Newbie post (middle-class, homes, employment)

[Phoenix2017]

Hi to everyone in the NOVA forum!

I have been a "lurker" for quite a while here and have enjoyed following the various threads, but thought it might be interesting to finally become an active member with the ability to post.

On my own background: I originally lived in NOVA from the mid- to late-80s (moved here before Tysons II was built), where it kind of seemed very different than it is today. Moved out-of-state for nearly a decade and then came back to the exact same NOVA area I had resided in as a young child. Needless, to say, found that some things had changed quite a bit since the '80s! Have been here ever since 1997 the second time around, and although I think the regional employment advantages are wonderful (especially the benefit of being so close to the D.C. public sector), I do recognize there are some drawbacks as well...for example, IMHO, I would agree that some of the local people and especially neighbors could be a little nicer or "more welcoming" to new residents. (My family and I always seem to get the "cold shoulder", and have encountered the proverbial "closed circles" effect ever since 1997, and no matter how nice we are to others, or what we say or do.) I do however plan to stay here indefinitely, since I work for the D.C. federal sector and plan to continue doing so for the long haul. The benefits certainly outweigh the negatives, although admittedly, the sometimes-perpetual social isolation can also make things things feel very lonely at times, if like me you've found that very few people seem to be open and accepting of someone new.

Anyway to end on a positive note, I'm looking forward to participating more on the NOVA forum!

--Knight2009

[normie]

Welcome! Since you've got a long history in Nova, I'll bet you'll have lots of good advice and interesting perspectives on why things are done the way they're done.

[michgc]

Welcome to the forum, Knight!

[Phoenix2017]

Many thanks to normie and michgc for the warm welcome!

[Alicia Bradley]

Hi, Knight. Even if you feel NoVA isn't welcoming to newcomers, I've found virtual/CD NoVA to be very friendly.

[Phoenix2017]

Originally Posted by Alicia Bradley

Hi, Knight. Even if you feel NoVA isn't welcoming to newcomers, I've found virtual/CD NoVA to be very friendly.

Hello Alicia! Agreed, many people on C-D and locally online can be very friendly. Also lots of wonderful and useful advice on this forum that people have been kind enough to share.

[leighland]

Hey Knight, could you post the 5 top things that you see has changed the most in Nova since you left? And maybe a sentence why? I'd love to read... Thanks and welcome-leighland

[Phoenix2017]

Originally Posted by leighland

Hey Knight, could you post the 5 top things that you see has changed the most in Nova since you left? And maybe a sentence why? I'd love to read... Thanks and welcome-leighland

Sure leighland, would be happy to post as requested! Also thx for the welcome.

1. Tysons II: the year my family left, shortly after we left I think they began building it?

2. Gradual Semi-Urbanization along parts of Rts. 7 / 123 near Tysons: seemed like much more high-rises and business buildings were built between 1987 and into the 1990s? Seemed much more of a suburban look-and-feel in the '80s?

3. Gentrification / Cost-of-Living increase: around 1987 - 1988, the average NOVA lifestyle seemed to be a little bit more middle-middle-class than it is now. Gradually during the 1990s and especially into the 2000s, this seemed to erode significantly with the construction of luxury homes into more of an upper-middle-class theme (not that that's bad by any means...not meant as a criticism in any way). I think I can remember when $1.50 could buy a box of cereal!

4. Area Diversity: in the 1980s, the area I grew up in was much more homogeneous in terms of ethnicity. Diversity has many advantages! I certainly appreciate the value and advantage of having an ethnically-diverse environment, especially with today's move toward globalization which will make cross-cultural interchange much more important.

5. Fast vs. Slow-paced Lifestyle: while I could be wrong about this since I was admittedly very young at the time, when I was growing up in the '80s, life in general seemed to have much slower, more relaxed pace. Even school had a much slower pace and curriculum than it does today. Can't help noticing that overall, the pace of life has noticeably quickened, especially after the advent of the Internet. Although, sometimes I admit missing the old days, lol...

[leighland]

Thanks for your insights!

[Phoenix2017]

Originally Posted by leighland

Thanks for your insights!

Thanks leighland!