Job offer in Bmore, DH working in DC - where to live? and preschool situation?

[Anonymous]

We're currently based in NoVA. I have a job offer in Baltimore that would be a significant professional opportunity, but DH is well established in his career in DC/Arlington. I'm trying to figure out how we may logistically make this work, optimizing for commute times (for both of us) and, ideally, finding an area with good preschools/elementary schools for our son.

In the new position, I would be able to work about 50/50 from home, but the specific hours I can be home will shift pretty frequently. DH works long hours, but has some flexibility in when he puts them in (and could also potentially work from home sometimes, given we could afford a home in the area with an extra room he could use as an office).

Does anyone have any experience with one spouse working in DC/NoVA and the other in Baltimore? I'm not very familiar with MD - is there an area between the two with decent commute times for each, or will the commute just be a nightmare regardless?

Also, DS will be preschool-aged - how did you coordinate drop-off/pickup with your spouse (or did you have a nanny do it)? Or did one of you commute with DC and drop him at a school close to your work rather than close to home?

Finally - if anyone has any recommendations for preschools in Baltimore that would be great (I've got a pretty good idea about the ones available around DH's office already).

Thanks in advance for any thoughts/advice/ideas!

[Anonymous]

MoCo near the ICC. Commuting to baltimore is easy - its a reverse commute.

[Anonymous]

OR, someplace in MD really close to a MARC train stop

[Anonymous]

we do this. we live in silver spring.

[Anonymous]

I think that the commute will be a nightmare regardless. Maybe if you lived at King Farm, near both the ICC and the Shady Grove Metro station, and DH's work were near a Metro station. But even if there were no traffic driving to Baltimore, it's still a 45-minute drive each way.

[Anonymous]

Husband works in Baltimore. I work in DC. We live in Bowie, MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MoCo near the ICC. Commuting to baltimore is easy - its a reverse commute.

It depends where in Baltimore. And remember, the ICC tolls can be expensive, so budget for it.

[Anonymous]

I did this for 2 years living in Pentagon city. It's doable. For us we lived near DHs job, preschool near his too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we do this. we live in silver spring.

yeah, like the northern end of silver spring or olney near the ICC. That would be ideal. UNLESS DH actually works in Arlington and not DC. That is a whole other ballgame. Then I'm almost thinking living in DC would be easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we do this. we live in silver spring.

yeah, like the northern end of silver spring or olney near the ICC. That would be ideal. UNLESS DH actually works in Arlington and not DC. That is a whole other ballgame. Then I'm almost thinking living in DC would be easier.

Actually DC would work too. If you lived near Union Station, you could take the MARC train to Baltimore, and DH could take the Metro or whatever to DC/Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MoCo near the ICC. Commuting to baltimore is easy - its a reverse commute.

It depends where in Baltimore. And remember, the ICC tolls can be expensive, so budget for it.

Thanks, PPs - you're giving me hope! It would be downtown Baltimore (Hopkins medical campus).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MoCo near the ICC. Commuting to baltimore is easy - its a reverse commute.

It depends where in Baltimore. And remember, the ICC tolls can be expensive, so budget for it.

Thanks, PPs - you're giving me hope! It would be downtown Baltimore (Hopkins medical campus).

Do you mean the one in east Baltimore?

[Anonymous]

I commuted to Balto from downtown Silver Spring for a year...about a 45 minute drive with little traffic because it is a reverse commute. DH commuted to downtown DC. About 35-40 minutes either driving or metro. And we love our neighborhood, good schools, restaurants, shopping, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MoCo near the ICC. Commuting to baltimore is easy - its a reverse commute.

It depends where in Baltimore. And remember, the ICC tolls can be expensive, so budget for it.

Thanks, PPs - you're giving me hope! It would be downtown Baltimore (Hopkins medical campus).

Do you mean the one in east Baltimore?

Er, maybe? I really don't know Baltimore all that well. JHU's main, big hospital (Monument St.?).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we do this. we live in silver spring.

yeah, like the northern end of silver spring or olney near the ICC. That would be ideal. UNLESS DH actually works in Arlington and not DC. That is a whole other ballgame. Then I'm almost thinking living in DC would be easier.

We're in Woodmoor and use 29 to go to Baltimore.