Retiring to DC and how to meet peers. (apartments, rental)

[dunnbv]

Greetings all....we are retiring to DC and would like suggestions for places to rent. We would like to be able to walk or metro to everything....we are interested in volunteering for govt or museums....be able to walk to the mall. We would like a 2 bedroom place and willing to pay up to about $2500 although cheaper would be better. We would like a quiet residential area but close to activity. We only know our children (ages 35 and 32) in DC so would you recommend that we live in an apartment building where it might be easier to meet people our age....and are there apartment buildings where retirees are more likely to be found? I love the architecture in DC and would love an old townhouse but would that make it harder to meet others. Thanks for any advice.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by dunnbv

Greetings all....we are retiring to DC and would like suggestions for places to rent. We would like to be able to walk or metro to everything....we are interested in volunteering for govt or museums....be able to walk to the mall. We would like a 2 bedroom place and willing to pay up to about $2500 although cheaper would be better. We would like a quiet residential area but close to activity. We only know our children (ages 35 and 32) in DC so would you recommend that we live in an apartment building where it might be easier to meet people our age....and are there apartment buildings where retirees are more likely to be found? I love the architecture in DC and would love an old townhouse but would that make it harder to meet others. Thanks for any advice.

There are a lot of apartment buildings similar to what you describe but have personally found most larger buildings to be impersonal and difficult to meet people in. You would also think you'd have some nice choices given your price range but sadly not in DC. I'd recommend looking at rental buildings in the Rosslyn or Courthouse areas in Northern Virginia which are one and two Metro stops respectively from DC. There are many more options in your price range.
I feel pretty confident you'll meet some nice people through your volunteering efforts, so don't worry about about finding that through where you live.

Good luck!

[stars99]

Olde Towne Alexandria, Woodley Zoo

[Pandoras]

I would recommend the Logan Circle or Thomas Circle neighborhood. I am not sure if there are apartments in that price range though. It is about a 25 minute walk to the National Mall or you can hop on the bus. I like this area because you easily walk to downtown, Dupont Circle, or Metro Center.

For a quiet residential area, there are new apartments near the Stadium in SW. So consider looking in the SW corridor and see if it is right for you. It is an up and coming area but parts of it look like an industrial wasteland.