How are your neighbors?

[Anonymous]

Au Park and we love our neighbors. We moved to DC knowing no one and now some of our neighbors are our closest friends. Our kids play together, we have frequent potlucks, playdates, bbqs, etc. Have yet to meet anyone who is strange or reclusive.

[Anonymous]

AU Park has many socially clueless "strivers". They will allow their kids occasionally to play with neighbor kids when it is convenient- they knock on
your door, ask to play (that part is fine, it's what I'm used to really). But then they snobbishly ignore your kids (the adults don't even say "hello, Johnny, or whatever) and have loud lavish kid's parties and not invite your kids. The moms insufferable about their SAH or WOHM status because they are trying to justify everything they do. They are politically noxious because they are extremely high HHI yet, but pretend to be liberal and "eco sensitive" while jetting all over the planet on junkets for high paying non-profits jobs. They pretend to have Takoma Park sensibilities but really could never stand to live near anything so edgy.

For the most part the neighbors brag endlessly about what exotic trips they have taken or are about to take. They are only friendly at first until they can measure their status against yours and if they don't see you as an "up and coming striver" like them, they'll drop you like you never lived.

Many, many douche bags.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AU Park has many socially clueless "strivers". They will allow their kids occasionally to play with neighbor kids when it is convenient- they knock on
your door, ask to play (that part is fine, it's what I'm used to really). But then they snobbishly ignore your kids (the adults don't even say "hello, Johnny, or whatever) and have loud lavish kid's parties and not invite your kids. The moms insufferable about their SAH or WOHM status because they are trying to justify everything they do. They are politically noxious because they are extremely high HHI yet, but pretend to be liberal and "eco sensitive" while jetting all over the planet on junkets for high paying non-profits jobs. They pretend to have Takoma Park sensibilities but really could never stand to live near anything so edgy.

For the most part the neighbors brag endlessly about what exotic trips they have taken or are about to take. They are only friendly at first until they can measure their status against yours and if they don't see you as an "up and coming striver" like them, they'll drop you like you never lived.

Many, many douche bags.

You should consider writing children's books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AU Park has many socially clueless "strivers". They will allow their kids occasionally to play with neighbor kids when it is convenient- they knock on
your door, ask to play (that part is fine, it's what I'm used to really). But then they snobbishly ignore your kids (the adults don't even say "hello, Johnny, or whatever) and have loud lavish kid's parties and not invite your kids. The moms insufferable about their SAH or WOHM status because they are trying to justify everything they do. They are politically noxious because they are extremely high HHI yet, but pretend to be liberal and "eco sensitive" while jetting all over the planet on junkets for high paying non-profits jobs. They pretend to have Takoma Park sensibilities but really could never stand to live near anything so edgy.

For the most part the neighbors brag endlessly about what exotic trips they have taken or are about to take. They are only friendly at first until they can measure their status against yours and if they don't see you as an "up and coming striver" like them, they'll drop you like you never lived.

Many, many douche bags.

You should consider writing children's books.

In the great green neighborhood

There is a little gray rescue dog and

SAHMs and WOHMS driving Priuses

and bears sitting on fair trade chairs, etc....

[Anonymous]

We have a rental SF house on one side with a slumlord owner and it's been a problem ever since I bought my house. My favorite was the convicted felon (breaking and entering, no less) and his dysfunctional family (drug addicted wife, wannabe rock star son and many assorted pets). Luckily, they've been gone for a few years, and the newer tenants are pretty normal, except for their dog, which barks at every little noise, and the fact that they apparently don't believe in cutting the grass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AU Park has many socially clueless "strivers". They will allow their kids occasionally to play with neighbor kids when it is convenient- they knock on
your door, ask to play (that part is fine, it's what I'm used to really). But then they snobbishly ignore your kids (the adults don't even say "hello, Johnny, or whatever) and have loud lavish kid's parties and not invite your kids. The moms insufferable about their SAH or WOHM status because they are trying to justify everything they do. They are politically noxious because they are extremely high HHI yet, but pretend to be liberal and "eco sensitive" while jetting all over the planet on junkets for high paying non-profits jobs. They pretend to have Takoma Park sensibilities but really could never stand to live near anything so edgy.

For the most part the neighbors brag endlessly about what exotic trips they have taken or are about to take. They are only friendly at first until they can measure their status against yours and if they don't see you as an "up and coming striver" like them, they'll drop you like you never lived.

Many, many douche bags.

Ding, Ding, Ding! Soooo true. They'll also plow you over in their Lexus RX hybrids and keep going. Most of these people are relatively new to the city (last 10 yrs) and have brought a lot of meanness with them.

[Anonymous]

Damascus in upper montgomery county. This is an incorporated dry town. Meaning you cannot buy alcohol. But should you ever run out, the next door neighbour has.

and no pepco !!

[Anonymous]

13:11 - SO F*ING TRUE - Could be any neighborhood in the D.C. area, really!!!!!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for telling it like it is.

