If you moved to the suburbs to raise a family…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's seems odd that some posters think there's a "right answer" here when there are so many variables, including just these few:

Where in the suburbs are we talking about? In the DMV there are big differences between, say, Lyon Village in Arlington, Reston, and Herndon. Those differences include walkability, access to public transit and bike trails, driving distance to "city" (this also needs to be defined).

Does your city offer a mix of restaurants you like, theaters or places to hear music that you enjoy?

How long have you lived in your suburb? Are you friends with neighbors? Do you participate in community activities there that you enjoy and find meaningful and would miss if you moved to the city?

Do you use and enjoy rec facilities in your suburb? Would you be able to find affordable and accessible substitutes for these facilities in the city?

Do you want to have extra space in your home for an office (e.g., if you're doing consulting work), or hobby?

Do you like gardening and enjoy your yard, porch, patio, etc?

Do you have a dog and want to be able to walk the dog?

Do you enjoy hosting your adult kids, grandchildren, and extended family and friends from out of town?

And then you went on to insinuate what the right answer was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's seems odd that some posters think there's a "right answer" here when there are so many variables, including just these few:

Where in the suburbs are we talking about? In the DMV there are big differences between, say, Lyon Village in Arlington, Reston, and Herndon. Those differences include walkability, access to public transit and bike trails, driving distance to "city" (this also needs to be defined).

Does your city offer a mix of restaurants you like, theaters or places to hear music that you enjoy?

How long have you lived in your suburb? Are you friends with neighbors? Do you participate in community activities there that you enjoy and find meaningful and would miss if you moved to the city?

Do you use and enjoy rec facilities in your suburb? Would you be able to find affordable and accessible substitutes for these facilities in the city?

Do you want to have extra space in your home for an office (e.g., if you're doing consulting work), or hobby?

Do you like gardening and enjoy your yard, porch, patio, etc?

Do you have a dog and want to be able to walk the dog?

Do you enjoy hosting your adult kids, grandchildren, and extended family and friends from out of town?

And then you went on to insinuate what the right answer was.

Exactly. Because people in the city can’t walk their dogs, be active, or have family visit? What in the
Stepford is this nonsense??!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's seems odd that some posters think there's a "right answer" here when there are so many variables, including just these few:

Where in the suburbs are we talking about? In the DMV there are big differences between, say, Lyon Village in Arlington, Reston, and Herndon. Those differences include walkability, access to public transit and bike trails, driving distance to "city" (this also needs to be defined).

Does your city offer a mix of restaurants you like, theaters or places to hear music that you enjoy?

How long have you lived in your suburb? Are you friends with neighbors? Do you participate in community activities there that you enjoy and find meaningful and would miss if you moved to the city?

Do you use and enjoy rec facilities in your suburb? Would you be able to find affordable and accessible substitutes for these facilities in the city?

Do you want to have extra space in your home for an office (e.g., if you're doing consulting work), or hobby?

Do you like gardening and enjoy your yard, porch, patio, etc?

Do you have a dog and want to be able to walk the dog?

Do you enjoy hosting your adult kids, grandchildren, and extended family and friends from out of town?

And then you went on to insinuate what the right answer was.

That's my perspective, yes, but I'm not suggesting it's the right answer for anyone else. I'm just listing some factors that might be worth considering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's seems odd that some posters think there's a "right answer" here when there are so many variables, including just these few:

Where in the suburbs are we talking about? In the DMV there are big differences between, say, Lyon Village in Arlington, Reston, and Herndon. Those differences include walkability, access to public transit and bike trails, driving distance to "city" (this also needs to be defined).

Does your city offer a mix of restaurants you like, theaters or places to hear music that you enjoy?

How long have you lived in your suburb? Are you friends with neighbors? Do you participate in community activities there that you enjoy and find meaningful and would miss if you moved to the city?

Do you use and enjoy rec facilities in your suburb? Would you be able to find affordable and accessible substitutes for these facilities in the city?

Do you want to have extra space in your home for an office (e.g., if you're doing consulting work), or hobby?

