I haven't figured out how people raise children in DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:12:48 - who said I'm not happy? If you read any of the post, you will know that I am, at the very least, very amused, at least daily! Must everyone who is not making love to D.C. "not be happy" in your eyes?

I seem to have touched a nerve. Good news.

Nope, no anger issues here at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:12:48, I'm dying to know where you'd live if you could.

"As far as the PP who mentioned "shallow" and "weather" in the same sentence: I want to know where you score your crack, because I could use some of that while living here with the likes of you. "

That's me, I stand by my statement. And I intend to retire here too, so there

how positively dull

Not dull to me, and that's all that matters. Care to share where you'd rather live and retire? Nah, didn't think so.

I like change and adventure...Belize, Malta, New Zealand. The possibilities are endless.

Even when you're 80?

My guess is PP will never find what they're looking for. Like the captain of the Flying Dutchman, fated to roam the Earth forever, vainly looking for a place where people will be their friend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How shallow are you people to make the weather a major factor in where you live? It's all about jobs and education for the kids. Anything else, like real estate values, follows the jobs and education picture. Anything else is much less important.

Oh god, you're obnoxious. Weather matters because it's about being able to get out and enjoy the outdoors with your family. Where I grew up people spend most of the summer hiking/biking/camping/fishing and most of the fall and winter skiing, hunting, etc. It's about a lifestyle and values. And FWIW, I grew up in the sticks where people didn't obsess over jobs and education like they do here, and somehow I'm still smart and motivated enough to have a great job in this seriously competitive city. It's not so cut and dried.

You're right, it's about values. Jobs and education are more important to me than outdoor recreation. I spend maybe 2 hours a week outside except in the summers.

Right, but the DC area has incredible outdoor recreation opportunities. If you like whitewater, it's closer and more accessible here than if you lived in Denver/Boulder. Same with mountain biking--amazing opportunities only an hour or so away. And the road biking--from one's house in the city--is arguably better than it is in Denver/suburbs. Camping in GW Nat'l Forest. Beaches a couple of hours away. What's not to like?

I hate that the beach is two hours away.

[Anonymous]

Where does Brookland or NE DC fit in to this? I guess Dense urban poor or urban crunchy?

Shhhh, don't let the secret out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:12:48, I'm dying to know where you'd live if you could.

"As far as the PP who mentioned "shallow" and "weather" in the same sentence: I want to know where you score your crack, because I could use some of that while living here with the likes of you. "

That's me, I stand by my statement. And I intend to retire here too, so there

how positively dull

Not dull to me, and that's all that matters. Care to share where you'd rather live and retire? Nah, didn't think so.

I like change and adventure...Belize, Malta, New Zealand. The possibilities are endless.

Even when you're 80?

My parents are in their 80's and travel four months a year. They just returned from a Danube cruise, went to China and Thailand last year, and are planning a trip to Chile next year. My neighbor is 92, still collects and drives classic cars, and travels to London every year to visit a girl friend. I don't plan on

My guess is PP will never find what they're looking for. Like the captain of the Flying Dutchman, fated to roam the Earth forever, vainly looking for a place where people will be their friend.

My parents are in their 80's and travel four months a year. They just returned from a Danube cruise, went to China and Thailand last year, and are planning a trip to Chile next year. My neighbor is 92, still collects and drives classic cars, and travels to London every year to visit a girl friend. Not everyone settles. It's okay if you want to, but you shouldn't be so nasty to those who prefer a different lifestyle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How shallow are you people to make the weather a major factor in where you live? It's all about jobs and education for the kids. Anything else, like real estate values, follows the jobs and education picture. Anything else is much less important.

Oh god, you're obnoxious. Weather matters because it's about being able to get out and enjoy the outdoors with your family. Where I grew up people spend most of the summer hiking/biking/camping/fishing and most of the fall and winter skiing, hunting, etc. It's about a lifestyle and values. And FWIW, I grew up in the sticks where people didn't obsess over jobs and education like they do here, and somehow I'm still smart and motivated enough to have a great job in this seriously competitive city. It's not so cut and dried.

You're right, it's about values. Jobs and education are more important to me than outdoor recreation. I spend maybe 2 hours a week outside except in the summers.

