Nyc transplants in the DMV

[Anonymous]

For those that used to live in nyc and now live in dc/dmv . What made you come to dc ? What keeps you from being depressed and wishing you were back in nyc? (written by someone who wishes they were in nyc still but can’t afford it with kids) . What neighborhood do you live in ?

[Anonymous]

I moved from New York to DC to be closer to family and because I wanted to work in the nonprofit world. Now I live in a suburb of DC across the border to the east. The reality is that I could not have a house anywhere near as close-in as I am right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I moved from New York to DC to be closer to family and because I wanted to work in the nonprofit world. Now I live in a suburb of DC across the border to the east. The reality is that I could not have a house anywhere near as close-in as I am right now.

Sounds like my story! My family is here too. What neighborhood are you in ?

[Anonymous]

Work.

I focus on the green space and take advantage of all the hiking etc, and being close to nature. I revel in being able to drive to the post office and find a parking spot. I use the massive library system in MoCo and DC. Free museums.

And i count the days when i can retire and move back to NYC, stalking Redfin and Zillow.

[Anonymous]

I moved here from NYC and my DH was born and raised in Manhattan. We like it here better - the quality of life is much better. We have a SFH in CCDC where we can walk to restaurants etc. but also park our car directly outside our house every night. There is no equivalent area in NYC at any price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those that used to live in nyc and now live in dc/dmv . What made you come to dc ? What keeps you from being depressed and wishing you were back in nyc? (written by someone who wishes they were in nyc still but can’t afford it with kids) . What neighborhood do you live in ?

Why didn’t you just move to a more affordable nyc suburb? and yes they exist - many commutable areas of NJ are less expensive than DC and its immediate suburbs.

[Anonymous]

I came for family. I like that I’m close to the top of the food chain here with a $2m house, but in NYC that’s poor.

[Anonymous]

I avoid humorless Marylanders as much as I possibly can. And when there's no pandemic, I take Vamoose buses up to NYC for brief visits.

[Anonymous]

I was very depressed when I first moved here but there are a lot of advantages. You get a lot more for your money even the locals think it’s outrageously expensive. I really didn’t want to have little babies and kids in NYC, tuition is outrageous and it’s just not as easy to get around. I’m very glad I raised my family in Maryland although all of my kids are moving or have moved to NYC!

It’s extremely easy to get back-and-forth, you have planes, trains, buses and automobiles. I live in downtown Bethesda and can walk to the tripper bus and the vamoose, I can also walk to the metro and take the red line right to Union Station and Amtrak.

I love where I live because it is a great mix of urban with trees and less dirt. I like the feeling of being in hustle and bustle without gigantic skyscrapers everywhere. The food isn’t nearly as good but it isn’t terrible, and it has a nice community feeling.

All in all I have become a much more patient person living here. I hope you come to love it as I have. I go to NYC frequently but I am not sad when I leave anymore.

[Anonymous]

PP, I moved here because I wanted to work in politics. Now I have a career I love in a wonderful place to live.

Don't be one of those New Yorkers-in-exile who complain all the time about how DC is not NY. It isn't! It's a great place to live though. It's more affordable, greener, less stressful, full of smart and interesting people, and overall easier to have a good quality of life. Find the good, get over the bad, and enjoy your life here. Or quit complaining and go back to New York.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I avoid humorless Marylanders as much as I possibly can. And when there's no pandemic, I take Vamoose buses up to NYC for brief visits.

Why do you feel the need to put people down?

[Anonymous]

We live in Fairfax County VA and other than the pizza & bagels - my husband doesn’t miss NYC. He likes having more space here & the COL being slightly lower.

We moved here to be closer to family for help with the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those that used to live in nyc and now live in dc/dmv . What made you come to dc ? What keeps you from being depressed and wishing you were back in nyc? (written by someone who wishes they were in nyc still but can’t afford it with kids) . What neighborhood do you live in ?

Why didn’t you just move to a more affordable nyc suburb? and yes they exist - many commutable areas of NJ are less expensive than DC and its immediate suburbs.

Those commutes are a nightmare PP. Expensive trains, at least an hour each way, even worse if you want the flexibility of occasionally driving in instead of taking the train all the time.

[Anonymous]

I came here for work, the job didn’t workout as I hoped. Now I am stuck here being depressed about my career.

[Anonymous]

We moved here because of work opportunity and Dh’s family being here.

I still miss NYC but it’s been 12 years and NYC has changed a lot too so I don’t feel totally ‘at home’ there anymore either.

We live in Vienna, I can walk to the metro and pick one of two buses that go to NYC everyday. I’ve done that quite a bit for a quick weekend away when I need my fix.

I like that my kids are able to bike all around town and have lots of parks and ball fields to spend time in. I like the basketball hoop right outside my house for them too. While I do miss the pizza and bagels, I also have a ton of great food options here. And as I’ve gotten older, I can’t do as much carbs anyway.

I miss Broadway, but go to the a Kennedy center often. There’s great shopping in Tysons and it’s easier to run to a target and to the grocery store.

Enjoy the space you have here and go to the city (nyc) when you need a fix. It’s easy to hop in a bus or train. I used to go more frequently but eventually you do get used to it here and will go less. Driving is fine if you drive at odd hours.