Do you like gardening and enjoy your yard, porch, patio, etc?

Do you have a dog and want to be able to walk the dog?

Do you enjoy hosting your adult kids, grandchildren, and extended family and friends from out of town?

And then you went on to insinuate what the right answer was.

That's my perspective, yes, but I'm not suggesting it's the right answer for anyone else. I'm just listing some factors that might be worth considering.

But your factors are really stupid. You seem to assume that many of them can't be easily done in the city and that's ridiculous.

People in the city can't walk a dog, enjoy their front porch or garden, can't have a home office, can't find "rec facilities" and can't have family visit???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's seems odd that some posters think there's a "right answer" here when there are so many variables, including just these few:

Where in the suburbs are we talking about? In the DMV there are big differences between, say, Lyon Village in Arlington, Reston, and Herndon. Those differences include walkability, access to public transit and bike trails, driving distance to "city" (this also needs to be defined).

Does your city offer a mix of restaurants you like, theaters or places to hear music that you enjoy?

How long have you lived in your suburb? Are you friends with neighbors? Do you participate in community activities there that you enjoy and find meaningful and would miss if you moved to the city?

Do you use and enjoy rec facilities in your suburb? Would you be able to find affordable and accessible substitutes for these facilities in the city?

Do you want to have extra space in your home for an office (e.g., if you're doing consulting work), or hobby?

Do you like gardening and enjoy your yard, porch, patio, etc?

Do you have a dog and want to be able to walk the dog?

Do you enjoy hosting your adult kids, grandchildren, and extended family and friends from out of town?

And then you went on to insinuate what the right answer was.

That's my perspective, yes, but I'm not suggesting it's the right answer for anyone else. I'm just listing some factors that might be worth considering.

I applaud the intent, but your factors and entire framing are incredibly biased. Do recognize that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's seems odd that some posters think there's a "right answer" here when there are so many variables, including just these few:

Where in the suburbs are we talking about? In the DMV there are big differences between, say, Lyon Village in Arlington, Reston, and Herndon. Those differences include walkability, access to public transit and bike trails, driving distance to "city" (this also needs to be defined).

Does your city offer a mix of restaurants you like, theaters or places to hear music that you enjoy?

How long have you lived in your suburb? Are you friends with neighbors? Do you participate in community activities there that you enjoy and find meaningful and would miss if you moved to the city?

Do you use and enjoy rec facilities in your suburb? Would you be able to find affordable and accessible substitutes for these facilities in the city?

Do you want to have extra space in your home for an office (e.g., if you're doing consulting work), or hobby?

Do you like gardening and enjoy your yard, porch, patio, etc?

Do you have a dog and want to be able to walk the dog?

Do you enjoy hosting your adult kids, grandchildren, and extended family and friends from out of town?

And then you went on to insinuate what the right answer was.

That's my perspective, yes, but I'm not suggesting it's the right answer for anyone else. I'm just listing some factors that might be worth considering.

But your factors are really stupid. You seem to assume that many of them can't be easily done in the city and that's ridiculous.

People in the city can't walk a dog, enjoy their front porch or garden, can't have a home office, can't find "rec facilities" and can't have family visit???

NP- I've lived in cities, burbs and countryside and the things op listed are much easier when you have a house aside from rec facilities depending on your building (that was easier for me in city). But taking the elevator down to walk the dog at 6am rather than just opening the door? Yes, that's a pita. Hosting too is much harder in a small space, and I did not have a home office in my apartment because I could not afford a three bedroom. Some of these considerations are important depending on budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's seems odd that some posters think there's a "right answer" here when there are so many variables, including just these few:

Where in the suburbs are we talking about? In the DMV there are big differences between, say, Lyon Village in Arlington, Reston, and Herndon. Those differences include walkability, access to public transit and bike trails, driving distance to "city" (this also needs to be defined).

Does your city offer a mix of restaurants you like, theaters or places to hear music that you enjoy?

