Relocating out of DC

[Anonymous]

Colorado can be a bit animatronic, but life is indeed much easier.

[Anonymous]

boulder is fucking expensive though amazing

While few areas are as expensive as the DC metro area, one thing I find funny is that by the time you list all the qualities that people want--close in/short commute to downtown area, good schools, safe neighborhood, reasonable square footage, yard, interesting housing stock, some amenities nearby--it doesn't matter where you are in the country, as long as you are in a mid-size city or larger, those areas are going to be expensive. Not as expensive as Bethesda or whatever, ok, but it's doubtful that in any part of the country that you are going to get your 100K McMansion with a 20 minute commute and top schools. You have to compromise on something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would look out west. Though places like Charlotte, Research Triangle and Charleston actually are pretty cool, I could never live in a Red State shithole with draconian laws and backasswards policies that would treat my wife, minority and gay friends like 2nd class citizens. No way I would raise my kids around such privilege.

Denver/Boulder would probably be my first choice, if wanting cheaper cost of living, good jobs, and laid back lifestyle. Philly would also be in consideration, though you'd need to go to the 'burbs to get good schools. I have good friends in Santa Fe and they absolutely love it and have small children. Not sure what the school situation is like out there.

Yikes! So angry!

I'm not angry; my eyes are just open to the truth of the place

Many more people would actually consider moving there if the Southern governments would stop actively discriminating against and demonizing anyone who isn't a straight white male or a submissive white Christian wife.

Until then, there's no way in hell I would expose my children to such a toxic environment. Those aren't the values I'm looking to pass along to my children. Furthermore, we have no family there and very few friends. There's no reason for us to make that move.

The South is also cheap and low COL for good reasons. Low wages, low educational levels, lack of marketable skills, etc. It's the plantation economy in a modernized form, IMHO.

This does not describe the RTP area.

[Anonymous]

Raleigh, NC
Boulder, CO
Portland, ME
Austin, TX
Madison, WI
Minneapolis, MN
Burlington, VT

[Anonymous]

I spent all evening applying for jobs elsewhere! I am kind of limited in where I can go due to career but am ready to get out.

[Anonymous]

Cali!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cali!

I love California, but it's absurdly expensive and the public schools are middling. Crazy real estate market and awful traffic. Everything is a 30-45 minute drive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cali!

I love California, but it's absurdly expensive and the public schools are middling. Crazy real estate market and awful traffic. Everything is a 30-45 minute drive.

California is a large state....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How about Raleigh, OP? Charlotte is nothing but exurbs...

Ha! Clearly you haven't spent time there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:my wife and i have been here for over 4 years and plan to head back to the philadelphia area in the next 1-3 years. dc is a great city but the COL is prohibitive, even if you make a very good living. we still plan to spend a lot of money on a house ($1 million +) but I am excited at the prospect of an actual large house and yard.

good choice. main-line realestate stock is much nicer than stuff worth 2x-3x here.

We have friends in Devon, Pennsylvania. Our friend works in Paoli, which we also thought was nice. I think it is lovely there. I am from the Midwest originally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:my wife and i have been here for over 4 years and plan to head back to the philadelphia area in the next 1-3 years. dc is a great city but the COL is prohibitive, even if you make a very good living. we still plan to spend a lot of money on a house ($1 million +) but I am excited at the prospect of an actual large house and yard.

good choice. main-line realestate stock is much nicer than stuff worth 2x-3x here.

We have friends in Devon, Pennsylvania. Our friend works in Paoli, which we also thought was nice. I think it is lovely there. I am from the Midwest originally.

Ah, that's where I'm from (well, near there) and would love to move back. Is your friend hiring?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:my wife and i have been here for over 4 years and plan to head back to the philadelphia area in the next 1-3 years. dc is a great city but the COL is prohibitive, even if you make a very good living. we still plan to spend a lot of money on a house ($1 million +) but I am excited at the prospect of an actual large house and yard.

good choice. main-line realestate stock is much nicer than stuff worth 2x-3x here.

We have friends in Devon, Pennsylvania. Our friend works in Paoli, which we also thought was nice. I think it is lovely there. I am from the Midwest originally.

We're in Bryn Mawr. 19 minute train ride to Philly, and 5 bedroom, 2700 sq ft house, recently renovated for $500k. We thought we'd died and gone to heaven moving from DC. Oh, and great schools.

[Anonymous]

One thing I would consider about where I'd move is the effect global warming is/will have on the area over the next decades: drought and wildfires in the West, rising seas in coastal areas, larger tornadoes/hurricanes in the South.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:my wife and i have been here for over 4 years and plan to head back to the philadelphia area in the next 1-3 years. dc is a great city but the COL is prohibitive, even if you make a very good living. we still plan to spend a lot of money on a house ($1 million +) but I am excited at the prospect of an actual large house and yard.

good choice. main-line realestate stock is much nicer than stuff worth 2x-3x here.

We have friends in Devon, Pennsylvania. Our friend works in Paoli, which we also thought was nice. I think it is lovely there. I am from the Midwest originally.

Ah, that's where I'm from (well, near there) and would love to move back. Is your friend hiring?

No sorry. It is definitely nice up there though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about Raleigh, OP? Charlotte is nothing but exurbs...

Ha! Clearly you haven't spent time there.

are you going to argue that Charlotte has a soul?