Would you ever leave DC? If so, where would you move?

[Anonymous]

I've been getting a bit wary of the cost of living around here. Recently, I've been dreaming of Seattle, Maine, or maybe Minnesota. DH has a great job here, though, and all of our family lives in the area. Do any of you ever think about leaving? Where would you go?

[Anonymous]

Yes, I left DC for Honolulu, Hawaii. But I still like DCUM!

[Anonymous]

I have had it with the people I am meeting in NWDC. I dream about leaving DC daily. Would move to Santa Fe but would even settle for Detroit! But we are stuck here because of DH's job. He has his own company that growing like crazy. I have just accepted that I will have no friends and my children will be friends with kids I can't stand.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't leave because of jobs and family, but I would love to live in Raliegh, NC. I know at least 10 people who live there and absolutely love it, esp for kids

[Anonymous]

Oh the list is long. I'd go just about anywhere in New England to be closer to family. I would also go to Denver, SF, Portand or Seattle.

[Anonymous]

Back to London....

[Anonymous]

I think I could enjoy myself just about anywhere, there's so many places that seem appealing, including DC proper.

But my wife's pretty socialized towards 1/4 acre lots in good school districts, and I'll have to admit my own experience in a closer-in-but-not-great area soured me to some extent on the whole innermost suburb thing.

And if Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy ...

[Anonymous]

New England or maybe Seattle. Could definitely do Hawaii for a few years. DH is looking for a new job and I really want to take the opportunity to try somewhere new.

[Anonymous]

We are looking at North Carolina - Raleigh/Greensboro.

[Anonymous]

I hate hate hate it here but I don't see us leaving any time soon. We inherited our home, but we've sunk so much money into it, it wouldn't make sense to sell until the market comes back dramatically. That and DH, being from here, has totally drunk deep of the Kool Aid and thinks one can't get a quality education anywhere but MoCo.

If I could convince him to move, I'd love to move back to Baltimore. It's a beautiful city, way more friendly and laid back, and all of it's not the wild west educationally speaking.

Ditto Philly. I spent a year there for work and loved it.

[Anonymous]

Virginia Beach. Grew up there myself. Brother is there. Mom is moving back. Would love to raise my family there.

[Anonymous]

Would move to northeastern Ohio. People there seem so normal, down-to-earth, friendly.

[Anonymous]

We had plans to move to Austin, TX. Even had visited houses with a realtor and were going to move my parents with us to get all grandparents closeby (his family is in San Antonio). But my husband can't find a job he likes down there, so we will be here for the forseeable future.

I also like Raleigh, since I went to school in NC and have some college friends in the area.

I don't hate it here, but the cost of living sucks

[Anonymous]

I grew up in california, and would like to be west, somewhere: california maybe, but oregon, washington state, new mexico, montana, etc. But I have a very, very specialized job, in which there are only a few positions open in the country each year or so, and I am probably in one of the best institutions for what I do so job opportunities are not cropping up all the time for me. If DH made more money and could get a job somewhere else, though, I'd give up my career to move and teach part time.

[Anonymous]

Having lived in Seattle for a while, I would not pick Seattle but would choose a smaller city in the Pacific Northwest that captures the feel of Seattle 20+ years ago. Or smaller -- something like Astoria, OR.

If I didn't have kids to educate, maybe New Mexico or far northern California (Arcata/Eureka). Bozeman. Yes, that's where I'm headed when DS is in college and I'm likely divorced.