Does it really make them feel better? Because I get a good laugh! AT THEM!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AU Park has many socially clueless "strivers". They will allow their kids occasionally to play with neighbor kids when it is convenient- they knock on
your door, ask to play (that part is fine, it's what I'm used to really). But then they snobbishly ignore your kids (the adults don't even say "hello, Johnny, or whatever) and have loud lavish kid's parties and not invite your kids. The moms insufferable about their SAH or WOHM status because they are trying to justify everything they do. They are politically noxious because they are extremely high HHI yet, but pretend to be liberal and "eco sensitive" while jetting all over the planet on junkets for high paying non-profits jobs. They pretend to have Takoma Park sensibilities but really could never stand to live near anything so edgy.

For the most part the neighbors brag endlessly about what exotic trips they have taken or are about to take. They are only friendly at first until they can measure their status against yours and if they don't see you as an "up and coming striver" like them, they'll drop you like you never lived.

Many, many douche bags.

Do you live there? It sounds like living h*ll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AU Park has many socially clueless "strivers". They will allow their kids occasionally to play with neighbor kids when it is convenient- they knock on
your door, ask to play (that part is fine, it's what I'm used to really). But then they snobbishly ignore your kids (the adults don't even say "hello, Johnny, or whatever) and have loud lavish kid's parties and not invite your kids. The moms insufferable about their SAH or WOHM status because they are trying to justify everything they do. They are politically noxious because they are extremely high HHI yet, but pretend to be liberal and "eco sensitive" while jetting all over the planet on junkets for high paying non-profits jobs. They pretend to have Takoma Park sensibilities but really could never stand to live near anything so edgy.

For the most part the neighbors brag endlessly about what exotic trips they have taken or are about to take. They are only friendly at first until they can measure their status against yours and if they don't see you as an "up and coming striver" like them, they'll drop you like you never lived.

Many, many douche bags.

Do you live there? It sounds like living h*ll.

Inferiority complexes. AU Park is a pit and those strivers know it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AU Park has many socially clueless "strivers". They will allow their kids occasionally to play with neighbor kids when it is convenient- they knock on
your door, ask to play (that part is fine, it's what I'm used to really). But then they snobbishly ignore your kids (the adults don't even say "hello, Johnny, or whatever) and have loud lavish kid's parties and not invite your kids. The moms insufferable about their SAH or WOHM status because they are trying to justify everything they do. They are politically noxious because they are extremely high HHI yet, but pretend to be liberal and "eco sensitive" while jetting all over the planet on junkets for high paying non-profits jobs. They pretend to have Takoma Park sensibilities but really could never stand to live near anything so edgy.

For the most part the neighbors brag endlessly about what exotic trips they have taken or are about to take. They are only friendly at first until they can measure their status against yours and if they don't see you as an "up and coming striver" like them, they'll drop you like you never lived.

Many, many douche bags.

Do you live there? It sounds like living h*ll.

Yes. We bought our house here around 12 years ago. We'd move but where can you go? We have 3 kids under 9. An upper-middle (HHI=250k plus before taxes) class neighborhood with walkable streets and decent restaurants and good local schools...They all have this "sensibility". It would take an insane amount of income to live at this level in Boston, PDX, or SF similarly very attractive cities .

So we just stay here and hope to have our kids learn to adapt to the meanness and competitiveness of the insecure "strivers".

[Anonymous]

PP, Boston and Portland are far lower cost of living than DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Au Park and we love our neighbors. We moved to DC knowing no one and now some of our neighbors are our closest friends. Our kids play together, we have frequent potlucks, playdates, bbqs, etc. Have yet to meet anyone who is strange or reclusive.

Ha. You just wait. The neighbors are great until your kids get up in elementary age...then its going to be all about the tasteful down play of the hugely important job that you or your spouse has. Careful your child isn't run over by their brand new, stupid, shiny ORANGE or YELLOW jeeps and black or dk-blue mini-mercedes. The parents will drive them while droning on about how many dishes of tasteless baked lasagna they are preparing in their Viking ovens to deliver to the local school food drive for the homeless. Thank goodness the guilt does drive them to do something to help those less fortunate than themselves...But there are just huge numbers of soulless bullies living all through this hood.

Don't get me wrong we did the potlucks. WE have extended ourselves with watching other peoples kids--playing with the kids--inviting them to our kids parties. We feed the homeless. We just don't expect a reward for doing it.But these people crave the recognition. The moms --wow, sahms, wohms it doesn't matter, they return your phone calls and emails when they FEEL like it. Your kid will twist in the wind waiting for the playdate call to be returned... I might get pencilled in. Spontaneous birthday party invites after 1st grade--don't count on it.
It has been very heartbreaking at times. Especially I feel so duped after having been open to all these neighbors when our kids were babies and toddlers all the way up to K. Then things become so competitive and exclusionary and downright rude--I just wasn't expecting such swift judgment.

Douche bags, I tell you. Douche bags.

[Anonymous]

Wow, PP, can AU Park be as bad as you say? You sound very unhappy.

[Anonymous]

22:59, you have some serious issues.
We live in Au Park with school aged children and have experienced none of what you describe over the past 4 years. In fact, we view our neighborhood to be an oasis from the craziness and competition that is DC. I think you need to think seriously about moving out ASAP.