Why does everyone love Vienna so much?

[Anonymous]

Some people seem to be suffering from Beltway Agoraphobia which is a little known and underappreciated mental disorder where people suffer from an irrational fear of ever travelling outside of the Beltway. Clinical studies have been mixed, but in general the prognoses for future mental health for such individuals have not been encouraging.

Vienna is a fabulous community and it has top rate schools.

[Anonymous]

PP, when you say "Suburbs really suck" then what sort of reaction are you expecting to get? Hell, you could have at least touted Clarendon and points in North Arlington.

Upper NW and Bethesda/CC -- is that even possible for mere mortals with a HHI of under $250k or will you be forced into a 2BR condo with 800 square feet?

The fact that there's SFHs for under $550k make it possible for mortals with a HHI of $150k to live there and enjoy the goodness. Then when daycare is not a factor anymore, it's possible to expand the house out.

As for "Rheediot" ... anyone who fires 350+ teachers (some of whom just got hired) and then, a few months later, discovers that the funds were just "misplaced" and calls the teachers "predators" ... sorry, she lost my respect there. Sure I don't live in DC, but hey, if you guys are happy with her, so be it.

And lastly, being "professional" doesn't mean you have to work 70 hours a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous



>> "office worker," yes. "Professional," as in, person who is in a profession, no.

I'm a professional (attorney) and I leave work at 4:30pm. Our HHI is $400K and we could afford to live in DC if we wanted, but we don't want to. It sounds like you're just jealous of professionals who make good salaries and have also managed to find a good work-life balance, or bitter b/c you don't have that balance.

[Anonymous]

I live in 22182, a Vienna address, but not in town of vienna. we chose our house for several reasons: W&OD trail a block away; easy commute to tysons (for me); close to vienna amenities without the town tax. I used to work at Metro center and I don't remember my metro commute ever taking an hour, but I was always on the train by 6:30 am and coming home early, so maybe that's it.

[Anonymous]

>> "office worker," yes. "Professional," as in, person who is in a profession, no.


I'm a professional (attorney) and I leave work at 4:30pm. Our HHI is $400K and we could afford to live in DC if we wanted, but we don't want to. It sounds like you're just jealous of professionals who make good salaries and have also managed to find a good work-life balance, or bitter b/c you don't have that balance.

Yes, but that $400K comes mostly from your spouse -- doesn't it? You're not pulling in $300K by leaving at 4:30 and telling all your clients they can just suck it until tomorrow when you feel like working because that feels "balanced" to you.

I'll stand by what I said -- I've yet to meet an impressive professional who scoots out of work every day at 4. Like someone I'd choose to oversee my case or heal my child or manage the finances of my company.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

>> "office worker," yes. "Professional," as in, person who is in a profession, no.


I'm a professional (attorney) and I leave work at 4:30pm. Our HHI is $400K and we could afford to live in DC if we wanted, but we don't want to. It sounds like you're just jealous of professionals who make good salaries and have also managed to find a good work-life balance, or bitter b/c you don't have that balance.

Yes, but that $400K comes mostly from your spouse -- doesn't it? You're not pulling in $300K by leaving at 4:30 and telling all your clients they can just suck it until tomorrow when you feel like working because that feels "balanced" to you.

I'll stand by what I said -- I've yet to meet an impressive professional who scoots out of work every day at 4. Like someone I'd choose to oversee my case or heal my child or manage the finances of my company.

Teachers are professionals. They leave work at 4 or 5. Do you think lawyers are the only type of professionals out there? You're on such a mission to prove your snooty opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

>> "office worker," yes. "Professional," as in, person who is in a profession, no.


I'm a professional (attorney) and I leave work at 4:30pm. Our HHI is $400K and we could afford to live in DC if we wanted, but we don't want to. It sounds like you're just jealous of professionals who make good salaries and have also managed to find a good work-life balance, or bitter b/c you don't have that balance.

