How can you NOT like living in DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just jumping in to say, the things people love and hate about DC are not "situational to the person." The truth is DC is a VERY unique city and the unique aspects are what make people love or hate it. And they need to be generally true regardless of personal situation.

For example:
DC negatives:
- Uniquely expensive, especially for what it has to offer. Yes NYC is more expensive, but then you are living in NYC! In DC it is expensive even if you live in a suburb with a long commute. And this is no NYC in terms of excitement, culture, wow factor.
- Uniquely high traffic. Again see above.
- Unique in having a very small middle class. I've never seen anything like it. Where are the everyday joes? Which, then creates the crazy rich versus poor, black versus white divide.
- Unique government structure (no representation. Small city core with Federal Government overlay==terribly run city.)
- Unusually transit.

DC positives:
- Unique policy and government jobs. Booming economy. Interesting jobs. Highly educated workforce. All unique because of the government economy.
- Lots of free museums. Again, a quirk of being the capital city.
- Unique highly educated, highly international population.

PP poster. I meant to say: And they TEND to be generally true regardless of personal situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's the people. I know -- lots of us are great. But we are all the same. In my upper-middle-class suburban hometown, there were lots of white-collar types, sure, doctors, lawyers, VPs at major corporations. But there was also...the guy who ran the soccer apparel store. The car dealership owner. The cafeteria aid. I went to school with all of their children. Around here, the people who fill these roles live in their own suburbs. At least in the nice DC neighborhoods, people aren't mixed together for a healthy sense of what life is.
I know that this is the case for a lot of major cities -- in high-density areas, people self-segregate. But DC also lacks the diversity typical of many cities. There aren't a lot of artists, for instance. Yeah...I know that instead we have people from all over the world, and rather than the car dealership owner's kids, my kids hang out with the kids of the guy with a prominent role at an important and unique NGO, or whatever. But that's fake diversity. When you get down to it, that guy is the same as a lawyer in terms of education, upbringing and life goals. A journalist is like a lobbyist (though they make a lot less.) Worldly, goal-oriented -- and at the end of the day, quite dull, when that's all there is.
Sorry, but you know I'm right.

My next door neighbors are a large family from Ethiopia, who invite my daughter to play with their kids all the time. We have a tenant who lives with us who makes a living as an artist, as well as her boyfriend who is a pretty well known artist in this area. I am an artist myself, but make my living in a slightly different way. My husband works at a non profit dealing with middle east peace issues. Across the street there is an old lady from Jamaica who is the epitome of the nosy neighbor and knows everyone's business, blares gospel music from her porch every Sunday morning. Next door to her is another white family, and next door to them is the football coach at a nearby high school. And yes, we live IN DC.

I really think it just depends on the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's the people. I know -- lots of us are great. But we are all the same. In my upper-middle-class suburban hometown, there were lots of white-collar types, sure, doctors, lawyers, VPs at major corporations. But there was also...the guy who ran the soccer apparel store. The car dealership owner. The cafeteria aid. I went to school with all of their children. Around here, the people who fill these roles live in their own suburbs. At least in the nice DC neighborhoods, people aren't mixed together for a healthy sense of what life is.
I know that this is the case for a lot of major cities -- in high-density areas, people self-segregate. But DC also lacks the diversity typical of many cities. There aren't a lot of artists, for instance. Yeah...I know that instead we have people from all over the world, and rather than the car dealership owner's kids, my kids hang out with the kids of the guy with a prominent role at an important and unique NGO, or whatever. But that's fake diversity. When you get down to it, that guy is the same as a lawyer in terms of education, upbringing and life goals. A journalist is like a lobbyist (though they make a lot less.) Worldly, goal-oriented -- and at the end of the day, quite dull, when that's all there is.
Sorry, but you know I'm right.

My next door neighbors are a large family from Ethiopia, who invite my daughter to play with their kids all the time. We have a tenant who lives with us who makes a living as an artist, as well as her boyfriend who is a pretty well known artist in this area. I am an artist myself, but make my living in a slightly different way. My husband works at a non profit dealing with middle east peace issues. Across the street there is an old lady from Jamaica who is the epitome of the nosy neighbor and knows everyone's business, blares gospel music from her porch every Sunday morning. Next door to her is another white family, and next door to them is the football coach at a nearby high school. And yes, we live IN DC.

I really think it just depends on the neighborhood.

Where are the Asians, Middle Eastern and Hispanics?

