Where to live in MoCo for a Suburb Hater?

[Anonymous]

The 600k houses are very small but may be worth it for the better schools.

[Anonymous]

It's a dilemma for me because my children deserve a good education, safety, a comfortable existence so they can grow up happily.

p.s. All children deserve these things. Your kids are lucky that they seem to have them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i have always tried to avoid snarky and not helpful responses on this board, but OP's attitude really bothers me. OP, you asked for honest, so here it is: please, continue your search for utopia in moco or the like -- leave arlington to those of us who don't waste our time worrying about about the purity of our neighbors' political views or charitable contributions (and perhaps if you stopped spending your time discussing how superior you are to all of your neighbors you would have time to research it as an option).

I have smart kids and nice stuff. I just don't have that 'I'm better than you' attitude.

Yes you do, you just don't base it on money. Your "I'm better than you" attitude is the worst of all, actually, because no one benefits from it. when you grow up, you might realize that charities will take, appreciate, and use your rich-but-unenlightened contributions regardless of whether it is only lip service. and yes, while it would be great for all kids to want to devote time and attention to the homeless with some frequency, your average homeless person doesn't care if a kid shows up once a day or once a year to pass out soup -- he just wants a meal.

your clueless sanctimony may be the reason you've never liked any of the places you have lived. do those of us in the dc metro area a favor and stay put.

You couldn't have said it better, poster. Another NoVa mom here who worked for years in Africa and is pretty down to earth. We work hard to have a good life, nothing extraordinary, and we do give to charity because we feel it in our hearts. Diversity? Well, I'm a foreigner, we have a portugese, a serbian, and two iranian families in our cul-de-sac, but, we (SHAME!) live here because of the quality of schools and the standard of living. We're pretty happy with our decision and the urban feel is just 25 minutes away. Surely, some folks in certain pockets are a bit snooty, but I've not yet met a more snooty and judgemental person than the OP. I think my kid would be more harmed if he lived near someone like her than by living in an "unreal" suburb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kensington- seems like there is a "rich" part and a more diverse part and the more expensive part feeds into better schools. Frustrating for those of us who can't afford to pay 800k+ for a house.

Which are the Kensington better schools? Parkwood area seems to have lots of $600K (small) houses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kensington- seems like there is a "rich" part and a more diverse part and the more expensive part feeds into better schools. Frustrating for those of us who can't afford to pay 800k+ for a house.

Which are the Kensington better schools? Parkwood area seems to have lots of $600K (small) houses.

Kensington Parkwood Elementary

[Anonymous]

oh lord, this is just about the dumbest thread I've ever read on DCUM. OP is obviously trolling -- the words "suburb hater" would inflame half this board. And who cares about her idiotic quest for an urban utopia in suburbia? She hates her neighbors, but why does that make her special? I'd love it if she moved in next door to me (in Alexandria). Whiny, miserable people don't realize how amusing they can be. Move on in, babe. We got good schools here, don't worry (I wouldn't want her kids to be deprived; I'm not that evil). Don't waste your time on DC public schools. You'll love DC, but you won't have anything to hate there, so give it up girl, and come on home to the 'burbs.

[Anonymous]

I would love to live in Kensington Parkwood district and there are $600k homes there but I don't think we could afford it. How much are people making to afford these homes? It's frustrating that that is what it takes to be in a good school district within Mont. Co. and that that is the lower end for a good school district. (I'm not the OP btw, I think she is coming from out of the area?)

[Anonymous]

What is a UMC suburb?

We live near Woodlin elementary school in Silver Spring, which is supposed to be wonderful. (My son is not school-age yet.) There are a few other excellent elementary schools nearby.

[Anonymous]

Upper Middle Class, I think.

[Anonymous]

OP, I understand your points and even sympathize with some of them. I live in NW DC and would love to move to the suburbs of MoCo for the schools but cannot join the car culture. Part of it is that I grew up in a city and WALKED everywhere and cannot imagine the shlep factor of not living near everything (school, stores, church, friends, etc).

All that being said, you are not going to find what you need AND want. And if you are looking for LESS competition and LESS snobbery, I would venture to say that you SHOULD move out to MoCO (where I have the moms to be kinder and slightly less competitive than inside the district). But really, people do not change that much. Everyone here is pretty on top of the gifted kid shit and the over scheduled kid and the development ridiculousness and the private school drama! (Check out the private school boards, completely insane).

If you feel the need to really live in urban lifestyle, look at Capitol Hill or near Catholic University. But you will sacrifice other things.

You seem to be especially harsh when it comes to your present neighbors, and I can understand how it can start to look like the Stepford Wives, but you should really look at people individually and then get busy living your own life. If you want urban, than do it but do nto complain about the crime or lack of convenience or school.

My DH and I would love to move for better schools, but we simply love our neighborhood. We are ready to sacrifice (for now). You need to decide what you really want (for now) and be okay with changing your mind.