Please help me appreciate NOVA (Lynchburg, Manassas: house, theater, school)

[16 Acres]

Originally Posted by KnownUnknown

I wish Northern VA could split from the rest of Virginia so it can go the way of West VA. Rural sticks full of backwoods and closed minded people.

"Full of" ??

Glad to see that you exercised your right to your opinion.

[KnownUnknown]

Predominately. Not exclusively. But dominated by yes.

[ffx rez]

This should be a stickied thread. Every month we get someone that doesn't want to live in NOVA and can't seem to find anything to do amidst the millions of amazing things in the area. Maybe they can all hang together.

[LynchburgLover]

Originally Posted by KnownUnknown

I wish Northern VA could split from the rest of Virginia so it can go the way of West VA. Rural sticks full of backwoods and closed minded people.

That said, I also don't know if I can stick it out in the area. I was born and raised here, and I mean, I like it, but at the same time I hate it. It is insanely expensive, and it's so, so, so hard to make friends.

Do you see the irony in your statement? You complain about "rural sticks full of backwoods and closed minded people". But you are being every bit as closed minded because you're judging everyone based on where they live.

All of Virginia has all kinds of people.

[LuvVA]

Originally Posted by NOVAnite

POINTLESS RANT:

I've lived in NoVa for about a year and am completely frustrated with the area. Even the cheapest studio apartment is well out of reach for most working people. You work your 50 hour week and sit in traffic for two hours a each day and what the heck do you get for your effort?

- A rented room in another person's house
- no personal life because the culture here is work work work
- The tiny amount of money you're able to save despite NoVa's best efforts to take it from you

And if you really grind it out and try to make a life here you get what?

- A 450k townhouse
- Friendly Neighbors who will smile to your face.... and report you to the HOA if you paint your door the wrong color

END POINTLESS RANT

what am I missing here? I'm sure this area has fantastic things about it. I just probably have not seen them because of all the moping and complaining

You should have known about NoVa prior to moving here....

Are you not one of those members who create 'Moving to NOVA from XYZ...' threads everyday?

NoVa is for people who are ok with the flaws you mentioned about, but on the good side, you get good career boost (both in position and salary).

And for those people who have already well established in their field, also get very good salary.
If you are in contracting field, you could get long term contracting job in DC area, you probably won't get something like this in other metro areas.

Here you get to meet varieties of culture, people from different countries, top school districts etc.

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by LuvVA

You should have known about NoVa prior to moving here....

Are you not one of those members who create 'Moving to NOVA from XYZ...' threads everyday?

NoVa is for people who are ok with the flaws you mentioned about, but on the good side, you get good career boost (both in position and salary).

And for those people who have already well established in their field, also get very good salary.
If you are in contracting field, you could get long term contracting job in DC area, you probably won't get something like this in other metro areas.

Here you get to meet varieties of culture, people from different countries, top school districts etc.

Yep, and therein lies the rub. Nice bucolic towns with friendly natives who've been there for generations and cheap housing generally don't have vibrant job markets.

I always gets me that when people come here "for the money" they are shocked about the cost of living and then complain and never get past it. I mean, do you really think that an area pays a lot of money but has cheap apartments? Where does that ever happen?

Also, I realize everyone has a different perspective, but I don't see the "work, work, work" mentality described by the original poster. I think that very much has to do with your career field. I do know several accountants who work for the big firms that are worked to death. Other than that, even when I was in the private sector, I rarely had to work more than a 40 hour week.

[lovnova]

Get ready OP here we go.

[tgbwc]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

Yep, and therein lies the rub. Nice bucolic towns with friendly natives who've been there for generations and cheap housing generally don't have vibrant job markets.

I always gets me that when people come here "for the money" they are shocked about the cost of living and then complain and never get past it. I mean, do you really think that an area pays a lot of money but has cheap apartments? Where does that ever happen?

Also, I realize everyone has a different perspective, but I don't see the "work, work, work" mentality described by the original poster. I think that very much has to do with your career field. I do know several accountants who work for the big firms that are worked to death. Other than that, even when I was in the private sector, I rarely had to work more than a 40 hour week.

Much of this plus the "so hard to make friends" part. We've never had difficulty making friends ( and god acquaintances) with people in the neighborhood and with people from work.

[tgbwc]

* good acquaintances

[MikeyCNY]

Live near a Metro stop.

Problem solved.