[Anonymous]

Washington may be less beautiful than the rocky coast of Maine, but try making a living there. I think Washington is one of the most beautiful cities around. It's so green, and museums and parks are abundant. The Potomac is a wild and scenic river just a few miles from downtown. Having so many close-in, walkable family-friendly neigborhoods close to downtown is also exceptional. When I fly back to National Airport, it seems that the plane is descending into a large park. The light and open vistas are incredible. For that reason, I opposed the proposals of a minority to raise building height limits in DC and was glad that the DC Council overwhelmingly voted not to raise building heights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Washington may be less beautiful than the rocky coast of Maine, but try making a living there. I think Washington is one of the most beautiful cities around. It's so green, and museums and parks are abundant. The Potomac is a wild and scenic river just a few miles from downtown. Having so many close-in, walkable family-friendly neigborhoods close to downtown is also exceptional. When I fly back to National Airport, it seems that the plane is descending into a large park. The light and open vistas are incredible. For that reason, I opposed the proposals of a minority to raise building height limits in DC and was glad that the DC Council overwhelmingly voted not to raise building heights.

+1 on green

If you ever fly in and out of other metro areas, from the air DC is one of the greenest I have ever seen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Washington may be less beautiful than the rocky coast of Maine, but try making a living there. I think Washington is one of the most beautiful cities around. It's so green, and museums and parks are abundant. The Potomac is a wild and scenic river just a few miles from downtown. Having so many close-in, walkable family-friendly neigborhoods close to downtown is also exceptional. When I fly back to National Airport, it seems that the plane is descending into a large park. The light and open vistas are incredible. For that reason, I opposed the proposals of a minority to raise building height limits in DC and was glad that the DC Council overwhelmingly voted not to raise building heights.

+1 on green

If you ever fly in and out of other metro areas, from the air DC is one of the greenest I have ever seen.

Go to the Pacific Northwest and then get back to me about "green."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My next door neighbors are a large family from Ethiopia, who invite my daughter to play with their kids all the time. We have a tenant who lives with us who makes a living as an artist, as well as her boyfriend who is a pretty well known artist in this area. I am an artist myself, but make my living in a slightly different way. My husband works at a non profit dealing with middle east peace issues. Across the street there is an old lady from Jamaica who is the epitome of the nosy neighbor and knows everyone's business, blares gospel music from her porch every Sunday morning. Next door to her is another white family, and next door to them is the football coach at a nearby high school. And yes, we live IN DC.

I really think it just depends on the neighborhood.

Where are the Asians, Middle Eastern and Hispanics?

PP is Hispanic, PP's tenant is Asian, and the football coach is from the Middle East.

(I'm not the PP. I'm just wondering what the point of your question is.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Washington may be less beautiful than the rocky coast of Maine, but try making a living there. I think Washington is one of the most beautiful cities around. It's so green, and museums and parks are abundant. The Potomac is a wild and scenic river just a few miles from downtown. Having so many close-in, walkable family-friendly neigborhoods close to downtown is also exceptional. When I fly back to National Airport, it seems that the plane is descending into a large park. The light and open vistas are incredible. For that reason, I opposed the proposals of a minority to raise building height limits in DC and was glad that the DC Council overwhelmingly voted not to raise building heights.

Hundreds of thousands of people make a living there, including professionals. Doctors. Lawyers. The list goes on. People do have lives outside the Beltway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the folks that don't like living here. Cost of living aside it's an amazing city.

Great downtown. Not too big, enough greenery. Nice neighborhoods close to downtown. Good food, diverse with large international population, I had Ghanaian food the other night. 2 international airports, great schools. Where do you people want to live ? Atlanta? Charlotte? Chicago? Bleh. DC is amazing.

La Jolla.

I don't blame you. La Jolla is heaven on earth!

I worked for a software company right in downtown La Jolla. I could see the ocean from my office. It was glorious. Why did I move back? Because I got laid off during the dotcom bust and DC is where the jobs (and my family) were. I'm still here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Washington may be less beautiful than the rocky coast of Maine, but try making a living there. I think Washington is one of the most beautiful cities around. It's so green, and museums and parks are abundant. The Potomac is a wild and scenic river just a few miles from downtown. Having so many close-in, walkable family-friendly neigborhoods close to downtown is also exceptional. When I fly back to National Airport, it seems that the plane is descending into a large park. The light and open vistas are incredible. For that reason, I opposed the proposals of a minority to raise building height limits in DC and was glad that the DC Council overwhelmingly voted not to raise building heights.

