Thoughts About Olney, MD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree that you can find strawberries and splash pads elsewhere, pp. But the thing about Olney is that when you attend these events, you run into neighbors, people from school or OBGC, etc because Olney is like a sma town where you know everyone.

Someone recently posted something on the local listserv that the downside to living in our area is that you can't lay around in jammies over winter break because someone always drops by to say hello or hang out.

The thing about Olney/Brookeville is that people move out here *despite* the commute to DC...because it's worth it.

While that sounds cozy and wonderful, I would never trade my 20 minute commute for that (DH as well). Also, with a daily 8:30 bus drop, that extra time at home in the morning is really necessary. If both parents work in the DC metro area, how does everyone get on the road before 7 to beat the traffic? Sorry, not for me.

[Anonymous]

To answer your question, pp:

1. Not everyone works in DC. Some families have a SAHP. Some parents commute within the county.
2. Some kids are in before care.
3. Some families carpool and trade off on morning care (easy to do in Olney because folks are neighborly).

If you have a 20 minute commute to downtown DC, then you must be in DC or on the border...and I wouldn't want to live there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that you can find strawberries and splash pads elsewhere, pp. But the thing about Olney is that when you attend these events, you run into neighbors, people from school or OBGC, etc because Olney is like a sma town where you know everyone.

Someone recently posted something on the local listserv that the downside to living in our area is that you can't lay around in jammies over winter break because someone always drops by to say hello or hang out.

The thing about Olney/Brookeville is that people move out here *despite* the commute to DC...because it's worth it.

While that sounds cozy and wonderful, I would never trade my 20 minute commute for that (DH as well). Also, with a daily 8:30 bus drop, that extra time at home in the morning is really necessary. If both parents work in the DC metro area, how does everyone get on the road before 7 to beat the traffic? Sorry, not for me.

in an outer burb of Olney on 2 acres

We have before care. Our nanny comes at 6:15. I leave first b/c I have to be in by 7. We're both home before the afternoon bus drop off.

You wouldn't find before care? It's not that hard to do.

sorry - totally for me

I like that my kids can run around, and I don't have to worry about cars and congestion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that you can find strawberries and splash pads elsewhere, pp. But the thing about Olney is that when you attend these events, you run into neighbors, people from school or OBGC, etc because Olney is like a sma town where you know everyone.

Someone recently posted something on the local listserv that the downside to living in our area is that you can't lay around in jammies over winter break because someone always drops by to say hello or hang out.

The thing about Olney/Brookeville is that people move out here *despite* the commute to DC...because it's worth it.

While that sounds cozy and wonderful, I would never trade my 20 minute commute for that (DH as well). Also, with a daily 8:30 bus drop, that extra time at home in the morning is really necessary. If both parents work in the DC metro area, how does everyone get on the road before 7 to beat the traffic? Sorry, not for me.

in an outer burb of Olney on 2 acres

We have before care. Our nanny comes at 6:15. I leave first b/c I have to be in by 7. We're both home before the afternoon bus drop off.

You wouldn't find before care? It's not that hard to do.

sorry - totally for me

I like that my kids can run around, and I don't have to worry about cars and congestion.

Except twice a day on your commute. Irony.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that you can find strawberries and splash pads elsewhere, pp. But the thing about Olney is that when you attend these events, you run into neighbors, people from school or OBGC, etc because Olney is like a sma town where you know everyone.

Someone recently posted something on the local listserv that the downside to living in our area is that you can't lay around in jammies over winter break because someone always drops by to say hello or hang out.

The thing about Olney/Brookeville is that people move out here *despite* the commute to DC...because it's worth it.

While that sounds cozy and wonderful, I would never trade my 20 minute commute for that (DH as well). Also, with a daily 8:30 bus drop, that extra time at home in the morning is really necessary. If both parents work in the DC metro area, how does everyone get on the road before 7 to beat the traffic? Sorry, not for me.

in an outer burb of Olney on 2 acres

We have before care. Our nanny comes at 6:15. I leave first b/c I have to be in by 7. We're both home before the afternoon bus drop off.