How long have you lived in your suburb? Are you friends with neighbors? Do you participate in community activities there that you enjoy and find meaningful and would miss if you moved to the city?

Do you use and enjoy rec facilities in your suburb? Would you be able to find affordable and accessible substitutes for these facilities in the city?

Do you want to have extra space in your home for an office (e.g., if you're doing consulting work), or hobby?

Do you like gardening and enjoy your yard, porch, patio, etc?

Do you have a dog and want to be able to walk the dog?

Do you enjoy hosting your adult kids, grandchildren, and extended family and friends from out of town?

And then you went on to insinuate what the right answer was.

That's my perspective, yes, but I'm not suggesting it's the right answer for anyone else. I'm just listing some factors that might be worth considering.

But your factors are really stupid. You seem to assume that many of them can't be easily done in the city and that's ridiculous.

People in the city can't walk a dog, enjoy their front porch or garden, can't have a home office, can't find "rec facilities" and can't have family visit???

NP- I've lived in cities, burbs and countryside and the things op listed are much easier when you have a house aside from rec facilities depending on your building (that was easier for me in city). But taking the elevator down to walk the dog at 6am rather than just opening the door? Yes, that's a pita. Hosting too is much harder in a small space, and I did not have a home office in my apartment because I could not afford a three bedroom. Some of these considerations are important depending on budget.

Part of what is going on here, I suspect, is that the forum has been taken over by New Yorkers and when the discussion turns to "city" posters think Manhattan. But this is a DC BASED website.

We live in the core of DC in a row home. We don't live in an apartment with an elevator. We have a dog, a porch, a garden, room for a home office -- and even a parking space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi, OP. We made the move to downtown when our youngest was a year or two into college. They laid a major guilt trip on us at first, but when it started to work with my spouse I put my foot down and let them know in no uncertain terms that it was our time now and they needed to get with the program and they did.

Fast forward more than a decade and it's as if we never lived in the 'burbs. We love it here and so do our now adult children. We're very happy with our decision.

A few posters are saying that the "close in suburbs" are just as good. Nope. They're still the 'burbs and throwing in a few extra shops and restaurants doesn't really change the vibe or add any real excitement and vigor to the change. If you're going to make the change -- and you really should -- you should dive all the way in.

Downtown as in DC? Aren't you worried about traffic, parking, safety, etc?

I would like to move out the suburbs to "City life" but I don't think DC would ever be our place to retire even though my husband works in DC and I work in Alexandria. (Yes, we both commute 1hr+ to work daily)

90% of all DC crime happens in parts of NE and SE that are far from downtown DC.

Own a home with a driveway / garage if you worry about parking…the reason you live in the city is to walk to most activities and use metro for the others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's seems odd that some posters think there's a "right answer" here when there are so many variables, including just these few:

Where in the suburbs are we talking about? In the DMV there are big differences between, say, Lyon Village in Arlington, Reston, and Herndon. Those differences include walkability, access to public transit and bike trails, driving distance to "city" (this also needs to be defined).

Does your city offer a mix of restaurants you like, theaters or places to hear music that you enjoy?

How long have you lived in your suburb? Are you friends with neighbors? Do you participate in community activities there that you enjoy and find meaningful and would miss if you moved to the city?

Do you use and enjoy rec facilities in your suburb? Would you be able to find affordable and accessible substitutes for these facilities in the city?

Do you want to have extra space in your home for an office (e.g., if you're doing consulting work), or hobby?

Do you like gardening and enjoy your yard, porch, patio, etc?

Do you have a dog and want to be able to walk the dog?

Do you enjoy hosting your adult kids, grandchildren, and extended family and friends from out of town?

The only place in the DMV outside of DC itself that comes close to qualifying as "city" living is Old Town Alexandria. Lyon Village is not the city.

Bethesda qualifies…and it’s much easier to get into the heart of DC as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's seems odd that some posters think there's a "right answer" here when there are so many variables, including just these few:

Where in the suburbs are we talking about? In the DMV there are big differences between, say, Lyon Village in Arlington, Reston, and Herndon. Those differences include walkability, access to public transit and bike trails, driving distance to "city" (this also needs to be defined).

