Anyone else burnt out with DC lifestyle

[Anonymous]

I have lived all over the US. There are pros and cons about every place. There are many things I like about DC and there are many things I dislike. DH, in theory, could move his business to another city/town but we can't think of any place that would be better on all counts.

Also, I am pretty sure no one's life is really all that thrilling during the week. You described the lives of all my friends from Boulder, CO to London, England.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Befoe children, I loved living in the DC and all that it has to offer. After having kids and working full time, DH and I are totally burnt out with the rat race-competitive work place, long commute, high cost of housing, crowded stores in the week-end, etc.. Challenge is to find a place where we could both get good jobs.

For those who left the DC Metro area, just curious whether you made the right decision?

Make some friends in Miami, Las Vegas, California, the Midwest and ask them how they feel about these same conditions minus the great jobs making great money....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nope! Love our life. Our neighborhood is 100% walkable to all amenities. I WAH full-time and DH has a 5 min Metro commute.

Our neighborhood is filled with tons of kids and great parents. Impromptu family happy hours almost every weekend, lots of local neighborhood events, etc. We have the city vibe with great public schools...and the free museums within a stone's throw.

Parents often go in on a sitter and walk to the local bars and restaurants at least once a week.

Arlington?[/quote]

Unfortunately, we were priced out of all the homes we saw in neighborhoods like you deserve in Arlington, especially the ones in good North Arlington schools. My point is, that type of lifestyle is not a choice for many.

[Anonymous]

I know of one federal agency where people who deploy to other parts of the country or world for a 2-3 year rotation, will FIGHT being transferred back here. Anywhere but here. I think that speaks volumes.

I think the biggest thing for me is you don't even get much of a break from the stress on the weekends. Traffic everywhere, jammed stores, often end up sitting in traffic jams on the beltway or 66. That's the big thing for me. Work week, sure it's a busy hectic time, but to have that on the weekends as well, forget it.

Other big cities have similar problems, but there are others that have the amenities of a big city, without so many of the probllems of a big city. I'm originally from Minneapolis and am looking forward to moving back there soon after 10 years in DC. Minneapolis is one of those places. Culture, diversity, vibrant city life, decent jobs, but a slower pace of life. It's the best of everything. Work isn't the #1 focus as it is here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know of one federal agency where people who deploy to other parts of the country or world for a 2-3 year rotation, will FIGHT being transferred back here. Anywhere but here. I think that speaks volumes.

I think the biggest thing for me is you don't even get much of a break from the stress on the weekends. Traffic everywhere, jammed stores, often end up sitting in traffic jams on the beltway or 66. That's the big thing for me. Work week, sure it's a busy hectic time, but to have that on the weekends as well, forget it. Other big cities have similar problems, but there are others that have the amenities of a big city, without so many of the probllems of a big city. I'm originally from Minneapolis and am looking forward to moving back there soon after 10 years in DC. Minneapolis is one of those places. Culture, diversity, vibrant city life, decent jobs, but a slower pace of life. It's the best of everything. Work isn't the #1 focus as it is here.

I too find the week-ends stressful because of this very reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

think I disagree with the PPs that say the DC burn-out would be the same in other cities/towns. I think there's something unique in DC. Haven't you had family/friends come into town and mention how unfriendly/uptight the people are here? Haven't you noticed how tense the other parents are? I've seen so many who are always jockeying to figure out what reading group your kid is in, what soccer team he's on, what school he's been accepted to. All of this competition on top of a very work oriented environment makes this a less fun place to live than many other places.

It's not the same in other places. Everyone I know who transfers in and out of the DC area like we have considers DC nothing more than a necessary evil. We do our time. We make the best of it for a few years. And then get the hell out. We enjoy life in the real world for a few years before we have to go back to DC again.

Everyone? Where exactly is the "real world"?

[Anonymous]

PP who claims to live in utopia is full of crap. People who think this place is the be all and end all is full of crap. They don't call it spin city for nothing! It is ironic to me that OP and most other posters feel this place is isolating and can be depressing, and PPs react with "it must be you". WTF? Way to be supportive, a**holes! And you actually claim to wonder what OP is talking about? Really? Really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP who claims to live in utopia is full of crap. People who think this place is the be all and end all is full of crap. They don't call it spin city for nothing! It is ironic to me that OP and most other posters feel this place is isolating and can be depressing, and PPs react with "it must be you". WTF? Way to be supportive, a**holes! And you actually claim to wonder what OP is talking about? Really? Really?

You should try yoga.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP who claims to live in utopia is full of crap. People who think this place is the be all and end all is full of crap. They don't call it spin city for nothing! It is ironic to me that OP and most other posters feel this place is isolating and can be depressing, and PPs react with "it must be you". WTF? Way to be supportive, a**holes! And you actually claim to wonder what OP is talking about? Really? Really?

You can't fathom that not everyone here is as miserable and bitter as you are? Really? Really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP who claims to live in utopia is full of crap. People who think this place is the be all and end all is full of crap. They don't call it spin city for nothing! It is ironic to me that OP and most other posters feel this place is isolating and can be depressing, and PPs react with "it must be you". WTF? Way to be supportive, a**holes! And you actually claim to wonder what OP is talking about? Really? Really?