You wouldn't find before care? It's not that hard to do.

sorry - totally for me

I like that my kids can run around, and I don't have to worry about cars and congestion.

Except twice a day on your commute. Irony.

20-min commute one way

I hardly think that's exhausting.

lol

[Anonymous]

I think it's hilarious that people throw stones at the burbs because of the commute to DC.

Newsflash: not everyone works in DC. People work in MoCo, HoCo, PG, Baltimore, etc. And there are tons of SAHPs in the Olney area. In fact, that's one of the selling points IMHO for a variety of reasons: it's safer to have neighbors at home than empty houses during work hours, SAHPs volunteer in the schools regularly (not just for class parties), and SAHPs are kind enough to help out with carpool, etc.

[Anonymous]

Hi op, just moved to olney recently from another area in moco, with a less desirable neighborhood/schools. Things I like: the neighborhood feels very safe, very friendly people, affordable housing, big backyard, quiet, great schools, children/teens with good manners
Things I am getting used to: the small town feel....always bumping into people when you go out to eat or the grocery store
Things I don't like: no target, would like more retail close by

On a separate note, the 3 synogagues are conservative and there's 1 orthodox... So if you're ultra-reform, you may need to travel elsewhere

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi op, just moved to olney recently from another area in moco, with a less desirable neighborhood/schools. Things I like: the neighborhood feels very safe, very friendly people, affordable housing, big backyard, quiet, great schools, children/teens with good manners
Things I am getting used to: the small town feel....always bumping into people when you go out to eat or the grocery store
Things I don't like: no target, would like more retail close by

On a separate note, the 3 synogagues are conservative and there's 1 orthodox... So if you're ultra-reform, you may need to travel elsewhere

I'd die if a Target came to Olney.

You'd destroy the true neighborhood feel if it moved in - with the likelihood of inviting crime. I like the small shops, grocery stores and restaurants.

If I wanted to be surrounded by chain stores like Target, I would have moved elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's hilarious that people throw stones at the burbs because of the commute to DC.

Newsflash: not everyone works in DC. People work in MoCo, HoCo, PG, Baltimore, etc. And there are tons of SAHPs in the Olney area. In fact, that's one of the selling points IMHO for a variety of reasons: it's safer to have neighbors at home than empty houses during work hours, SAHPs volunteer in the schools regularly (not just for class parties), and SAHPs are kind enough to help out with carpool, etc.

True. The OP's spouse does, though, I think, and the OP works in Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Have you considered Takoma Park? Easy commutes to Bethesda and DC, lots of Jewish families, housing Stock in your price range, good schools and great community feel.

[Anonymous]

Olney is in frickin' boonies with nothing around it. And Brookeville? That's even FARTHER north. Even without traffic its 30 minutes to go anywhere. I just don't have that much free time.

[Anonymous]

We actually have most of everything we need in Olney...so no clue what you are talking about when you say it's 30 mins to get anywhere (which isn't true). And the more densely populated part of Brookeville begins one block north of the intersection of Georgia and 108.

[Anonymous]

Re: commute - 62 minutes door to door ft

[Anonymous]

Oops.

62 mins door to door from close-in Brookeville to Connecticut and K (actually two blocks past to garage). Left at 7:10am this morning (Tuesday).

Fwiw, it's 20-25 mins to the beltway in Kensington where traffic becomes a bottleneck. I can't afford a million dollar home in Kensington, and I wouldn't want to live in a more affordable tiny fixer upper in that area, so I'll deal with the extra 20 minutes from Brookeville.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Olney is in frickin' boonies with nothing around it. And Brookeville? That's even FARTHER north. Even without traffic its 30 minutes to go anywhere. I just don't have that much free time.

That's not our problem that you "don't have that much free time."

Don't post then about your personal problems.