I hate that I ended up in stressful, rat race DC.

[Anonymous]

Why not Europe? Europe has universal health care, fully respects reproductive rights, and universities are completely free. Plus, the social safety net means no one goes homeless.

Europe is paradise!

It’s superior to US in every way.

[Anonymous]

If you're willing to make less money, you can find a life that's not stressful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How strange. As a Fed I feel none of this, and think that the DMV is a chill place to raise a family. Maybe it's a private sector rat race thing?

I'm a fed and my new boss runs the office like big law. it's awful -- i'm looking to make a change. but i used to feel the same way as you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why not Europe? Europe has universal health care, fully respects reproductive rights, and universities are completely free. Plus, the social safety net means no one goes homeless.

Europe is paradise!

It’s superior to US in every way.

And the sun shines all the time. And it never rains.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not Europe? Europe has universal health care, fully respects reproductive rights, and universities are completely free. Plus, the social safety net means no one goes homeless.

Europe is paradise!

It’s superior to US in every way.

And the sun shines all the time. And it never rains.

Yes it does. are you trying to be funny or something

[Anonymous]

I find it ironic that this is a common refrain among transplants who came to DC in the first place for their careers. You’re part of the problem that you’re complaining about. Many of us locals have managed to establish a balanced lifestyle by avoiding transplant strivers as much as possible.

[Anonymous]

It's not the place its the person generally.

And you can always move OP. Happiness is a choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How strange. As a Fed I feel none of this, and think that the DMV is a chill place to raise a family. Maybe it's a private sector rat race thing?

Same. We think of moving back west but then we would have to rat race corporate jobs to afford it, probably work longer hours, and get laid off at 50 like all our relatives. So DC seems way more chill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How strange. As a Fed I feel none of this, and think that the DMV is a chill place to raise a family. Maybe it's a private sector rat race thing?

I'm a fed and my new boss runs the office like big law. it's awful -- i'm looking to make a change. but i used to feel the same way as you.

How can they do that?

[Anonymous]

“Ended up”? Did a tornado drop you in the middle of Dupont? Are you a victim of human trafficking and your ID and bank account and birth certificate have been taken from you?

Move, moron.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you considered that you're doing this to yourself and could choose to not participate in rat race activities?

this. I love this area. I’ve made good friends, I don’t base my school choice on test scores, we have great parks around us…. I could go on…. If you want out, step out. You don’t need to move, you need to change who you surround yourself with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why not Europe? Europe has universal health care, fully respects reproductive rights, and universities are completely free. Plus, the social safety net means no one goes homeless.

Europe is paradise!

It’s superior to US in every way.

I’m from Europe, free healthcare is great until you get put on a waitlist for months on end……

[Anonymous]

My husband is a Fed, I am in the arts. Our HHI is about $170. We live a very non-rat-race life in Bethesda. Family dinner almost every night. Hang out on the weekends. I agree there are some very competitive people around here, but it is pretty easy to avoid them. Honestly our friends and neighbors are pretty down to earth for the most part.

Sounds like you are hanging with the wrong crowd, or maybe your job is ruining your life.

Try to focus on what is amazing about the DMV -- the unbelievable diversity and tolerance. The free museums. Rock Creek park. Great hiking and camping nearby. Lots of cute towns in Va and Md to do day trips. Canoeing/kayaking on the Potomac. Art classes offered at Glen Echo.

And get a new job

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hear you, OP. I don't know what it is about this area that makes it feel so stressful and generally miserable. Everything is so expensive, traffic makes going out and doing anything miserable (let's not even get into the road rage around here), it just seems like everything's a giant hassle. But other big cities with traffic and high costs of living don't seem to be so awful. I don't get why DC is so weird! Is it the concentration of politicians or what? I'd be gone in a minute if we weren't tied to DH's job, sigh.

+1

Plus the drivers here are the absolute worst, and I am from a major city

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not Europe? Europe has universal health care, fully respects reproductive rights, and universities are completely free. Plus, the social safety net means no one goes homeless.

Europe is paradise!

It’s superior to US in every way.

I’m from Europe, free healthcare is great until you get put on a waitlist for months on end……

.

It doesn’t matter bc this area is so crowded you have to wait anyway.

At least in europe - you’re in europe.