Crossing the border - moving to VA from MD

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm a native Marylander, and still live in MD, so I understand. I can't imagine crossing the river either, but if you can get past the mental part of it, I'm sure you'll be fine.

For me, there is something about Virginia being the seat of the Confederacy that I just can't get over -- even 155 years after the Civil War ended. It helps, though, that even in Virginia they are starting to displace monuments to the Confederacy and take Lee's name, and those of other Confederate leaders, off of schools and such.

[Anonymous]

And they say people in the south are hung up on the Civil War. Yet you have this absurd attitude from Marylanders.

I'm from NJ myself and have always liked Virginia, and like living in Virginia (but don't like the DC area at all). Amazing history and many beautiful areas in the state.

[Anonymous]

NOVA is very blue. It’s diverse in many areas but it’s not as NYC / Jewish as MD. You have a much more expansive State college choice. Otherwise it’s pretty similar.
The idea that NOVA is the Olde Southern Plantation is an invention of some very ignorant people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not a R state, but the RoVA feels that way, other than Richmond, maybe. Unlike MD, there are no really progressive liberal areas like SS. You can see that as a good or bad thing.

IMO, NoVa is not as green as MoCo. I do like parts of Alexandria.


I'm originally from out west, and I just couldn't get myself to move south of the potomac river. MD was as south as I wanted to go. It's a mental block.

That's your issue. NoVa is very blue. Virginia House of Delegates is majority democrat. The governor is a democrat. The two senators are democrats. Virginia went Clinton in 2016, Obama in 2012, Obama in 2008. All the local jurisdictions in NoVa are run by democrats. Now, some parts of the (very big and rural) state will feel republican, just as the Eastern Shore in MD feels like Trump country, but really, in what way does a move to NoVa feel republican????

Please show me where I stated "NoVA feels republican"?

and yes, the mental block is my issue, but I'm not the only one who feels this way.

[Anonymous]

Silver Spring is a suburb...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm a native Marylander, and still live in MD, so I understand. I can't imagine crossing the river either, but if you can get past the mental part of it, I'm sure you'll be fine.

For me, there is something about Virginia being the seat of the Confederacy that I just can't get over -- even 155 years after the Civil War ended. It helps, though, that even in Virginia they are starting to displace monuments to the Confederacy and take Lee's name, and those of other Confederate leaders, off of schools and such.

The more liberals who move here, the faster we can toss the Confederate memorabilia and rehabilitate the state. Come on over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Silver Spring is a suburb...

That's what I was coming to say. Arlington/SS are very similar in terms of distance to many job centers in DC, amenities, etc. Lots of my friends live in both.

Do MD people who have this mental block really not have any friends who live in VA? Most of my friends are transplants anyway so I guess we don't care where we all live, we just get together- we all live in the best commuting spots we can

[Anonymous]

I'm a DC person, but one thing I generally don't like about NoVA is that a lot of the land use patterns are what I'd refer to as characteristically Southern. Deep setbacks, lots of 4+ lane arterials with relatively high speeds that are neither entirely limited access nor quite urbanized. Not enough sidewalks, and a generally sterile feel that I find unwelcoming.
Most of Prince George's East and Southeast of the city feels the same way. The Rte. 1 corridor and close-in MoCo have development patterns that feel much more human-friendly to me. And I associate these features with the metropolitan Northeast and the people that inhabit such places.

All of which is to say, it's possible to logically understand that the people aren't that different anymore, and yet to find the difference in feel to be palpable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Born and lived all my life in MD now considering moving to northern VA - dont laugh. While this may not seem like a big move for most, for this MD girl who swore to always hate VA - it is. I have small kids and want a home in a neighborhood that is aligned to great schools. I could find that in MD but don’t want to move to the suburbs as I’m currently in SS. Also long term my kids would have better college options in VA.

I say all that to say, if you’ve made the MD to VA move - what’s it like? Is the air different and how does it feel to live in a republican state?

(Don’t laugh at the post!)

Troll
Not taking the bait

[Anonymous]

Read your Maryland history. It was a toss up which side of the civil war Maryland would join. It, like Missouri, is a classic “border state”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't the MD governor a republican??

Yup. And all the MAGA lunatics I know live in MD.

Oh, trust me, there are a TON of Trump supporters in Central Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm a native Marylander, and still live in MD, so I understand. I can't imagine crossing the river either, but if you can get past the mental part of it, I'm sure you'll be fine.

For me, there is something about Virginia being the seat of the Confederacy that I just can't get over -- even 155 years after the Civil War ended. It helps, though, that even in Virginia they are starting to displace monuments to the Confederacy and take Lee's name, and those of other Confederate leaders, off of schools and such.

LOL. Maryland was south of the Mason-Dixon line. Give me a break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a DC person, but one thing I generally don't like about NoVA is that a lot of the land use patterns are what I'd refer to as characteristically Southern. Deep setbacks, lots of 4+ lane arterials with relatively high speeds that are neither entirely limited access nor quite urbanized. Not enough sidewalks, and a generally sterile feel that I find unwelcoming.
Most of Prince George's East and Southeast of the city feels the same way. The Rte. 1 corridor and close-in MoCo have development patterns that feel much more human-friendly to me. And I associate these features with the metropolitan Northeast and the people that inhabit such places.

All of which is to say, it's possible to logically understand that the people aren't that different anymore, and yet to find the difference in feel to be palpable.

The corollary is that Maryland roads tends to be narrower, there is more merging directly into traffic (no merge lanes), and the drivers tend to drive faster and be more impatient. That can feel palpable as well.

However, they speak primarily to the physical environment and don't themselves reflect big differences in political views or lifestyles.

[Anonymous]

So so so much better. I grew up in Bethesda/Chevy Chase. People are so much nicer here and No one will ask you what high school you went to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in MD and happily live in VA. I don't get weird state loyalties.

I did when I lived in Md, but I loved to va for a better commute. I will never go back. Whenever I go visit family in Md (they hate coming here) I get so annoyed at the traffic lights. It’s like Md times them to turn red so that you have to stop at every one. Maddening.