Does your city offer a mix of restaurants you like, theaters or places to hear music that you enjoy?

How long have you lived in your suburb? Are you friends with neighbors? Do you participate in community activities there that you enjoy and find meaningful and would miss if you moved to the city?

Do you use and enjoy rec facilities in your suburb? Would you be able to find affordable and accessible substitutes for these facilities in the city?

Do you want to have extra space in your home for an office (e.g., if you're doing consulting work), or hobby?

Do you like gardening and enjoy your yard, porch, patio, etc?

Do you have a dog and want to be able to walk the dog?

Do you enjoy hosting your adult kids, grandchildren, and extended family and friends from out of town?

The only place in the DMV outside of DC itself that comes close to qualifying as "city" living is Old Town Alexandria. Lyon Village is not the city.

Bethesda qualifies…and it’s much easier to get into the heart of DC as well.

If Bethesda "qualified" then it wouldn't matter that from Bethesda "it's much easier to get into the heart of DC."

Because Bethesda doesn't "qualify." Living in Bethesda is not "city living."

[Anonymous]

Interesting topic and one that my wife and I have had brief conversations about. DD is off to college in 2027 and while DS is now at home going to school locally, he'll be moving on as well in the next few years. Current house really is way more than we need.

Not in the DC metro area, but I get it. I grew up in suburb that bordered the city of Pittsburgh and it was such a different experience that what my kids have had and we are dealing with today.

We could walk everywhere and actually get to places - school, park w/ community pool, friends houses, grocery store, local shops, restaurants etc. All of that was no more than a 10 or 15 minute walk away. I could walk to the top of my neighborhood street and catch a bus into Pittsburgh. Now, everywhere is a car ride, no matter what you want to do.

I'd love to get back to that kind of arrangement. While what I experienced was not "true" city living, it was much more like that than what we are dealing with today.

[Anonymous]

I really do think cities have changed. My city of the early 2000s is now all about fancy yoga and $15 juices and the same high end stores as everywhere else. It used to feel like a real place with real people of all income levels and ages, sweet cashiers at the supermarket who knew you by name, quirky people. Now everything is about the UMC consumer and their wants and needs. Is DC that way too? Have not been in a long time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's seems odd that some posters think there's a "right answer" here when there are so many variables, including just these few:

Where in the suburbs are we talking about? In the DMV there are big differences between, say, Lyon Village in Arlington, Reston, and Herndon. Those differences include walkability, access to public transit and bike trails, driving distance to "city" (this also needs to be defined).

Does your city offer a mix of restaurants you like, theaters or places to hear music that you enjoy?

How long have you lived in your suburb? Are you friends with neighbors? Do you participate in community activities there that you enjoy and find meaningful and would miss if you moved to the city?

Do you use and enjoy rec facilities in your suburb? Would you be able to find affordable and accessible substitutes for these facilities in the city?

Do you want to have extra space in your home for an office (e.g., if you're doing consulting work), or hobby?

Do you like gardening and enjoy your yard, porch, patio, etc?

Do you have a dog and want to be able to walk the dog?

Do you enjoy hosting your adult kids, grandchildren, and extended family and friends from out of town?

The only place in the DMV outside of DC itself that comes close to qualifying as "city" living is Old Town Alexandria. Lyon Village is not the city.

Bethesda qualifies…and it’s much easier to get into the heart of DC as well.

If Bethesda "qualified" then it wouldn't matter that from Bethesda "it's much easier to get into the heart of DC."

Because Bethesda doesn't "qualify." Living in Bethesda is not "city living."

This^. I would go for Capitol Hill as Georgetown housing is out of my budget and it doesn't offer metro.

[Anonymous]

I feel when more empty nesters people would move to the city, better it would get for families as well.

[Anonymous]

We were walking in city last night near our old apartment and realized how much we miss that life of just going down stairs and feeling like a part of it.