Anonymous wrote:I don't know if it was because of higher COL, but I have lots of friends who left DC over the past 5 years - I'm 31 so it seems like 26-31 is a prime age for moving around, settling somewhere, etc.
Honestly, some of them are happier and some aren't. Some left for higher COL cities (NYC, SF) and some for lower (Pittsburgh, Chicago). Some thought they were getting lower COL but seem to be struggling (Portland, Austin, Denver). I'll say that across the board most of them complain about job options, except for those that moved to NYC or SF - you get a lot of benefits in quality of life in places like Denver or Portland, but the job market is just not at all on par with someplace like DC, at least not in most industries. Which is fine, it just means you take the job you get and you don't jump around as much- fewer options. But a lot of them work fewer hours, have more land, etc.
I also know quite a few who have stayed and are really happy too. I don't know why this forum seems so hellbent on figuring out if DC is the Greatest Ever or the Worst Ever. It's a city like many others. It has a ton going for it (walkability, culture/amenities, public transit, job market, lots to do in driving distance) and a lot about it that is tough (high COL, bad summers, traffic, difficult schools/childcare). No place is perfect, I promise you, and everyone is just deciding what is important to them and what they're willing to put up with.
Me personally, I love living in DC but I am starting to feel the general logistical crunch of it now that I'm worrying more about school quality and don't have the budget for a $1.5 mil+ house. But, I also don't have any other cities up on a pedestal -- I grew up in Pittsburgh and it's a cool city and all but it has its own set of issues.
You are too reasonable for DCUM
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