Yes, but that $400K comes mostly from your spouse -- doesn't it? You're not pulling in $300K by leaving at 4:30 and telling all your clients they can just suck it until tomorrow when you feel like working because that feels "balanced" to you.

I'll stand by what I said -- I've yet to meet an impressive professional who scoots out of work every day at 4. Like someone I'd choose to oversee my case or heal my child or manage the finances of my company.

Teachers are professionals. They leave work at 4 or 5. Do you think lawyers are the only type of professionals out there? You're on such a mission to prove your snooty opinion.

I'd really like for the snooty PP to provide her definition of "professional"... you know, who meets her criteria for who is and isn't a professional.

I consider that I am a professional: Advanced degree. Licensed attorney. Dedicated employee. Office job (federal govt.)... and I'm out of work every afternoon by 2:30 or 3:00, after putting in 8.5+ hours. (and shhh.... don't tell her that I telework one day a week, too.)

Just because her line of work doesn't allow professionals to "scoot" out of work early doesn't mean that what applies to her applies to all professionals... "Seeing clients" does NOT equate to "professional."

She needs to scoot her snooty self back to her non-suburbs short commute in DC.

[Anonymous]

She's not a professional. She sounds like a miserable slave.

[Anonymous]

a "professional" is someone who is in one of the professions, that's all

[Anonymous]

This has to have turned into one of the most bizarre threads ever.

There are some professionals in DC who can work schedules (say, 7 AM to 3 or 4 PM) that allow them to avoid rush hour traffic. There are other professionals in DC who really gain nothing by arriving early, because business isn't done until 9 AM at the earliest, and who are often expected to stay in the office and be available until at least 6:30 or 7 PM. Professionals who fall in the first category have a far easier commute to and from Vienna than the professionals who fall in the second category. It doesn't mean the first type of professionals aren't really skilled "professionals," nor does it mean that the latter type of professionals are drones who have failed to strike a proper work-life balance. It just means they have different types of jobs and schedules. People can have good and valid reasons for either loving Vienna or concluding that it's just too long a commute. Is that really so hard to understand?

[Anonymous]

A professional to me is anyone in an exempt labor catergory, i.e. does not get paid overtime wages.

...and I am a happy, satisfied (and very well paid) being a un - "impressive" professional just getting the work done for all those people who are out being "impressive."

[Anonymous]

I live in Vienna and like it, thanks. Small town feel in parts. Benefits of a city in parts. Good food. Good schools. Good parks. Commute depends on where you work (as is the case with just about anyplace).

But this is a totally bizarro thread!

Good for several laughs.

And PP poster who thinks "suburbs really suck." You're hilarious! I like the part where you managed to find your way back here after not knowing you were here in the first place. Priceless. Seriously, I'm laughing. Deep down.

[Anonymous]

Yes, but that $400K comes mostly from your spouse -- doesn't it? You're not pulling in $300K by leaving at 4:30 and telling all your clients they can just suck it until tomorrow when you feel like working because that feels "balanced" to you.

Are you seriously asking for a salary breakdown between me and my spouse? I make $150K, which I don't consider chump change. My husband actually makes closer to $300K so I was lowballing our HHI. I'm a lawyer for a federal agency so I don't have clients, per se. My husband is a partner in private practice so he has lots of clients, but he coaches our kids' sports and sometimes has to leave work around 5pm to do so - on those days, he just tells his clients to "suck it until tomorrow."

You're so condescending toward the idea of "work -life balance." It's pretty transparent. You're obviously bitter b/c you don't have that balance so you have to tell yourself that anyone who does can't possibly have a successful career.

[Anonymous]

I did not find the poster snooty at all. I thought he/she was pointing out you can find the same kind of nice community and not spend so many hours in the car each week. 2 hours commute each day x 5-6 days a week is a lot of time if your children are waiting to be picked up. It is nice to get the bigger house but that is a lot of time out of your life you just don't get back.

[Anonymous]

Maple St. is too congested IMHO. I'm glad I live in Oakton. (Bigger lots and it's easy to visit Vienna if needed).