Bowie rocks! Why isn't it more popular?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
This is total nonsense. We have to live with... what, exactly, in PG? What kind of "chaos" could there possibly be in Bowie? What on earth are you talking about with "stress and conflict?" Are you guys so fragile that you cannot bear the thought of living in an adjacent neighborhood to... gasp... poor people? What kind of ridiculous bullshit is that? You guys realize that most of the working class and poor people in this area are completely and totally normal and law-abiding, right? Also, none of this seems to impact Washington, D.C., which is full of homeless people and crime. That is much more "stress and conflict" than what people in Northern PG are experiencing.

And let's not pretend that Virginia and Montgomery County are heaven. I lived in Montgomery County, and where I live now is nicer. My coworker lives in Alexandria and has been hearing gunshots during the night. And let's not pretend that there aren't pockets of working class people throughout the region. And there is NOTHING wrong with that. All people deserve to live in safe communities with decent schools.

I live adjacent to Bowie, in Lanham, an arguably "poorer" community, and let me tell you guys a little secret: it's pretty damn nice, and cheap. My house, which is beautiful and would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars more in almost any part of the surrounding region, is paid off. Our area is quiet and has little crime, and is getting more stores and less crime with each passing year. I take the MARC train to my job in DC and get to work in 35-45 minutes, stress free, metro free, every day. And there's a MARC stop in Bowie too. I pay for parochial school tuition, and my child is in a class with 12 other kids, which is not bad at all. I get to fully fund my 401k and 529 and go on vacation. I have a degree of financial freedom at my 140k hhi that most of you dream about.

And you know what else? People in PG County are more friendly and courteous than anywhere else in the region. It's not some sort of utopia but it's pretty pleasant for a densely populated suburb. And yes, the vast majority of people are black and Hispanic. I guess if you don't want to live in a majority minority neighborhood, you are getting what you want elsewhere. I call the prices you are paying the "black people tax." But let's not pretend that where you live is actually better, it's not. There is no chaos here. Just a Wegmans.

Please explain why you don't want your child to attend public school with the children of these completely and totally normal, law-abiding, friendly, courteous, non-chaotic people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Haha, yes because google maps says it's 45 minutes NOW. At 8pm on a Sunday. You know that means 75 minutes there and 90 minutes home during the week. Awful to give up that much of your life.

You can get to Baltimore in 90 minutes, just say in', so your numbers are definitely off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am skeptical about that commute time!

Deeply skeptical. Don't be a sucker. Nothing says I'm a loser who couldn't cut it more than Bowie. Well, maybe Centreville or Manassas.

Yes, wouldn't you rather be neighbors with THIS person? She's probably a dream to share a driveway with!

I have my own driveway.

Well bless your heart. Your neighbors sure are lucky folks.

I agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This is total nonsense. We have to live with... what, exactly, in PG? What kind of "chaos" could there possibly be in Bowie? What on earth are you talking about with "stress and conflict?" Are you guys so fragile that you cannot bear the thought of living in an adjacent neighborhood to... gasp... poor people? What kind of ridiculous bullshit is that? You guys realize that most of the working class and poor people in this area are completely and totally normal and law-abiding, right? Also, none of this seems to impact Washington, D.C., which is full of homeless people and crime. That is much more "stress and conflict" than what people in Northern PG are experiencing.

And let's not pretend that Virginia and Montgomery County are heaven. I lived in Montgomery County, and where I live now is nicer. My coworker lives in Alexandria and has been hearing gunshots during the night. And let's not pretend that there aren't pockets of working class people throughout the region. And there is NOTHING wrong with that. All people deserve to live in safe communities with decent schools.

I live adjacent to Bowie, in Lanham, an arguably "poorer" community, and let me tell you guys a little secret: it's pretty damn nice, and cheap. My house, which is beautiful and would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars more in almost any part of the surrounding region, is paid off. Our area is quiet and has little crime, and is getting more stores and less crime with each passing year. I take the MARC train to my job in DC and get to work in 35-45 minutes, stress free, metro free, every day. And there's a MARC stop in Bowie too. I pay for parochial school tuition, and my child is in a class with 12 other kids, which is not bad at all. I get to fully fund my 401k and 529 and go on vacation. I have a degree of financial freedom at my 140k hhi that most of you dream about.

