Anyone consider leaving DC metro area?
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Anonymous
| I've considered it but never followed through. I grew up here my entire life. It's not the same in other places. I found I cannot do smaller and slower paced. I got bored fast. Not to say it's not right for others. Here is where I will be staying--small house and yard and no massive vacations and all. |
Anonymous
| I'm from Chicago and desperately want to move back. It's still a large city but it is WAY more affordable than the DC area. . .DH's job is here and he's way to invested in the company to leave. |
Anonymous
| OP here. Thanks for the feedback. I am from CA so I don't find DC to be as diverse and fast-moving as what I experienced growing up and I've assimilated. I simply want the core things which are important to me. I don't have family here and neither does he so I think that makes it easier to uproot and not look back. Again, I'm in the minority. DH agrees he's "open to it" but my conversations around moving anywhere not just the Texas area get very little response. I simply want to give my children what I had: family time, trips, a nice house and big yard to play in. Right now we're both so exhausted from work, save, work and I look around and wonder what's it all for? |
Anonymous
| I have thought about moving a lot and more the last few years. We have no family in the area, are getting deeper into debt because my dh got laid off from work 2.5 years ago and still hasn't found a job. I am considering Huntsville, AL or Birmingham, AL because my family is down there. I would like my children to be around their grandfather, aunts, and cousins, and I wouldn't mind being able to see my sisters and father once in awhile. |
Anonymous
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Desperately, but DH grew up here and thinks its the bee's knees. I'm from Baltimore and he has family down South. I'd pick either over here. It'll never happen: DH thinks they have the best schools in the nation here and blah blah blah. The sad part is I think we could easily afford private in a place with a lower cost of living, if it ever came to that.
It'd also be nice to be near family: I grew up 3 blocks away from my grandparents and often walked over to their house after school instead of going straight home. DH comes from a huge tight knit Italian clan as well. And yet, our closest relative is a 45 minute drive. |
Anonymous
We moved to Dallas from DC last year. Like several other posters on here, I was skeptical. I had a set stereotype of Texas and Texans in my head that I was set on. Didn't want to move, didn't want to be told differently. Much to my surprise, it is awesome here. I am so glad we made the move. The one bad thing is that the summers are terrible. Worse than DC. And t's not a beautiful city. The DC area is much more scenic. But the trade-off is we live in a great part of the city, a place twice the size of our DC condo for 1/2 the price. Dallas may not be quite as intellectually stimulating as DC but people aren't all gun-toting hicks chewing tobacco and saying "y'all" all the time either. It's a diverse city and I've met a lot of great people from all over the country. It's pretty transient. The biggest positive differences I've seen: -People are VERY friendly here. Actually having someone say hello and have a nice day has been strange and great to get used to. Even people at the DMV are friendly! -Cost of living is awesome. Can get so much more for your money (i.e. new 5 bedroom/4,000 sq foot house 30 min from the city for $425,000) -Very business-friendly state. Many jobs compared to other parts of the country -It's sunny all the time (this was a big thing for me coming from Portland, OR originally) -No income tax. Low taxes in general except property is a bit higher than usual. -Good schools in the burbs and a few parts of the city. Don't have to go too far out. Plano is 20 min from Dallas. Frisco (which is where we may go in a few years) is about 30 min. McKinney is 40 min from the city. -Dallas is a really family-friendly city with tons to do for kids. Like I said, my stereotypes of Bible-thumping, gun-toting, flag-flying, tobacky-chewing people were totally dispelled when I actually moved here. Yes, I'm sure you get a lot more of that way out in the sticks but you would way out in VA too. It's good to keep an open mind about other places. Good luck! |
Anonymous
| I'm the PP living in Dallas. I forgot to mention, we pay $575/month for my 2.5 year old's school for 5 days a week. That's $5,175/year. |
Anonymous
| YES! We are actually starting the process now after being in DC for 15 years (college and then stayed.) My big motivation is the price of private schools and the long gray winters. But, mainly school. |
Anonymous
| I'd move to Phoenix in a heartbeat. |
Anonymous
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I just wanted to say it is really refreshing to hear from those who have resided elsewhere and realize D.C. and the surrounding area are certainly not all that. Too many buy into local chants of "best schools, blah, blah, blah...." bullshit which is just that, bullshit. There are so many educated areas of the U.S. with great jobs. D.C. thankfully is not the be all and end all for those who are truly educated! I really think so many locals internalize and make certain subjects all about them. Really, their parents must have been doozies, because they can not see past themselves! They are so tiresome. I would rather be anywhere else where most of the residents are happy (friendly) - not out of ignorance, as locals seem to believe. Yawn! And I agree with PP that it is not all that diverse here. People really need to get out more. I have heard it said that D.C. can be part of the journey, but does not have to be the destination, which is encouraging. OP, keep us posted. And take us with you 
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Anonymous
I could not agree with you more. I have family members who moved to TX from this area and won't look back. I visit them often. The people are so nice, the burbs have a wonderful mix of franchise and unique restaurants and there are plenty of young families (parents in their 30s with small children). Every time I visit I take a tour of new developments and cringe when I see new homes starting in the $300s and they are SFH with great layouts -- not the same cookie cutter layouts as seen in every DC, MD, VA home. You know what I mean. Walk in the house: stairs in front of you, kitchen behind stairs, powder room to the right and living room and dining room to the left. They all look alike. |
Anonymous
| We did 'the move' because DH got laid off and needed to relocate to philadelphia to find work in his field. We were between nanny shares and were having a hard time finding another good childcare arrangement. Also, we have family in PA and knew we wanted to have another kid, and it was hard not having them nearby. So I talked to my boss and was approved to work remotely (HUGE surprise but so awesome!) and we sold our DC condo (not a huge profit in this market, but not a loss either). We've been renting a giant house for less than the condo mortgage, and are so much happier being near family - they are a huge part of our life (we were coming up to visit at least once a month anyways). Most of all, we are incredibly happy with our childcare options for our baby and toddler - lots of very, very good daycares that are all extremely affordable. It was so easy to find a sitter in our neighborhood. Yes we miss DC - our friends, the culture, living in the city (we're in the 'burbs here) but for now this is what we needed to do for us. |
Anonymous
Are you from the Midwest? Everyone I know who loves Phoenix is from Wisconsin or Minnesota. DH and I are from the Phoenix area and moving back never worked out, job-wise. It would be nice only because my parents and large extended family are there. Otherwise, ick. Too sprawly and hot. We are in Colorado now and love it. Excellent public schools and lots of Catholics in our area, OP. |
Anonymous
Anonymous
| I would search for areas that offer a large number of jobs for you and your DH. For instance if you are in the tech field I would tell you to move to Seattle or Silicon Valley, not Cleveland or Kansas. You want to be able to have options incase one company goes under or cuts some fat. |