help this Marylander understand the "other side"

[Anonymous]

I live in VA but have a good deal of family in Suburban MD. We only live in VA because of our commutes - no other reason. I think it is so funny how people fight it out about MD vs. VA suburbs - it is all very similar, people.

Now, I do know there are differences in state governance and taxes (oh, boy, do I know that - I'd abandon Gov. transvaginal u/s if I could), but in terms of the environs, I just don't see a huge difference.

[Anonymous]

MD sucks and is getting worse. I' m from Howard County but would never in a million years move back. Higher taxes, higher crime, worse public schools and much worse public colleges. What is the appeal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MD sucks and is getting worse. I' m from Howard County but would never in a million years move back. Higher taxes, higher crime, worse public schools and much worse public colleges. What is the appeal?

The appeal is Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Potomac, and perhaps if you want something with edge/flair, pockets of Silver Spring and Takoma Park. Otherwise, I would agree. Howard County? Charles County? PG County? Yuck. Yuck. And yuck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MD sucks and is getting worse. I' m from Howard County but would never in a million years move back. Higher taxes, higher crime, worse public schools and much worse public colleges. What is the appeal?

The appeal is Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Potomac, and perhaps if you want something with edge/flair, pockets of Silver Spring and Takoma Park. Otherwise, I would agree. Howard County? Charles County? PG County? Yuck. Yuck. And yuck.

actually I much prefer the Baltimore suburbs than the DC suburbs. Much much nicer. Western Howard County and Ellicott City are great places to live.

[Anonymous]

If you're Jewish, you generally live in MD. Otherwise, McLean and Bethesda are pretty similar.

[Anonymous]

great Jewish delis are harder to find in VA. There's a good one near George Mason U in Fairfax, on 123, but I'm blanking on the name. There's another one out in Centreville/Chantilly, but I'm blanking on that too. (Bagel Buddies has probably the most authentic bagels, though.)

I love Virginia and have lived here for 18 years, but I've never really seen the point of moving from VA to MD or vice versa. I live in North Arlington and wouldn't bother moving to Bethesda - no real difference.

[Anonymous]

I'm not from this area but am surprised by how common your sentiments are. MD vs VA in everything and never the twain shall cross according to so many people. They act like it's a different country.

But the only stereotype OP missed is that VA is full of mexicans (and by mexicans of course I've learned that it's understood that a person means any spanish speaking people). That seems to be the reason marylanders give for not going to VA. And the reason the virginians give for not going to MD is because of all the poors.

I live in DC and try to avoid the work conversations on the topic because they get so ugly and are so passionate, and frankly as an outsider I can't see the difference between the 2.

Please. Please do yourself a favor and shut up.

[Anonymous]

The lack of zoning alone is enough to make me never, ever consider living in VA. The roads, the mishmash of strip malls. Ugh. No thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The lack of zoning alone is enough to make me never, ever consider living in VA. The roads, the mishmash of strip malls. Ugh. No thanks.

What part of Maryland are you in?

[Anonymous]

But the only stereotype OP missed is that VA is full of mexicans (and by mexicans of course I've learned that it's understood that a person means any spanish speaking people). That seems to be the reason marylanders give for not going to VA.

Replace "Mexicans" with "Republicans" and that's why I'd never move to VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The lack of zoning alone is enough to make me never, ever consider living in VA. The roads, the mishmash of strip malls. Ugh. No thanks.

What part of Maryland are you in?

Takoma Park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

But the only stereotype OP missed is that VA is full of mexicans (and by mexicans of course I've learned that it's understood that a person means any spanish speaking people). That seems to be the reason marylanders give for not going to VA.

Replace "Mexicans" with "Republicans" and that's why I'd never move to VA.

+1, and I would add:

Lack of regulation for homeschoolers
Concealed-weapon laws

[Anonymous]

yes, the strip malls in Fairfax County are so much different from the ones in Montgomery County? lol.

same climate, same kind of people in Nova vs suburban md.

Ethnically, MD has more jews and blacks, NoVa probably has more latinos and asians. FWIW.

Virginia has a better business climate, or perceived better business climate, so Virginia has had more growth the last ten years or so. i.e., when someone relocates their HQ to the DC metro area, normally they pick Virginia.

Virginia schools are better.

Virginia taxes are lower.

Part of suburban MD have arguably better access to parts of DC (well, downtown or capital hill is easier from PG anyways, obviously Georgetown is easier from Rosslyn).

Living in MD is better geographically in my opinion, since you are closer to Baltimore, Annapolis and the beach.

But really, same shit just different zipcode.

[Anonymous]

7 of the wealthiest counties out of the top 10 are right across the river in Old Dominion. More choices in good (I mean great!) public state universities, better taxes, no frickin pepco!!, and better drivers. The popcorn issue alone should be enough to consider relocation. I haven't lost power once with Dominion power in the past 7 years (including snowmaggedon and derecho, etc).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:7 of the wealthiest counties out of the top 10 are right across the river in Old Dominion. More choices in good (I mean great!) public state universities, better taxes, no frickin pepco!!, and better drivers. The popcorn issue alone should be enough to consider relocation. I haven't lost power once with Dominion power in the past 7 years (including snowmaggedon and derecho, etc).

I have no idea how 'pepco' was auto-corrected to "popcorn". We do have that as well.