Commute from Great Falls to DC? Any WOH Moms?

[Anonymous]

Oops, I meant "now" not "bow."

[Anonymous]

OP- you will love GF (or right over the border in McLean, which still feels like GF).

[Anonymous]

To answer your question, OP: I recently ran into an acquaintance, and she was all excited that her commute from Great Falls to Metro Center had "only" taken 45 minutes. She has kids, so can't leave super early to avoid traffic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not a completely personal matter. I know I won't convince you because you evidently have your priorities, but someone needs to point it out: you are wasting everybody's environmental resources when you choose to drive for 2-4 hours EVERY SINGLE WORK DAY. It is irresponsible. I know tons of people do it, but that doesn't make it right. It is indeed unsustainable for all of us.

Seriously? Get a grip. Or go work in your organic, low-carbon garden.

I knew someone would get defensive...

Not defensive. I live in DC and take the metro every day. But I think it is absolutely ridiculous to chastise someone for driving to work every day -- something millions and millions of people in this country do every day. "Irresponsible" is beyond an overstatement -- it is laughable.

It is, indeed, particuarly when so many of the preachy types live in DC and have shorter commutes to work, but then drive their children to private schools in NW or Maryland or put them on nasty buses that fill the air with exhaust.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here again. First, to the earthy crunchy people whining about environmental stuff: I get it. But families need to prioritize these days. I work full time, DH works full time. As feds (with pretty much decreasing salaries), we don't have $1 million to buy a 4 bedroom home in North Arlington on the metro.

Alexandria is not an option because the schools stink and housing costs are equally high. We like Great Falls. We like the schools. We like that there are wide open spaces and fresh air, and that our kids and pets could actually have a real backyard with a swing set and places to hike to.

So all that being said, we would all most likey carpool in together or alternatively drive to metro and then take metro in, once that becomes an option. The Silver Line will make a huge difference.

FWIW, we also looked in the W. Springfield / Burke area, but have heard equally depressing horror stories about the commute up 95 and/or VRE.

So, it really bothers me that some eco-crunchy judgemental biatch is talking about "sustainability." Don't get after me, but get after your public administrators to build more public transportation infrustructure!

I'm not eco-crunchy. And I'm not pretending every decision I make is evaluated for its environmental impact, but choosing a long commute, by car, is a big one, and when you say it's a personal decision where you live and how long your commute is, it is only fair to point out that that is not true. Your decision not only affects your own family in a negative way (even if there are other positives), which was my primary point, but it also affects the planet. I know this is not a popular thing to point out, but that doesn't make it less true. It's all about priorities, and in my opinion, more space is not a good reason to choose a long daily drive. I get that you and many others disagree, and that's fine. But don't pretend your decision only affects your family.

And I don't have $1M either. I significantly scaled back my expectations regarding the size of my home and also regarding my disposable income after paying the mortgage, and make it work. I have different priorities, and yes, I believe they are more respectful of everybody's resources. The people who think this way are still in the minority (which is why people can come here can call me and those who agreed "nuts"), but they are growing.

Who knew that resources belong to everyone? When can we take your child's slot at school or move into your home?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, it's not dumb. Some folks just prefer to raise their children with more grass and peace and quiet vs. commotion and pollution. The choice is OP's. Others prefer convenience over those things.

Ha, funny. You mean the pollution in the city that is created by all the people who live in Great Falls and drive 2-4 hours to the city everyday?

So true. The lack of awareness is impressive.

You eco people are a joke. Such hypocrites. Move to Seattle if you want to be eco-friendly.

Oh but wait, do you ever take an airplane? Leisure travel leaves a big heavy carbon footprint! Stay at home. Heat your house with your body heat only. Eat only vegetables. Processing and farming animal protein is harmful to the environment. Don't eat fish; not sustainable.

Organic produce is less efficient that non-organic and has a bigger carbon foot print.

But I guess you probably shop at Whole Foods.

Get over it, people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, have you really found a place where feds can afford a home, where the schools are good, and kids have an open space to play? If so, can I hijack the thread momentarily to get more information on where this place is? I have heard of Great Falls, but only the parks. I actually thought it was in MD (where the Billy Goat trail is), but this sounds like VA. In all seriousness, can you please share some more info?