Hundreds of thousands of people make a living there, including professionals. Doctors. Lawyers. The list goes on. People do have lives outside the Beltway.

I'm from there. And after you get out of Southern Maine (Portland), there are a lot of folks who barely make it though the winter. Multiple, low-paying jobs and food stamps are pretty common even among adults who have completed high school and some college. Well-paying jobs are hard to find.

[Anonymous]

My favorite posters are the locals who have not resided (other than maybe military or college) in other states, but claim this area is somehow superior. Get over yourself, in more ways than one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Washington may be less beautiful than the rocky coast of Maine, but try making a living there. I think Washington is one of the most beautiful cities around. It's so green, and museums and parks are abundant. The Potomac is a wild and scenic river just a few miles from downtown. Having so many close-in, walkable family-friendly neigborhoods close to downtown is also exceptional. When I fly back to National Airport, it seems that the plane is descending into a large park. The light and open vistas are incredible. For that reason, I opposed the proposals of a minority to raise building height limits in DC and was glad that the DC Council overwhelmingly voted not to raise building heights.

Building heights outside the core are being raised. And you are certainly in a minority of the total population, although maybe the majority of $4 espresso swilling hypocrit liberal NIMBYs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Washington may be less beautiful than the rocky coast of Maine, but try making a living there. I think Washington is one of the most beautiful cities around. It's so green, and museums and parks are abundant. The Potomac is a wild and scenic river just a few miles from downtown. Having so many close-in, walkable family-friendly neigborhoods close to downtown is also exceptional. When I fly back to National Airport, it seems that the plane is descending into a large park. The light and open vistas are incredible. For that reason, I opposed the proposals of a minority to raise building height limits in DC and was glad that the DC Council overwhelmingly voted not to raise building heights.

Hundreds of thousands of people make a living there, including professionals. Doctors. Lawyers. The list goes on. People do have lives outside the Beltway.

I'm from there. And after you get out of Southern Maine (Portland), there are a lot of folks who barely make it though the winter. Multiple, low-paying jobs and food stamps are pretty common even among adults who have completed high school and some college. Well-paying jobs are hard to find.

I know. I'm a Mainer. I am deeply familiar with northern New England.

Portland is glorious, and there are jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
My favorite posters are the locals who have not resided (other than maybe military or college) in other states, but claim this area is somehow superior. Get over yourself, in more ways than one.

+1

The people who are the most enthusiastic cheerleaders for this area tend to be (a) natives who have little experience living elsewhere (college and stints abroad do not count); or (b) hail from some small town or city, or a rural area, with few amenities and attractions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the folks that don't like living here. Cost of living aside it's an amazing city.

Great downtown. Not too big, enough greenery. Nice neighborhoods close to downtown. Good food, diverse with large international population, I had Ghanaian food the other night. 2 international airports, great schools. Where do you people want to live ? Atlanta? Charlotte? Chicago? Bleh. DC is amazing.

I agree. I'm a native and do not desire to live anyplace else.

I am a native too and I really like it also. There are few places in the US (where I've been before) that I'd prefer.

Chicago or anywhere in the Midwest (this includes Ohio, Indiana, or St. Louis) -- NO. Have lived there -- found the people small-minded, not open to new people, and parochial. Thought Chicago was the end-all-and-be-all, which it kind of was if you grew up in Rockford and always aspired to move to the "big city" where you just merged in with a bunch of other large, blonde, corn-fed people and cross-pollinated. People not from the Midwest, to you, were weird, strange, and different, and you were not welcoming to them.

NY/NJ/CT area -- MAYBE. But they can be surprisingly "small-towney" also. And, in some areas, not very much diversity, surprisingly. I am thinking of CT, in particular. Maybe NY/NY is more acceptable this way.

Philadelphia -- I like the diversity and energy here. Also like the element of creativity I find missing in Washington.

"The South" -- Richmond and anything further south -- Richmond -- MAAAYBE but this can be small-towney also. Charlotte/Triangle, etc. -- NO. Don't care for the self-congratulatory, "we can afford a large house for $200K so we're really makin' it!" mentality here.

West coast -- the only place I have lived there is San Jose Bay area -- so can't really speak that knowledgeably about this area

Outside the US -- I loooooooooooooooooooooove London and would love to live there -- love the energy, the history, the creativity, the theater. In DC or anywhere in the States, we do not have the affordable theater opportunities b/c our govt. does not support the arts like they do in the UK, and I really miss that.