Move to Minneapolis or Washington DC??

[Min-Chi-Cbus]

You'll come to find that the most dangerous drivers out there on the icy/snowy roads are those people who have "all terrain" cars/trucks, or 4WD's with snow tires, or any other excuse why they don't need to be as cautious driving their car or slowing down without speed limit postings telling you to do so. These are the people I seem to most frequently see in the ditches! (not that snow tires or 4WD is dangerous itself, it's the perception that it makes your car full-proof against the elements).

[Bluefly]

Interesting reading this same person's threads on the DC forum and the Minneapolis forum. The Minneapolis folks were much more booster-ish about selling their city and its merits while the DC folks seemed a lot more objective about the relative pros and cons of the two cities. I don't know what that means, just interesting how both sides shook out so differently. Also funny how this thread devolved into a conversation about snow tires.

I think there's some exaggeration about salary and cost of living in DC. While $50k isn't going to go as far by any means, many, many people live in the middle of DC or nearby satellite cities on that salary or far less and live very vibrant lives. This is especially true for someone without debt, as I believe the OP is. People live more urban lives on the east coast where a big house, a car, and other such conventional desires are not as valued nearly as much as having less physical space but being able to walk / bike / subway more easily. Hardly anyone I know even owns a car anymore because of the proliferation of car sharing, bike sharing, and other modes. To get the 3-car garage lifestyle in DC is exorbitantly expensive in comparison unless you accept a very looong commute, but to live a compact city life is doable on that salary.

I'm not trolling - just observing. I recommended the OP seriously consider Minneapolis over DC in the other thread.

[StilltheSame]

I still vote for DC.

[fuggetaboudit]

I am moving to Minneapolis from NYC. I lived near D.C. for a year and I have some friends there so I have visited regularly over the years. To me the city doesn't have much to offer. It is full of transients who are working in government. Those without huge bank accounts are priced out of the nicer areas, the performing arts scene is fairly ho hum although there is a lot to be said for the museums. Then again that's certainly not a reason to live there. I grew up in NYC-NJ area and lived in Manhattan for years. I don't find DC to be a good substitute for an urbanite lifestyle. The social scene seems dry and you can tell by the lack of style there. People walking the streets wear pastel colored golf shirts and khakis and all the stores sell those kinds of clothes as well. I am moving to Minneapolis because there's more of an indigenous, genuine and gritty style to it. I'm talking about biergartens with bratwurst, listening to polka accordion grinders or hanging with some midwest hipsters, genuine midwest hospitality, weekends at a lakeside cabin drinking local beer by a campfire, living in a decent sized apartment or townhome for a decent price . . and best of all -- relief from the overwhelming traffic. I was a limo driver in NYC and I find DC to be almost as bad as the traffic there. OK not that bad, but nasty traffic nonetheless. If you like the beach you will not have that in MN, but in DC you still have a 3hr drive to Ocean City -- not exactly close. DC has Georgetown, but MN has U of MN. A very good school. Actually, the more I have looked into it, Minneapolis seems to be a best kept secret, so I kind of hope more people fall into the trap of the popular notion that the Coasts are the best -- I think the Coastal cities are overrated due to the high rent, high crime, excrutiating traffic, high unemployment, high lay-offs and low payoffs. That's just one man's opinion.

[Min-Chi-Cbus]

Not to nitpick, but there ARE beaches in Minneapolis.....LOTS of them, actually. But no, none will have surfing as an option, and none are going to be miles long. People can and do go to the beach for the day in this area like they do along the coasts.....it's just a slightly different experience.

[ManBearPig1]

Originally Posted by Min-Chi-Cbus

Not to nitpick, but there ARE beaches in Minneapolis.....LOTS of them, actually. But no, none will have surfing as an option, and none are going to be miles long. People can and do go to the beach for the day in this area like they do along the coasts.....it's just a slightly different experience.

No ocean = no beach

If you're talking to someone from one of the coasts, don't try to pass off a lake as a beach.

[Min-Chi-Cbus]

Originally Posted by ManBearPig1

No ocean = no beach

If you're talking to someone from one of the coasts, don't try to pass off a lake as a beach.

But I just did....I think he'll be okay, is what I'm saying.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Min-Chi-Cbus

Not to nitpick, but there ARE beaches in Minneapolis.....LOTS of them, actually. But no, none will have surfing as an option, and none are going to be miles long. People can and do go to the beach for the day in this area like they do along the coasts.....it's just a slightly different experience.

If you wanna go surfing, just drive "up north"... You can find surfing and curling in the same city.

Superior Surf Club

Surfing Lake Superior during leap year blizzard 2012 - CNN iReport