Another highjacker here. I too, would like to know. I moved to the DMV from Memphis, TN where average home prices are in the low 200K range. DH works in Alexandria and I work in Rockville. We currently live in Sterling, VA and would love to move closer in to Great Falls. We searched and haven't even found a crack house for less that 500K.

You won't find it in Great Falls. Only farther out. Haymarket, Warrenton, Purcellville. Maybe Herndon? But you're already out there, sort of. If you're in Rockville, try Poolesville? Not helpful for Alexandria, though.

Yeah we would have loved GF, but our price range was similar and nothing ever came up. We have some friends who bought a fixer-upper on a great plot of land for over 650k. Ah well. We found something small but close in, which works well for us at the moment but eventually we hope to move out to some fresh air and space. We actually quite liked the look and feel of Poolesville and it was Marc accessible, but inventory was low and we didnt find anything that was a good fit for us.

[Montana]

Anonymous wrote:OP Here. We found some really nice homes with lots of space/yard in Great Falls area for under $1 million. They are not mansions by any means, but have four bedrooms, 2-3 baths, two-car garage, some even have 1/2 acre land. They do need some updating, but we don't need fancy bathrooms. Just more space and some fresh air for the kids and pets. Not much in the $500k range, but some are in the $700s.

Hi OP. I used to live in GFalls, now I live in McLean. My comments will try to avoid which school system is better, the good earth, pollution, politics, etc. You need more space, and you will find it in GFalls, and, even within McLean. You just need to be patient and nimble. One caveat: if you live in the western part of GFalls, and your kids go to public, they will be on a bus for like an hour each way. And, given how young your kids are, there is a risk of re-districting in that part of GFalls, which may end up having kids shipped to Herndon, South Lakes, etc. While I am pro GFalls, we moved to be closer to the high school - even that trip, now, could take an hour each way if you need to pick them up or drop them off. Who knows how long it could be when your kids are old enough for hs.

Back to the commute: if you can get on the road BEFORE 6AM, it is pretty easy. Same as coming home: if you can leave before 4PM frequently, it will be okay. Otherwise, expect a nightmare every night, and it may not seem that bad. But the drive is tiring. I would really work hard to save a little more, work it hard, search diligently, and you will find something closer. We did. Feel free to msg me if you want add'l details.

[Anonymous]

Montana wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP Here. We found some really nice homes with lots of space/yard in Great Falls area for under $1 million. They are not mansions by any means, but have four bedrooms, 2-3 baths, two-car garage, some even have 1/2 acre land. They do need some updating, but we don't need fancy bathrooms. Just more space and some fresh air for the kids and pets. Not much in the $500k range, but some are in the $700s.

Hi OP. I used to live in GFalls, now I live in McLean. My comments will try to avoid which school system is better, the good earth, pollution, politics, etc. You need more space, and you will find it in GFalls, and, even within McLean. You just need to be patient and nimble. One caveat: if you live in the western part of GFalls, and your kids go to public, they will be on a bus for like an hour each way. And, given how young your kids are, there is a risk of re-districting in that part of GFalls, which may end up having kids shipped to Herndon, South Lakes, etc. While I am pro GFalls, we moved to be closer to the high school - even that trip, now, could take an hour each way if you need to pick them up or drop them off. Who knows how long it could be when your kids are old enough for hs.

Back to the commute: if you can get on the road BEFORE 6AM, it is pretty easy. Same as coming home: if you can leave before 4PM frequently, it will be okay. Otherwise, expect a nightmare every night, and it may not seem that bad. But the drive is tiring. I would really work hard to save a little more, work it hard, search diligently, and you will find something closer. We did. Feel free to msg me if you want add'l details.

One comment about the schools - right now, FCPS is projecting that most schools in the Langley pyramid will be under-enrolled in the coming years. This is a function of some of the Langley neighborhoods aging and more people now preferring closer-in and/or more Metro-accessible areas. Over the next decade, the odds of getting redistricted into Langley are greater than the odds of getting moved out of Langley. The county does plan to build another high school in western Fairfax, but it will take years for that to happen. When that occurs, there is a chance that some Great Falls neigborhoods could get moved to Herndon or South Lakes, if some of the students zoned for those schools get moved to the new school, but people in the Langley district seem to be pretty good at avoiding the types of boundary changes that affect others.