So tired of living in the DC area. So sick of it. Warning..negative VENT

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:9:22 What was the last museum you visited and when. Where was the last place you traveled and when.

I took the kids to the American History museum yesterday. Got back from Kiev about two weeks ago. You?

[Anonymous]

<sound of crickets chirping>

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:<sound of crickets chirping>

Funny you should mention the crickets. That was one of the weirdest things about moving to DC. I had never lived in a city where you could hear crickets at night. It was freaky for me and especially for DD, who kept asking why the bushes were making noise and worrying a lot when I told her they were full of bugs.

[Anonymous]

I LOVE it here! I have lived in California, Indiana, Louisiana and overseas and always missed this area. I finally got a husband, had a baby and bought a house here and don't EVER want to move. This place is not as friendly as other places but you absolutely can make friends here. It just takes longer but I now have more friends here than I have ever had in all of the other places I have lived and I am by no means a friendly person. This place is full of things to do, plus you're an easy commute to NY, NJ and PA if you want to take a short trip somewhere close. People here are definitely very busy but you just have to find a way to make it work. What I did is I rearranged my work schedule so that I would have more time to enjoy the wonderful things about this area. I now start work earlier so I avoid the congested commute into DC and I have more time at the end of the day to run, go out to dinner and drinks, etc., take classes with the baby. I also worked out an arrangement with my job that allows me to take Mondays off of work.

I have also found that no matter where I live, I always miss something about where I was before. Finally, after living here for five years continuously, I don't miss those places anymore. I love to visit but that's all. I agree that this is definitely a town intent on one upping the next person. It's a game but you can choose not to play. I don't socialize with people who are like that and you don't have to either. I live within my means and I am happy. There are actually many of us like that in DC, believe it or not. Good luck to everybody trying to make it work out here!

[Anonymous]

I think there is something about many parts of the midwest that eventually draws people back. I am from Minneapolis and just about everyone I know who has moved away has eventually moved back. I think it comes down to three reasons. Very often your entire family still lives there, wanting a slower pace of life, and wanting to raise your kids in a less hectic area.

I think those who grew up in the bigger cities like the Twin Cities or Chicago are more prone to want to move back because these places have the big city feel that they have gotten used to from living in DC. Many others I know here who are originally from places like Michigan or Ohio or Iowa do not have such a strong desire to move back. And I think that's largely because their time in DC has changed them more than they realize and going back to a place that lacks a lot of what a bigger city offers seems less appealing.

I have been wanting to move back to Minnesota in varying degrees since I moved here 10 years ago. I am finally about to move back in a couple of months and cannot wait. I'm going to view my time spent here in DC as one where I spent too much time working and commuting. Now I look forward to living a more balanced, happier, less stressful life, without giving up city life.

[Anonymous]

I do not think it is a case where the nasty people hurt one's experience, but I do think it is a case where decent people would be a helpful thing to have. The pissing contest gets kind of tiresome.
It is obvious that some people are not happy here and it makes me think "why are they taking their issues (that obviously have nothing to do with me - they had their issues before me, and will have their issues after me) out on me? Being unfriendly is one thing, being nasty and deflecting as a practice is another.
If one is resigned to being here longer than expected, it would be nice to make it work, but it can be difficult. No matter what, we will have done well by our stay here (as we would anywhere, really). It feels like those who didn't live up to their (own or family) expectations is taking it out on others. If I meet unfriendly people, that is my first and foremost thought. The truly important people I know do not act unfriendly and bitter, but that is few and far between unfortunately.
I know this will be criticized by those who (miraculously) have run into nothing but sunshine and rainbows during their stay. Good luck to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there is something about many parts of the midwest that eventually draws people back. I am from Minneapolis and just about everyone I know who has moved away has eventually moved back. I think it comes down to three reasons. Very often your entire family still lives there, wanting a slower pace of life, and wanting to raise your kids in a less hectic area.

I think those who grew up in the bigger cities like the Twin Cities or Chicago are more prone to want to move back because these places have the big city feel that they have gotten used to from living in DC. Many others I know here who are originally from places like Michigan or Ohio or Iowa do not have such a strong desire to move back. And I think that's largely because their time in DC has changed them more than they realize and going back to a place that lacks a lot of what a bigger city offers seems less appealing.

I have been wanting to move back to Minnesota in varying degrees since I moved here 10 years ago. I am finally about to move back in a couple of months and cannot wait. I'm going to view my time spent here in DC as one where I spent too much time working and commuting. Now I look forward to living a more balanced, happier, less stressful life, without giving up city life.

I'm jealous. Midwesterner here, but not from the Twin Cities. Can I come with you? I love it there! Wait, gotta pack my bike first for all of those lovely bike trails around the city. Good Luck to you. I wish I were moving there!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:sucks to be you, life is all about choices, I bet you don't mind spending the money your husbnads business makes from being in this area.

deal with it

Oh, lordie, this reply is not helping to represent DC in a good light.

We moved far away, to the Pacific NW, and wow, as a former DC-lover I was totally blown away by (1) how smart folks are out here and (2) how they don't give a rat's ass whether you think they're smart. I reall do love that about this place. Live and let live. OP, when you guyses retire, c'mon out this-a way. We might move back to DC at some point, but I'm a changed woman, I hope! God forbid I have another conversation that begins with "What do you do?" (wich in DC is sometimes code for "Are you as important as I am?"). Heh.

~Former self-important DC resident

A bunch of college friends moved to Seattle. My best friend from high school is in Portland, OR. All of them LOVE the Pacific NW and so do I. I know they are smart out there and what you do isn't the first topic of conversation. Good Luck to you. Go to the Fish Market for me and watch them throw the salmon around!

[Anonymous]

12:25 - a voice of reason, thank you. You make me want to move out there sight unseen, seriously. I wish you peace in your non-D.C. world, and someday, the same for us!!

[Anonymous]

I grew up here so it's sort of normal to me...lol. What I don't get though, is if there are so many midwesterners and others here, why is it still like this? Because in my experience it's not the born-here folks who are so self-righteous and self-important. Do midwesterners become someone else because they're living out of the midwest?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up here so it's sort of normal to me...lol. What I don't get though, is if there are so many midwesterners and others here, why is it still like this? Because in my experience it's not the born-here folks who are so self-righteous and self-important. Do midwesterners become someone else because they're living out of the midwest?

My husband and I seem to find that some of the nicest, most genuine folks in this area are the locals..folks who were born and bred right here in the DC metro area. We do feel the folks who relocate here for work are some nasty a** people. Not sure why? Maybe because they adopt a hyper-competitive mode with their jobs? Maybe the fast pace of the area causes them to be rushed and rude in their dealings with others?

I love meeting the locals. I find them so much different than the transplants, in many cases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up here so it's sort of normal to me...lol. What I don't get though, is if there are so many midwesterners and others here, why is it still like this? Because in my experience it's not the born-here folks who are so self-righteous and self-important. Do midwesterners become someone else because they're living out of the midwest?

My husband and I seem to find that some of the nicest, most genuine folks in this area are the locals..folks who were born and bred right here in the DC metro area. We do feel the folks who relocate here for work are some nasty a** people. Not sure why? Maybe because they adopt a hyper-competitive mode with their jobs? Maybe the fast pace of the area causes them to be rushed and rude in their dealings with others?

I love meeting the locals. I find them so much different than the transplants, in many cases.

I think you nailed it, PP. Some of the nicest people I've met here are working class folks who grew up here.