Anyone actually leave the DC Rat Race?!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thinking about it. We have an opportunity to move to a small midwestern town. My main concern is the schools -- we are currently in a small private that we love, and the only option there is a big public school (or big Catholic equivalent). The kids do 4H and marching band ... totally foreign to us! I know my kids would benefit from less stress during the high school years, but I'm so afraid they would have no way out of the midwest if they didn't like it. I remember when I applied for jobs in law school, people always said it was better to start at a big firm, because you could always move to a small one if you didn't like it, but that it is hard to go the other way. While DH and I might be ready to move from a big(ger) to a small(er) town, I don't want to limit my children.

Being from a different part of the country in no way limits you - in fact, it makes it easier to get in to the East Coast schools as they look for geographic diversity. Plus, there are plenty of wonderful colleges in Midwest - Chicago, Northwestern, Univ. Wisconsin and so on. As for job opportunities - people look at where you went to school - not where you grew up - and the Midwest thing is actually a good thing - conversation starter, the people (stereotypically) are nicer, etc. If you're kids do well in academics, it might be MUCH better to be a big fish in a small pond than one of a thousand exceptional kids.

[Anonymous]

The problem is that the people are so culturally and intellectually retarded away from a handful of big cities, most of which are no cheaper/less stressful than here anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that the people are so culturally and intellectually retarded away from a handful of big cities, most of which are no cheaper/less stressful than here anyway.

What a disgusting, and untrue, remark.

[Anonymous]

Yep, Denver 6 yrs ago then moved back for work. Big mistake, as once you leave it's hard to come back to the rat-race. We left again a few months ago and are now in SoCal. We will never, ever move back to DC again. Life is unbearable in DC. Very stressful and people are always mean and angry. Those traits rear their ugly heads on this board every day!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that the people are so culturally and intellectually retarded away from a handful of big cities, most of which are no cheaper/less stressful than here anyway.

This is my estimation of moving to a small town, especially if one is a person of color.

[Anonymous]

Both PPs - you are both intellectually RETARDED (great choice of words by the way) if you think that people who live in small towns are stupid and racist. You both need to travel a bit more, so you stop being so RETARDED!

[Anonymous]

We moved from DC to Baltimore about a year ago. I know, I know, it's not that big of a switch geographically. But culturally Baltimore is world's away from DC! (Not necessarily better, just different: More artsy, more local, etc.)

We moved because of DH's job. The nice thing about Baltimore is that it feels more livable than DC. Housing is relatively cheap: We bought a 5 bedroom townhouse for less than the value of our 2 bedroom condo in DC. Traffic is much less intense. The neighborhoods feel more, well, neighborhood-y.

The downside is that there are way fewer job opportunities for me. BUT... I don't need/want as big of a job as I had in DC. Don't need it because the cost of living is lower. Don't want it because I want some time to breathe/enjoy life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both PPs - you are both intellectually RETARDED (great choice of words by the way) if you think that people who live in small towns are stupid and racist. You both need to travel a bit more, so you stop being so RETARDED!

PP, you seem to illustrate the views of the PPs who don't want to move to small towns. I've met people from small towns and based on your vocabulary, I'd say you match my experiences.

[Anonymous]

The assumption that people who live in small towns are stupid and unsophisticated is absolutely appalling. There are plenty of educated, sophisticated people who live far outside of NYC/DC/LA/SF/Chicago.

[Anonymous]

For those that have moved, are there the silly arguments about private vs public schools where you live now? Do the SAHM bitch about their husbands working all the time but could not live without their high salaries? Do the husbands complain about no intimacy? Just curious.

[Anonymous]

We're actively trying to get out of DC, meaning job hunting. We aren't to the point where we'd pack up and move without jobs lined up. We hope to get to the Pacific NW but west coast would be great. We'd also consider certain cities in the middle of the country. We woudln't go further south (if for no other reason, the humidity).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The assumption that people who live in small towns are stupid and unsophisticated is absolutely appalling. There are plenty of educated, sophisticated people who live far outside of NYC/DC/LA/SF/Chicago.

There may be some but you don't find high concentrations of them in small, sparsely populated towns. Of course, there are ignorant uneducated people in the big cities, too, but you have a larger population to choose your circle of friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I'm so afraid they would have no way out of the midwest if they didn't like it.

Um, DC and NYC and LA and all big cities are lousy with Midwestern and Southern and other small-town transplants. Why on earth would you think your kids would be stuck anywhere?

Yup, Southern Illinois transplant here. How would someone get stuck? Would they not have a car, or opportunity to go to college elsewhere?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The assumption that people who live in small towns are stupid and unsophisticated is absolutely appalling. There are plenty of educated, sophisticated people who live far outside of NYC/DC/LA/SF/Chicago.

There may be some but you don't find high concentrations of them in small, sparsely populated towns. Of course, there are ignorant uneducated people in the big cities, too, but you have a larger population to choose your circle of friends.

Puhlease, I just encountered someone who referred to Nanci Pelosi as Margaret Thatcher, and this was a Philly native moved to DC. Said individual did not know the difference between either individual.

here are some amazingly stupid Americans on the Streets of NYC being asked BASIC questions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWCPAXgrm2U

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The assumption that people who live in small towns are stupid and unsophisticated is absolutely appalling. There are plenty of educated, sophisticated people who live far outside of NYC/DC/LA/SF/Chicago.

There may be some but you don't find high concentrations of them in small, sparsely populated towns. Of course, there are ignorant uneducated people in the big cities, too, but you have a larger population to choose your circle of friends.

And don't forget how easy it is to find folks that are both educated AND ignorant in big cities