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Hoping you can all help...currently live in Milwaukee and am hoping to relocate soon. My heart was set on San Francisco as I love the city....change of plans though and am now focused on DC. What do you love about being there? Because I was set on moving out west, I am looking for great reasons to be in DC....help! I really like the area and have a small network of friends there which is good. Also, I love how you get a true 'city feel' in DC which in my opinion you don't find in a lot of places. So, please convince me that DC is truly a great place to be! Thanks for you help!
Hi. I love living in DC. My husband and I have been living on the Hill for three years and love the livable city life that DC offers. Unlike NYC where you have to rent and live in a tiny apt you CAN buy something here (yes its expensive but not DC, San Fran expensive) and you can live in more than a condo. We own a small three story row house for example. I love that it has tons to do, good and ever better restaurants and public transporation yet I don't feel closed in here - plenty of trees and parks and green spaces and you can escape the city in just a few minutes. Also its location is great for weekend escapes - we love to go to WVA and ski, to the mountains by Lexington, the Del beaches, NYC by train etc. The weather is mild year round too which is nice - gets hot in the summer but no worse than any where from here south if you ask me. We don't have central AC in our home and we are just fine wtih a window unit. My only wish is that i worked downtown instead of in the 'burbs.
Ummm....there is nothing to be said that can convince you besides the fact that Milwaukee is not on the same level as DC. Perhaps Kanye West can do a good job --Welcome to the good life!!!
I am not a big fan of DC (it's not a good fit for me), but I will say in its favor that it is a very international city, there are a lot of cultural events (including many that are free), there's good public transit (although the traffic situation is mostly a nightmare) and it can be a good place to get job experience, e.g., in non-profit organizations, the government (of course), the type of services that support them, law, and the media.
DC is a great place that has its own vibe. If you enjoy diversity, museums, culture, nightlife, parks, employment opportunities, great transit, and a smart and educated workforce, you'll love DC. People from the outside looking in will never get DC. Some people think its too repuplican, others think its too liberal or elitist. The city is what you make it. Just walking in the city, looking at all the monuments, museums and embassies, you get a sense of power and freedom that no other city can provide. And then you thank god for being here because you could be stuck in a corn field in Iowa.
BTW - DC is one of the most liberal cities in the country voting 97% democrat.
DC is a great place that has its own vibe. If you enjoy diversity, museums, culture, nightlife, parks, employment opportunities, great transit, and a smart and educated workforce, you'll love DC.
I echo the same advantages. It is the hub for many airlines with 3 airports on the East coast so you can go just about anywhere (Dulles, BWI, Reagan). You are not too far from other cities such as Philadelphia, Baltimore and NYC.
There is a diversity of restaurants and cultural events.
You cannot get bored. There's a new tenant in the Big White House every 4-8 years.
There is Rock Creek Park that cuts through the city with extensive biking and walking trails.
Skiing is not great on the East Coast as it is in the West. You are as short as less than an hour away (Liberty Mountain in PA).
I live in DC and have lived in San Francisco. Also, like you I'm originally from the Midwest. Personally, I loathe this place. When I lived in SF, everyday as I drove across the Bay, I had to gasp for breath because I was just so damn excited to be there. I loved everything about the place. The only downside was the cost of living. Everyday, I think about how much I hate it here but I'm stuck because my husband works for the government. You have the same cost of living without the beauty of SF. The people here are beyond obnoxious--megalomaniacal, pretentious, artificial, and rude! Don't come here for a job like I did. Also, don't listen to people who say its cheaper than SF. If it is, its certainly not noticeable to anyone who makes less than 200K. Besides, its not worth it!
I just remembered that I was once in your position. I was living overseas and trying to decide where to go upon my return. I wanted to go to San Francisco but i had a cushy job offer in DC. I had interned in DC when I was in college and didn't like it then. However, I was scared to move back to the Bay Area without a job lined up. I can't say I completely regret it because I never would have met my husband had I not moved here but I fantasize almost everyday about getting out of this cesspool.
Sorry to rant but I've been wanting to do that for about 2 1/2 years. You have a small network here which could make all the difference in the world. If I could get some of my friends to move here, I would be infinitely happier. So, disregard my tirade. I just saved a lot of money on therapy. Good luck!
There are only 3 negative things about DC that I can think of:
1. Southeast DC is a ghetto
2. Traffic
3. The summers are hot and humid.
Stay out of SE DC and live near a metro stop and problems 1 & 2 are solved. Stay indoors during the summer if you hate humidity. Problem 3 taken care of.
Either than that, DC is a great city to live and work. Great people, if you like very type "A" folks, educated, well-travelled, well-read, ambitious, political junkies. Great transportation system. Everything you need is metro stop away. And the best part....FREE museums!
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