How can you NOT like living in DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Washington may be less beautiful than the rocky coast of Maine, but try making a living there. I think Washington is one of the most beautiful cities around. It's so green, and museums and parks are abundant. The Potomac is a wild and scenic river just a few miles from downtown. Having so many close-in, walkable family-friendly neigborhoods close to downtown is also exceptional. When I fly back to National Airport, it seems that the plane is descending into a large park. The light and open vistas are incredible. For that reason, I opposed the proposals of a minority to raise building height limits in DC and was glad that the DC Council overwhelmingly voted not to raise building heights.

+1 on green

If you ever fly in and out of other metro areas, from the air DC is one of the greenest I have ever seen.

I agree with this. I lived in Vegas for a bit (YUCK!) and my eyes would crave the green of DC. I really love it here. I've lived all over the country, and I think DC has a little bit of everything, which I really like. It's big enough, but not too big, there's enough going on, it's not too far from other cities, the mountains, the beach, the country. The weather is temperate, not nuts like the desert or the midwest. And the people are from all over the place. I also live EOTP, so I think I get a little more "DC-ness" than one might in NW. I like here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Washington may be less beautiful than the rocky coast of Maine, but try making a living there. I think Washington is one of the most beautiful cities around. It's so green, and museums and parks are abundant. The Potomac is a wild and scenic river just a few miles from downtown. Having so many close-in, walkable family-friendly neigborhoods close to downtown is also exceptional. When I fly back to National Airport, it seems that the plane is descending into a large park. The light and open vistas are incredible. For that reason, I opposed the proposals of a minority to raise building height limits in DC and was glad that the DC Council overwhelmingly voted not to raise building heights.

+1 on green

If you ever fly in and out of other metro areas, from the air DC is one of the greenest I have ever seen.

I agree with this. I lived in Vegas for a bit (YUCK!) and my eyes would crave the green of DC. I really love it here. I've lived all over the country, and I think DC has a little bit of everything, which I really like. It's big enough, but not too big, there's enough going on, it's not too far from other cities, the mountains, the beach, the country. The weather is temperate, not nuts like the desert or the midwest. And the people are from all over the place. I also live EOTP, so I think I get a little more "DC-ness" than one might in NW. I like here.

I agree with this. I lived for a time in Calif. and was shocked shocked to see how yellow and brown everything was, everywhere. It was so sad to me. (On the other hand, I was also shocked to see people with their windows wide open, with no screens. I was like, "What do you all do about bugs? And people told me, "We don't have bugs!!!!" That was amazing to me. )

On the other hand, I have also been in Ireland and the UK, and wow, now those are GREEEEEEEEEEEEN. Emerald green. Just gorgeous!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I do love the green of DC and Atlanta ( a place I have also lived), but my heart craves the majestic simplicity of the west. It is amazing to see huge rugged mountains in one direction and a horizon that goes on forever in the other. Much as I do enjoy the green, it feels like a Victorian sitting room to me - fun as a bed and breakfast holiday, but too overdecorated for long term living - ewww - all those tangled vines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:found the people small-minded

What is small-minded? Is it the opposite of big-minded?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:found the people small-minded

What is small-minded? Is it the opposite of big-minded?

Well, you just may fit the definition, b/c you apparently do not know this vocabulary word nor do you know a way to self-educate, but, here you go:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/small-minded

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:found the people small-minded

What is small-minded? Is it the opposite of big-minded?

It usually means that the poster found that a number of people did not necessarily share his/her personal views on selected political and social matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:found the people small-minded

What is small-minded? Is it the opposite of big-minded?

It usually means that the poster found that a number of people did not necessarily share his/her personal views on selected political and social matters.

It is when educated people are around non-educated ones, and find their opinions parochial and stifling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:found the people small-minded

What is small-minded? Is it the opposite of big-minded?

It usually means that the poster found that a number of people did not necessarily share his/her personal views on selected political and social matters.

It is when educated people are around non-educated ones, and find their opinions parochial and stifling.