Right, but the DC area has incredible outdoor recreation opportunities. If you like whitewater, it's closer and more accessible here than if you lived in Denver/Boulder. Same with mountain biking--amazing opportunities only an hour or so away. And the road biking--from one's house in the city--is arguably better than it is in Denver/suburbs. Camping in GW Nat'l Forest. Beaches a couple of hours away. What's not to like?

I hate that the beach is two hours away.

I don't like the beach all that much--would much rather spend time up at Great Falls in a kayak. Or camping, hiking, and mountain biking just west of here. But it's nice to have the option of going a couple of times a year. Certainly more varied options than most beach towns outside of California. And California's not really an option, since its governmental system is fundamentally broken. I'd say the state is on the verge of collapse, but it's already collapsing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How shallow are you people to make the weather a major factor in where you live? It's all about jobs and education for the kids. Anything else, like real estate values, follows the jobs and education picture. Anything else is much less important.

Oh god, you're obnoxious. Weather matters because it's about being able to get out and enjoy the outdoors with your family. Where I grew up people spend most of the summer hiking/biking/camping/fishing and most of the fall and winter skiing, hunting, etc. It's about a lifestyle and values. And FWIW, I grew up in the sticks where people didn't obsess over jobs and education like they do here, and somehow I'm still smart and motivated enough to have a great job in this seriously competitive city. It's not so cut and dried.

You're right, it's about values. Jobs and education are more important to me than outdoor recreation. I spend maybe 2 hours a week outside except in the summers.

Right, but the DC area has incredible outdoor recreation opportunities. If you like whitewater, it's closer and more accessible here than if you lived in Denver/Boulder. Same with mountain biking--amazing opportunities only an hour or so away. And the road biking--from one's house in the city--is arguably better than it is in Denver/suburbs. Camping in GW Nat'l Forest. Beaches a couple of hours away. What's not to like?

I hate that the beach is two hours away.

I don't like the beach all that much--would much rather spend time up at Great Falls in a kayak. Or camping, hiking, and mountain biking just west of here. But it's nice to have the option of going a couple of times a year. Certainly more varied options than most beach towns outside of California. And California's not really an option, since its governmental system is fundamentally broken. I'd say the state is on the verge of collapse, but it's already collapsing.

Damn, you're a negative, bitchy mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i want to move to Portland.

"Put a bird on it!" Yep, I love Portland OR, but I hear the weather has been completely miserable all year. rain, rain, rain. Constant soggy state so too muddy to get gardening done and weeds overtake averything. At least you can enjoy good beer, great coffee and cheap used books with interesting folks while waiting out the weather, though! (Snowing last week at Govt Camp.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again - i could deal with the rents and helicopter moms and the insane daycare costs, etc. Or I could deal with the horrible weather, crappy commutes, and high job expectations. But not all of the above. This is no way to live.

Then don't. I love living in the city. Love our neighbors, our public school and the opportunities that are here. It works for our family. No one is making you stay, if you want to leave, then start doing what needs to be done to make it happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again - i could deal with the rents and helicopter moms and the insane daycare costs, etc. Or I could deal with the horrible weather, crappy commutes, and high job expectations. But not all of the above. This is no way to live.

Then don't. I love living in the city. Love our neighbors, our public school and the opportunities that are here. It works for our family. No one is making you stay, if you want to leave, then start doing what needs to be done to make it happen.

ITA! This place is not for everyone. I love it here - When I walk to work, I see my neighbors and we stop and chat. They ask about my daughter, I ask about their kids, or their spouses, or their dogs. On the weekends I go to the farmers market which is a short walk and my DD and I went to the pool on Saturday. My neighborhoods mom group had a meeting a few weeks ago to talk about things to do in our neighborhood. We also share hand-me-downs and a few of us had a pot luck dinner.

Sound like the 'burbs? No - I lived 10 years in VA and never had this - this is in DC - you get back what you put into your neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Where does Brookland or NE DC fit in to this? I guess Dense urban poor or urban crunchy?

Shhhh, don't let the secret out.