And you know what else? People in PG County are more friendly and courteous than anywhere else in the region. It's not some sort of utopia but it's pretty pleasant for a densely populated suburb. And yes, the vast majority of people are black and Hispanic. I guess if you don't want to live in a majority minority neighborhood, you are getting what you want elsewhere. I call the prices you are paying the "black people tax." But let's not pretend that where you live is actually better, it's not. There is no chaos here. Just a Wegmans.

Please explain why you don't want your child to attend public school with the children of these completely and totally normal, law-abiding, friendly, courteous, non-chaotic people.

Because she's in preschool, but we may just stay with the school. I personally like that it offers language immersion and Christian education. Or not. I've researched the public school and visited and I am comfortable with it.

[Anonymous]

No one says "parochial" in reference to a preschool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one says "parochial" in reference to a preschool.

Not pp, but of course they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This is total nonsense. We have to live with... what, exactly, in PG? What kind of "chaos" could there possibly be in Bowie? What on earth are you talking about with "stress and conflict?" Are you guys so fragile that you cannot bear the thought of living in an adjacent neighborhood to... gasp... poor people? What kind of ridiculous bullshit is that? You guys realize that most of the working class and poor people in this area are completely and totally normal and law-abiding, right? Also, none of this seems to impact Washington, D.C., which is full of homeless people and crime. That is much more "stress and conflict" than what people in Northern PG are experiencing.

And let's not pretend that Virginia and Montgomery County are heaven. I lived in Montgomery County, and where I live now is nicer. My coworker lives in Alexandria and has been hearing gunshots during the night. And let's not pretend that there aren't pockets of working class people throughout the region. And there is NOTHING wrong with that. All people deserve to live in safe communities with decent schools.

I live adjacent to Bowie, in Lanham, an arguably "poorer" community, and let me tell you guys a little secret: it's pretty damn nice, and cheap. My house, which is beautiful and would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars more in almost any part of the surrounding region, is paid off. Our area is quiet and has little crime, and is getting more stores and less crime with each passing year. I take the MARC train to my job in DC and get to work in 35-45 minutes, stress free, metro free, every day. And there's a MARC stop in Bowie too. I pay for parochial school tuition, and my child is in a class with 12 other kids, which is not bad at all. I get to fully fund my 401k and 529 and go on vacation. I have a degree of financial freedom at my 140k hhi that most of you dream about.

And you know what else? People in PG County are more friendly and courteous than anywhere else in the region. It's not some sort of utopia but it's pretty pleasant for a densely populated suburb. And yes, the vast majority of people are black and Hispanic. I guess if you don't want to live in a majority minority neighborhood, you are getting what you want elsewhere. I call the prices you are paying the "black people tax." But let's not pretend that where you live is actually better, it's not. There is no chaos here. Just a Wegmans.

Please explain why you don't want your child to attend public school with the children of these completely and totally normal, law-abiding, friendly, courteous, non-chaotic people.

Because she's in preschool, but we may just stay with the school. I personally like that it offers language immersion and Christian education. Or not. I've researched the public school and visited and I am comfortable with it.

Oh, and to add, I guess that there is an insinuation here that it is hypocritical to live in a poor area but not send your children to public schools, and... that's really bizarre. I am willing to pay money for a better school experience just like the people all over the region, with smaller classes, less testing, language immersion, and aspects of character education and Christian education incorporated into the curriculum. Nonetheless it was a decision I agonized over quite a bit, until I decided it was worth it to try preschool and see if it was a good experience or go back to the public school. DH also very strongly preferred the Catholic school. But our neighbors' children have attended public school and I am very impressed at how poised and polite they are. I am making this area work for me and it is working very well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one says "parochial" in reference to a preschool.

+1 your post is misleading when you then divulge your child is in preschool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one says "parochial" in reference to a preschool.

+1 your post is misleading when you then divulge your child is in preschool.

What is misleading here? The characteristics of the particular school are the same whether it is pre k or 2nd grade. The one pp thought they had a "gotcha," but they really didn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one says "parochial" in reference to a preschool.

