How can you NOT like living in DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's the people. I know -- lots of us are great. But we are all the same. In my upper-middle-class suburban hometown, there were lots of white-collar types, sure, doctors, lawyers, VPs at major corporations. But there was also...the guy who ran the soccer apparel store. The car dealership owner. The cafeteria aid. I went to school with all of their children. Around here, the people who fill these roles live in their own suburbs. At least in the nice DC neighborhoods, people aren't mixed together for a healthy sense of what life is.
I know that this is the case for a lot of major cities -- in high-density areas, people self-segregate. But DC also lacks the diversity typical of many cities. There aren't a lot of artists, for instance. Yeah...I know that instead we have people from all over the world, and rather than the car dealership owner's kids, my kids hang out with the kids of the guy with a prominent role at an important and unique NGO, or whatever. But that's fake diversity. When you get down to it, that guy is the same as a lawyer in terms of education, upbringing and life goals. A journalist is like a lobbyist (though they make a lot less.) Worldly, goal-oriented -- and at the end of the day, quite dull, when that's all there is.
Sorry, but you know I'm right.

Uh, you do realize not all of DC neighborhoods are like this? I'm fine with people not liking DC but what I find annoying is people citing characteristics of their particular neighborhood (eg transients, social climbers, self-important braggers) as if that were the only type of neighborhood in the city. Get out and see some other neighborhoods. You might be surprised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Too many lawyers, lobbyists and angry low income residents. And yes, I know that there are people who are not these things.

I live in a low-income neighborhood. The vast majority of them are not angry. Maybe try getting out more?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would love it if you could get to the beach or mountains in less than 3 hours. That is my single biggest complaint.

This summer has be lovely, but I will say that the summer of 2012, when it was like 104 on several days, nearly killed me.

We go to Harpers Ferry WV yearly, beautiful mountains and it's only a little over an hour away. Ocean city MD is right around 3 hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cost of living aside, it is WONDERFUL. However, cost of living really makes it pretty hard a lot of the time. If I could win the lottery, I would never leave

Really? I'd go back to the Bay Area if I won the lottery, in a heartbeat. I'd just leave all the furniture and food, and just pack up some personal belongings and say "see ya".

[Anonymous]

I only dislike the heat/humidity of the summer months.

If summer weather was as nice as it has been for the majority of this summer- I'd have no complaints at all!

Grew up here and lived in many different places---but as far as US cities/locations for raising kids, etc--I like this area the best.

[Anonymous]

The only good thing about this area is the economy. Traffic sucks, the people suck, the whole area is racist as fuck, sports team suck. The free museums are nice but our zoo sucks. Local parks mostly suck. And we are 2 hours from real beaches.

Their are certainly worse places but there isnt that much going for DC.

[Anonymous]

It's not rocket science. Not everyone likes the same thing. Look at the "most/least" favorite cities thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cost of living aside, it is WONDERFUL. However, cost of living really makes it pretty hard a lot of the time. If I could win the lottery, I would never leave

Really? I'd go back to the Bay Area if I won the lottery, in a heartbeat. I'd just leave all the furniture and food, and just pack up some personal belongings and say "see ya".

Bay area is consider douchebag central by most of the world. The only people that speak highly of it are from the bay area and left to survive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only good thing about this area is the economy. Traffic sucks, the people suck, the whole area is racist as fuck, sports team suck. The free museums are nice but our zoo sucks. Local parks mostly suck. And we are 2 hours from real beaches.

Their are certainly worse places but there isnt that much going for DC.

You are funny, this is the least racist area in the entire world. Have you lived anywhere else? I do agree that traffic sucks but it's cause everyone want to live here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't particularly like DC, and I love many cities around the world and in the US.

People don't like to admit it, but black-white relationships in DC are horrible. There is no middle class. The public schools are not good. The elitism of the NW residents has virtually no equal anywhere else in the US. The younger residents seem old before their time and just waiting to stop playing kickball and take up shuffleboard.

Some of the architecture is nice, but there is nothing that truly soars or inspires. The federal buildings are mostly bland. Once you've seen the monuments and museums once, that is enough. And, of course, the centers of government in DC are largely failures. Obama is feckless, Congress is worthless, and the Supreme Court is not remotely in tune with the lives of average Americans.

+1

[Anonymous]

I'd rather live in Chicago with the job opportunities I have in DC. But you can't have everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only good thing about this area is the economy. Traffic sucks, the people suck, the whole area is racist as fuck, sports team suck. The free museums are nice but our zoo sucks. Local parks mostly suck. And we are 2 hours from real beaches.

Their are certainly worse places but there isnt that much going for DC.

I agree that the traffic sucks, but I love this area. I'm curious about you thinking that DC is particularly racist. What places would you say are less racist?

I've lived in a lot of places, and DC is the only area I've seen where people of different races actually are friends and family. Most places, even if the people aren't racist, per se, they are pretty segregated. I'm not saying there's not racism here, mind you.

[Anonymous]

Where was the Ghanaian food? I want to try it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the folks that don't like living here. Cost of living aside it's an amazing city.

Great downtown. Not too big, enough greenery. Nice neighborhoods close to downtown. Good food, diverse with large international population, I had Ghanaian food the other night. 2 international airports, great schools. Where do you people want to live ? Atlanta? Charlotte? Chicago? Bleh. DC is amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the folks that don't like living here. Cost of living aside it's an amazing city.

Great downtown. Not too big, enough greenery. Nice neighborhoods close to downtown. Good food, diverse with large international population, I had Ghanaian food the other night. 2 international airports, great schools. Where do you people want to live ? Atlanta? Charlotte? Chicago? Bleh. DC is amazing.

I like DC but yeah I'd probably move to CLT if I could.