People are miserable in Northern Virginia (Arlington, Alexandria: pharmacy, quality of life, to move)

[Lilac110]

Originally Posted by Megadell

The fact that pretty much all introductions in DC begin with what you do for a living and where you went to school says a lot. I doubt it's just the DC area, but people in this area don't seem unfriendly, in the sense that they are rude or mean, but just not very open. Everyone is head down.

You're right. It's not just the DC area. It's everywhere. People spend more of their waking hours working than doing anything else. For better or worse, it is a major part of someone's life. The way I see it, not to ask about it sooner or later is actually kind of rude. Not that people are their jobs, but yes, it's usually a pretty big part of their identity, especially if they put a lot of time, effort, or education into their careers. It's just an ice-breaker.

As for where you went to school, DC is very much a college town, to boot, and people often react differently if you went to a local school. I found it to be an advantage.

[Megadell]

Originally Posted by spencgr

I have a well paying professional job in the DC area and meet new people all of the time. I can't remember a time where someone asked where I went to school.............

Well.........that...is............................ .......a question...................... I get all.................the time..............myself.....................

Maybe it's an age thing. Everyone in DC is so defined by their jobs. It is who they are. I don't care where you work. It's like, is that where we're gonna be hanging out? Is that what we're going to be doing on the weekends? Going to your job?

What do you do for fun? What are your interest? Your hobbies? That's a much better question. That's what I always lead with. So what are you into? If I never knew what your job was that would be perfectly fine.

Especially since people in this area use your job to judge your worth. DC is full of snobby preppy people.

[SDonthemind]

Originally Posted by spencgr

Come to Middleburg and tell me it feels like a generic, soulless suburb.

Well sure, and then I could take a helicopter to work. Might as well live in Charlottesville and commute if you're going to suggest places like that. Also.. middleburg is around 2 square blocks. It's like a roadside attraction. The downtown of Ellicot city is bigger than middleburg.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by SDonthemind

Well sure, and then I could take a helicopter to work. Might as well live in Charlottesville and commute if you're going to suggest places like that. Also.. middleburg is around 2 square blocks. It's like a roadside attraction. The downtown of Ellicot city is bigger than middleburg.

I never said the commute was easy, I was only referring to the comment that everything in NoVa outside of Alexandria and Arlington is a soulless suburban sprawl. It isn't.

And the village of Middleburg has a commercial area of around 12 square blocks and has every type of business or amenity one would need, except fast food or big-box stores.

[Fallout Zone]

Originally Posted by Megadell

Well.........that...is............................ .......a question...................... I get all.................the time..............myself.....................

Maybe it's an age thing. Everyone in DC is so defined by their jobs. It is who they are. I don't care where you work. It's like, is that where we're gonna be hanging out? Is that what we're going to be doing on the weekends? Going to your job?

What do you do for fun? What are your interest? Your hobbies? That's a much better question. That's what I always lead with. So what are you into? If I never knew what your job was that would be perfectly fine.

Especially since people in this area use your job to judge your worth. DC is full of snobby preppy people.

I have never heard anyone lead with anything like that, here or elsewhere. What do you do is a perfectly good opening. It is a huge part of people's lives and it sidesteps potential touchy subjects (family, etc.).

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by Fallout Zone

I have never heard anyone lead with anything like that, here or elsewhere. What do you do is a perfectly good opening. It is a huge part of people's lives and it sidesteps potential touchy subjects (family, etc.).

I agree. I think most people, like me, use it just as an opening. I am in no way judging. I will ask follow up questions whether you say CEO, teacher, rock climber, engineer, or bartender. I'm genuinely interested.

[Old Guard]

I usually ask "Where are you from?" or "Are you from here?".

[STEVEN 1]

Where am I from? I was born and raised in New York, have a technical degree in mechanics and refrigeration, and served in the U.S. Army during operation joint endeavor. I've also lived in Washington State and Babenhausen Germany, I work for Audi, married 21.5 years, and have 2 boys, I've called Virginia home since 2006, Do I qualify to be your friend?

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by STEVEN 1

Where am I from? I was born and raised in New York, have a technical degree in mechanics and refrigeration, and served in the U.S. Army during operation joint endeavor. I've also lived in Washington State and Babenhausen Germany, I work for Audi, married 21.5 years, and have 2 boys, I've called Virginia home since 2006, Do I qualify to be your friend?

You would totally qualify to be my friend assuming you have a good sense of humor and enjoy a good beer, wine or scotch.

[STEVEN 1]

Good beer you say? I lived in Germany and where I live in central va we have a few vineyards, it's a lushes dream.