

For people who've made the move, how did you decide on DC versus (insert city)? Do you regret your decision?

Depending on your field, you may indeed have more job options in DC than NY (or anywhere else). It is not like the recession is not being felt here. It definitely is. But from all accounts it is far less severe than in other cities.

I have lived in several different cities and DC has a lot to offer. I suppose the biggest draw is that it is the seat of government, and if you work in the federal government it is a great place to be. On the other hand, I feel like a lot of people believe (and perhaps rightfully so) that it falls short of America's glamour cities (NYC, SF, Chicago, Seattle, San Diego) in terms of overall vibe and quality of life. I also think that folks from smaller cities tend to view DC as both too expensive and too elitist (based mostly on the fact that so many people who work in DC are smart and well-credentialed--it often feels like you need a graduate degree to get a job at a Starbucks).

Overall, DC is not a perfect place. But it is better than most (in terms of jobs and culture; and it is underrated in terms of outdoor activities). When you factor in the economy, you may find that to be a deciding factor.

Good luck.