So tired of living in the DC area. So sick of it. Warning..negative VENT

[Anonymous]

I have lived here for 22 years and d*mn I can't stand it here anymore! I'm originally from the Midwest. Land of laid back, friendly, modest folks.

I hate the traffic here and I despise the pace. I despise the commutes and the fact that I have to plan how and when I can get to or park at the grocery store.

I despise how so many think they are so important. I hate working and living in a place with so many attorneys who think they are so important and so impressive. I was a federal employee for years in an environment where managers couldn't see past the bureaucracy to allow flexibility with a small child or serious illness. It was awful. I hate the inflexibility of government positions and bureaucracy that I've had.

I hate that the houses here are so small and that you have to kill yourself working to live in what is considered a good area with good schools.. NW DC, NOrthern VA, and Montgomery County (Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Potomac, parts of Silver Spring) No one other than highly paid, multi-degreed professinals (doctors, lawyers, real estate moguls, heads of companies) can afford these parts of town. I am in the education field with several degrees, but can't afford these places.

I hate that there is not much of a friendly feel in neighborhoods here. Everyone is too busy with crazy, overscheduled agendas. The craziness isn't good for my kid and i don't want her to grow up "stressed" Yuck.

There, I've said it. I had to get it off my chest.

I am unable to move. I married a man whose business is here and he isn't going anywhere. It depresses me. I miss the Midwest.

From a frustrated MOM and former professional

[Anonymous]

Amen. I totally agree.

[Anonymous]

move to takoma park or mt. rainier and don't look back.

[Anonymous]

sucks to be you, life is all about choices, I bet you don't mind spending the money your husbnads business makes from being in this area.

deal with it

[Anonymous]

I am from the Midwest too, and a 16 year resident of DC.

I agree with everything you said, including the part about being stuck here due to my spouse.

As a result of everything you point out (crowds, time, cost, commute, traffic), there is a lack of spontaneous socializing here that is depressing. Literally, it makes people depressed. And it's not just a "we have kids and 2 jobs so we're busy" thing. My friends with younger kids and 2 jobs in other cities like Minneapolis and Seattle absolutely do get together with no planning aforethought several times a month, just 'cause.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am from the Midwest too, and a 16 year resident of DC.

I agree with everything you said, including the part about being stuck here due to my spouse.

As a result of everything you point out (crowds, time, cost, commute, traffic), there is a lack of spontaneous socializing here that is depressing. Literally, it makes people depressed. And it's not just a "we have kids and 2 jobs so we're busy" thing. My friends with younger kids and 2 jobs in other cities like Minneapolis and Seattle absolutely do get together with no planning aforethought several times a month, just 'cause.

But how do they do it with all the different schedules? B/c I love my neighbors and I think I'm in a very friendly and social neighborhood where people would want to be more spontaneous bu they just can't or don't know how. I grew up here and while it wasn't always this way, its been this way since I've been an adult with kids so I don't really know the difference.

[Anonymous]

I'm from a laid back place as well (but on the other side of the world) and I love living in DC. I don't find it overly crowded - you can do so much here. Sure, some people are awful, but there are plenty of nice ones, and I've even come across ones that are willing to be spontaneous!

Well, I'm sorry you feel that way but I guess you're not alone.

[Anonymous]

Wife and I both work, one kid under 5. We work 45+ hours a week maybe once a year, neither of us make $100k, and we manage to have a SFH in the Madison HS pyramid, which is probably the 3rd-6th most desired HS in Fairfax County.

I think many of the semi-willing transplants to DC are just mad because they are that -- semi-willing transplants.

AS for parking, the further out you go, the better it gets. I love working in Leesburg and doing my shopping @ Costco and Target on the way home.

[Anonymous]

AS for parking, the further out you go, the better it gets. I love working in Leesburg and doing my shopping @ Costco and Target on the way home.

I love that Costo, too, in Leesburg (and also the Kohl's and Target, but not the Walmart). But let's be honest. That's not D.C. by any stretch. It's a 48 minute drive from the District with no traffic back-ups and it's another world. Not better, or worse, but totally different.

Put another way, the Leesburg big-box land is indistinguishable from the Overland Park, KS big-box land. Or the Arvada, Colo. big-box land, or Katy, TX outside of Houston ...

[Anonymous]

AS for parking, the further out you go, the better it gets.

Yeah, Ohio is even further out than Leesburg. The parking is even better there!

[Anonymous]

I think one of the other big problems with the people who live in this area is the unwillingness to commit to the area and say this is home. I hate to tell you this, but after 22 years, this is your home. Warts and all. It is time to let go of what you had and make lemonade. I've been where you are and yes, at times I still get blue about all of the negatives, but you know what? This is home. My two children were born here and this is where we live. I'm much happier since I've shifted my point of view.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think one of the other big problems with the people who live in this area is the unwillingness to commit to the area and say this is home. I hate to tell you this, but after 22 years, this is your home. Warts and all. It is time to let go of what you had and make lemonade. I've been where you are and yes, at times I still get blue about all of the negatives, but you know what? This is home. My two children were born here and this is where we live. I'm much happier since I've shifted my point of view.

And this is the place your children will think of as "home" so try to look at the good things. How old are your kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am from the Midwest too, and a 16 year resident of DC.

I agree with everything you said, including the part about being stuck here due to my spouse.

As a result of everything you point out (crowds, time, cost, commute, traffic), there is a lack of spontaneous socializing here that is depressing. Literally, it makes people depressed. And it's not just a "we have kids and 2 jobs so we're busy" thing. My friends with younger kids and 2 jobs in other cities like Minneapolis and Seattle absolutely do get together with no planning aforethought several times a month, just 'cause.

my sister has been in Minneapolis for years. Block parties are a regular part of her life. Friends in Seattle love it there too! I love both the Twin Cities and Seattle!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

AS for parking, the further out you go, the better it gets. I love working in Leesburg and doing my shopping @ Costco and Target on the way home.

I love that Costo, too, in Leesburg (and also the Kohl's and Target, but not the Walmart). But let's be honest. That's not D.C. by any stretch. It's a 48 minute drive from the District with no traffic back-ups and it's another world. Not better, or worse, but totally different.

Put another way, the Leesburg big-box land is indistinguishable from the Overland Park, KS big-box land. Or the Arvada, Colo. big-box land, or Katy, TX outside of Houston ...

The OP did include Northern Virginia, unless she is one of those for whom Northern Virginia ends at Falls Church.

And yes, Leesburg big-box land is pretty much the same as "generic suburbian big-box land in smaller cities." Leesburg does have a historic core that most other areas in Northern Virginia lack -- whereas Maryland seems to have a large number of towns with historic cores, etc.

Wasn't DC crowing a few years ago when Target showed up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think one of the other big problems with the people who live in this area is the unwillingness to commit to the area and say this is home. I hate to tell you this, but after 22 years, this is your home. Warts and all. It is time to let go of what you had and make lemonade. I've been where you are and yes, at times I still get blue about all of the negatives, but you know what? This is home. My two children were born here and this is where we live. I'm much happier since I've shifted my point of view.

And this is the place your children will think of as "home" so try to look at the good things. How old are your kids?

Mine are 8 & 6 and I've lived in this area since 1992. We were transferred out from 1995 - 1999. But I didn't start thinking of this area as home until about 2008 when I realized, this is it, for better or worse. And you know what? I'm much happier.