+1 your post is misleading when you then divulge your child is in preschool.

What is misleading here? The characteristics of the particular school are the same whether it is pre k or 2nd grade. The one pp thought they had a "gotcha," but they really didn't.

You pointed out your child is in class with 12 other kids as if that's a benefit - it's absolutely standard for a preschool class and you weren't being upfront about that. That's why people are taking issue with your post.

[Anonymous]

Lanham is a real ghetto. Far worse than Bowie! Omg, you couldn't pay me live there!!

[Anonymous]

Bowie also has its own police force to supplement the County. All they do is drive around constantly to prevent property crime and provide a police presence. and the parks are phenomenal.

For the person that likes to ride metro, you can park at the park n ride and take a direct bus to metro or park at metro (10-15 min drive) and then metro in in 20-30 minutes. That's what I did and always got a seat, which was nice for work. The commute was equAl to my commute from MOnt Co. If I worked at capital hill or l'enfant, commute from Bowie would definitely be shorter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bowie also has its own police force to supplement the County. All they do is drive around constantly to prevent property crime and provide a police presence. and the parks are phenomenal.

For the person that likes to ride metro, you can park at the park n ride and take a direct bus to metro or park at metro (10-15 min drive) and then metro in in 20-30 minutes. That's what I did and always got a seat, which was nice for work. The commute was equAl to my commute from MOnt Co. If I worked at capital hill or l'enfant, commute from Bowie would definitely be shorter.

That person wanted to WALK, not drive or drive and ride a bus to the metro.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because it's a small middle class section of a community that is surrounded by large pockets of working class/lower class people who don't have the same resources, and this can cause some stress and conflict. The more uniiform people's lives are, the nicer the community. If you are living in chaos due to economics, you bring that into your community- and the higher functioning people have to just live with it.

This is total nonsense. We have to live with... what, exactly, in PG? What kind of "chaos" could there possibly be in Bowie? What on earth are you talking about with "stress and conflict?" Are you guys so fragile that you cannot bear the thought of living in an adjacent neighborhood to... gasp... poor people? What kind of ridiculous bullshit is that? You guys realize that most of the working class and poor people in this area are completely and totally normal and law-abiding, right? Also, none of this seems to impact Washington, D.C., which is full of homeless people and crime. That is much more "stress and conflict" than what people in Northern PG are experiencing.

And let's not pretend that Virginia and Montgomery County are heaven. I lived in Montgomery County, and where I live now is nicer. My coworker lives in Alexandria and has been hearing gunshots during the night. And let's not pretend that there aren't pockets of working class people throughout the region. And there is NOTHING wrong with that. All people deserve to live in safe communities with decent schools.

I live adjacent to Bowie, in Lanham, an arguably "poorer" community, and let me tell you guys a little secret: it's pretty damn nice, and cheap. My house, which is beautiful and would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars more in almost any part of the surrounding region, is paid off. Our area is quiet and has little crime, and is getting more stores and less crime with each passing year. I take the MARC train to my job in DC and get to work in 35-45 minutes, stress free, metro free, every day. And there's a MARC stop in Bowie too. I pay for parochial school tuition, and my child is in a class with 12 other kids, which is not bad at all. I get to fully fund my 401k and 529 and go on vacation. I have a degree of financial freedom at my 140k hhi that most of you dream about.

And you know what else? People in PG County are more friendly and courteous than anywhere else in the region. It's not some sort of utopia but it's pretty pleasant for a densely populated suburb. And yes, the vast majority of people are black and Hispanic. I guess if you don't want to live in a majority minority neighborhood, you are getting what you want elsewhere. I call the prices you are paying the "black people tax." But let's not pretend that where you live is actually better, it's not. There is no chaos here. Just a Wegmans.

This makes me want to consider Lanham when we start looking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one says "parochial" in reference to a preschool.

+1 your post is misleading when you then divulge your child is in preschool.

NP. That's ridiculous. What should the poster say if her kid is attending a parochial school? It is my understanding PGC doesn't offer public school for preschoolers. Perhaps it's the family's intent to keep the kid all the way through.