Okay, people as lovely as you should really leave. You sound like a gem. So because you are miserable (and from your post I'm fairly certain you are just miserable period) nobody else could possibly be happy living here? I love living here. I've never said it's the end-all-be-all but for me it's awesome. I think it might be different for people who work in certain industries. I personally have a great balance between work and homelife, I don't sit in traffic, have great friends and family here and have a lot of great things to do here. So to call people aholes because they aren't being supportive is weird. So we have to agree even if we are happy? Really? Really? And I have to say...it must be you, because everyone has different experiences and to think that everyone else is an ahole because they aren't as miserable as you makes you the problem.

[Anonymous]

What a bunch of miserable people!

I live the "suburban lifestyle" (work in DC but live outside the beltway in VA). I just love it and this area. Do I love the commute? Nah. But, I get an hour to myself and can decompress / zone out a little before coming home.

As far as being fast-paced, etc. we say no to things. We don't accept every b-day invitation, we don't overschedule, we allow for lots of down time. Easy.

There are tons of things to do in this are. The weather is good (very short winters) and schools are amazing where I live. I also rarely encounter (certainly not a greater rate than elsewhere that I have lived) these mythical horrid DC people that are often talked about on here. I think if you are finding that everywhere then you might take a look at yourself and see if YOU are the problem. I generally find people to be pretty nice. The ones that are uber-competitive and annoying are simply irrelevant to me and are ignored. Again, easy.

I'm so sick and tired of people trashing this area on these boards on a weekly basis, yearning for some midwestern utopian lifestyle (I was raised there and it is not "all that" I can tell you.) If you hate it so much leave. And if you can't or won't leave, shut the $Q@#$@ up about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP who claims to live in utopia is full of crap. People who think this place is the be all and end all is full of crap. They don't call it spin city for nothing! It is ironic to me that OP and most other posters feel this place is isolating and can be depressing, and PPs react with "it must be you". WTF? Way to be supportive, a**holes! And you actually claim to wonder what OP is talking about? Really? Really?

Bloom where you're planted or move. You sound like part of the problem.

Chill. Breathe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know of one federal agency where people who deploy to other parts of the country or world for a 2-3 year rotation, will FIGHT being transferred back here. Anywhere but here. I think that speaks volumes.

I think the biggest thing for me is you don't even get much of a break from the stress on the weekends. Traffic everywhere, jammed stores, often end up sitting in traffic jams on the beltway or 66. That's the big thing for me. Work week, sure it's a busy hectic time, but to have that on the weekends as well, forget it.

Other big cities have similar problems, but there are others that have the amenities of a big city, without so many of the probllems of a big city. I'm originally from Minneapolis and am looking forward to moving back there soon after 10 years in DC. Minneapolis is one of those places. Culture, diversity, vibrant city life, decent jobs, but a slower pace of life. It's the best of everything. Work isn't the #1 focus as it is here.

YES! The weekend activities are a huge source of stress for me. Its hard to relax when everywhere you go has crowd problems: getting out of town? Must leave Thurs. Shopping? super packed roads, parking and stores. Festival? wall to wall people? Even the pumpkin patch is a crowd nightmare! National Park? no parking by noon. Crescent Trail? Too packed to take kids safely. I imagine NY is like this. But most other US cities? I doubt it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a bunch of miserable people!

I live the "suburban lifestyle" (work in DC but live outside the beltway in VA). I just love it and this area. Do I love the commute? Nah. But, I get an hour to myself and can decompress / zone out a little before coming home.

As far as being fast-paced, etc. we say no to things. We don't accept every b-day invitation, we don't overschedule, we allow for lots of down time. Easy.

There are tons of things to do in this are. The weather is good (very short winters) and schools are amazing where I live. I also rarely encounter (certainly not a greater rate than elsewhere that I have lived) these mythical horrid DC people that are often talked about on here. I think if you are finding that everywhere then you might take a look at yourself and see if YOU are the problem. I generally find people to be pretty nice. The ones that are uber-competitive and annoying are simply irrelevant to me and are ignored. Again, easy.

I'm so sick and tired of people trashing this area on these boards on a weekly basis, yearning for some midwestern utopian lifestyle (I was raised there and it is not "all that" I can tell you.) If you hate it so much leave. And if you can't or won't leave, shut the $Q@#$@ up about it.

Hear, hear! I think the trashers are fulfilling their own prophecy. Or maybe they're just malcontents. Anywhere they live would suck to them.

Be the change you want to see in the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP who claims to live in utopia is full of crap. People who think this place is the be all and end all is full of crap. They don't call it spin city for nothing! It is ironic to me that OP and most other posters feel this place is isolating and can be depressing, and PPs react with "it must be you". WTF? Way to be supportive, a**holes! And you actually claim to wonder what OP is talking about? Really? Really?

Bloom where you're planted or move. You sound like part of the problem.

Chill. Breathe.

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