Man, you are out of touch and arrogant. You must think that everything between Cambridge and Manhattan's Upper West Side in the east and Palo Alto on the other coast is one big intellectual wasteland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:found the people small-minded

What is small-minded? Is it the opposite of big-minded?

It usually means that the poster found that a number of people did not necessarily share his/her personal views on selected political and social matters.

It is when educated people are around non-educated ones, and find their opinions parochial and stifling.

Man, you are out of touch and arrogant. You must think that everything between Cambridge and Manhattan's Upper West Side in the east and Palo Alto on the other coast is one big intellectual wasteland.

Absolutely not. I went to college in the Midwest and met very smart people there from all over the country, all 50 states. Many incredibly smart, talented, and very motivated people. But the people who LIVED in that area (natives, who were not involved with the college), yeah, I wasn't too impressed with THEM. But there are educated, talented, and very inspiring people everywhere.

[Anonymous]

DMV --- nuf said

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
My favorite posters are the locals who have not resided (other than maybe military or college) in other states, but claim this area is somehow superior. Get over yourself, in more ways than one.

+1

The people who are the most enthusiastic cheerleaders for this area tend to be (a) natives who have little experience living elsewhere (college and stints abroad do not count); or (b) hail from some small town or city, or a rural area, with few amenities and attractions.

This is me exactly, but oh well.

[Anonymous]

I don't think any rational case can be made for this being a 'great' city.


The population is far too transient to have any sort of character beyond being the nation's capital - the weather (this summer aside) is marginal at best, the people are self obsessed and hyper competitive and there is extremely little work life balance to be found. Also throw in that traffic is terrible and it is a dreadful sports town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
My favorite posters are the locals who have not resided (other than maybe military or college) in other states, but claim this area is somehow superior. Get over yourself, in more ways than one.

+1

The people who are the most enthusiastic cheerleaders for this area tend to be (a) natives who have little experience living elsewhere (college and stints abroad do not count); or (b) hail from some small town or city, or a rural area, with few amenities and attractions.

This is me exactly, but oh well.

THIS.

Get out and do something with your life, people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's the people. I know -- lots of us are great. But we are all the same. In my upper-middle-class suburban hometown, there were lots of white-collar types, sure, doctors, lawyers, VPs at major corporations. But there was also...the guy who ran the soccer apparel store. The car dealership owner. The cafeteria aid. I went to school with all of their children. Around here, the people who fill these roles live in their own suburbs. At least in the nice DC neighborhoods, people aren't mixed together for a healthy sense of what life is.
I know that this is the case for a lot of major cities -- in high-density areas, people self-segregate. But DC also lacks the diversity typical of many cities. There aren't a lot of artists, for instance. Yeah...I know that instead we have people from all over the world, and rather than the car dealership owner's kids, my kids hang out with the kids of the guy with a prominent role at an important and unique NGO, or whatever. But that's fake diversity. When you get down to it, that guy is the same as a lawyer in terms of education, upbringing and life goals. A journalist is like a lobbyist (though they make a lot less.) Worldly, goal-oriented -- and at the end of the day, quite dull, when that's all there is.
Sorry, but you know I'm right.

My next door neighbors are a large family from Ethiopia, who invite my daughter to play with their kids all the time. We have a tenant who lives with us who makes a living as an artist, as well as her boyfriend who is a pretty well known artist in this area. I am an artist myself, but make my living in a slightly different way. My husband works at a non profit dealing with middle east peace issues. Across the street there is an old lady from Jamaica who is the epitome of the nosy neighbor and knows everyone's business, blares gospel music from her porch every Sunday morning. Next door to her is another white family, and next door to them is the football coach at a nearby high school. And yes, we live IN DC.

I really think it just depends on the neighborhood.

Where are the Asians, Middle Eastern and Hispanics?

Actually, the next block down.

[Anonymous]

There are few places that truly have no redeeming value. If you can't find something you enjoy about this area, the problem is probably you.