May I propose a new catagory? "freakishly inner suburbian"? (OTOH, I peg Takoma Park as flat out suburban, so I may have a skewed perspective. I live on capitol hill. Love it, but that probably wouldn't have happened if I had known about Brookland. sigh-- realtors . . . what are you going to do, right? )

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How shallow are you people to make the weather a major factor in where you live? It's all about jobs and education for the kids. Anything else, like real estate values, follows the jobs and education picture. Anything else is much less important.

Oh god, you're obnoxious. Weather matters because it's about being able to get out and enjoy the outdoors with your family. Where I grew up people spend most of the summer hiking/biking/camping/fishing and most of the fall and winter skiing, hunting, etc. It's about a lifestyle and values. And FWIW, I grew up in the sticks where people didn't obsess over jobs and education like they do here, and somehow I'm still smart and motivated enough to have a great job in this seriously competitive city. It's not so cut and dried.

You're right, it's about values. Jobs and education are more important to me than outdoor recreation. I spend maybe 2 hours a week outside except in the summers.

Right, but the DC area has incredible outdoor recreation opportunities. If you like whitewater, it's closer and more accessible here than if you lived in Denver/Boulder. Same with mountain biking--amazing opportunities only an hour or so away. And the road biking--from one's house in the city--is arguably better than it is in Denver/suburbs. Camping in GW Nat'l Forest. Beaches a couple of hours away. What's not to like?

I hate that the beach is two hours away.

I don't like the beach all that much--would much rather spend time up at Great Falls in a kayak. Or camping, hiking, and mountain biking just west of here. But it's nice to have the option of going a couple of times a year. Certainly more varied options than most beach towns outside of California. And California's not really an option, since its governmental system is fundamentally broken. I'd say the state is on the verge of collapse, but it's already collapsing.

Damn, you're a negative, bitchy mess.

Heh. Whoa, and you're a hypersensitive basket-case. What, do you have a college aged kid in the U of Cal system, or something? Sheesh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again - i could deal with the rents and helicopter moms and the insane daycare costs, etc. Or I could deal with the horrible weather, crappy commutes, and high job expectations. But not all of the above. This is no way to live.

Then don't. I love living in the city. Love our neighbors, our public school and the opportunities that are here. It works for our family. No one is making you stay, if you want to leave, then start doing what needs to be done to make it happen.

ITA! This place is not for everyone. I love it here - When I walk to work, I see my neighbors and we stop and chat. They ask about my daughter, I ask about their kids, or their spouses, or their dogs. On the weekends I go to the farmers market which is a short walk and my DD and I went to the pool on Saturday. My neighborhoods mom group had a meeting a few weeks ago to talk about things to do in our neighborhood. We also share hand-me-downs and a few of us had a pot luck dinner.

Sound like the 'burbs? No - I lived 10 years in VA and never had this - this is in DC - you get back what you put into your neighborhood.

Capitol Hill?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Where does Brookland or NE DC fit in to this? I guess Dense urban poor or urban crunchy?

Shhhh, don't let the secret out.

May I propose a new catagory? "freakishly inner suburbian"? (OTOH, I peg Takoma Park as flat out suburban, so I may have a skewed perspective. I live on capitol hill. Love it, but that probably wouldn't have happened if I had known about Brookland. sigh-- realtors . . . what are you going to do, right? )

Capitol Hill? Georgetown? - the triumph of hype over reason. Why anyone would want to pay NYC prices to live in a cramped little house in DC just to be on the Hill or G-town is beyond me. Maybe as a single person, but not with kids. I grew up in a nice neighborhood in upper Northwest, but I always felt depressed coming back into the city from the spacious 'burbs. Now I live in western Howard County and have an hour long commute downtown. But my kids have plenty of room to play, it's very safe and we have sane neighbors (except the ones that stopped speaking to us because we planted arborvitae bushes in our yard. Whatever!) We're close to DC and Baltimore for resturants and days out, close to WV for mountain weekends away and there's a lot less of the "what do you do?" sensibility endemic to DC. It works well. The benefit of DC is that you don't have to move far beyond the beltway to find sanity, reasonably spacious houses and lots of green open spaces.

[Anonymous]

Christ. Why do you all piss on each other? You all take this so personally.