Out of control vacation expectations - (new to) Bethesda teens

[Anonymous]

Were you unaware that you moved in among rich people?

If I could, I would take more vacations.

[Anonymous]

This thread makes me happy that I live in a “poor” part of DCUMland. Less pressure to keep up with the Joneses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Were you unaware that you moved in among rich people?

If I could, I would take more vacations.

Um -- I lived somewhere comparable in NY and I imagine OP lived someplace comparable in Chicago, so don't act like there aren't rich people outside this area. But the desperation to run away every time there is a day off is definitely exclusive to this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just moved from Chicago to Bethesda this year for jobs. It was a good professional step for both of us and we decided that this was the last time we'd consider a move until kids were out of high school -- kids started 7th and 8th when we moved; we want them to be part of the middle school community/make some friends for at least 1-2 yrs so they aren't completely the "new kids" in high school. So far so good.

So the one thing that is striking me and DH bc we hear it from our kids all the time -- it seems like nearly EVERY family of the kids they are friends with goes away on a vacation nearly EVERY time there is a break. I'm talking Hawaii over Christmas; and then just 2 weeks later skiing over MLK; then skiing again over Presidents Day; now kids are talking about spring break plans for next month; and after that I'm sure it'll be a beach long weekend over Memorial Day and then multiple week summer vacations.

Is this a DC thing? Bethesda thing? We lived in a very well to do suburb in Chicago as well and it was nothing like this. And now our kids are starting to "expect" it -- like they'll ask -- what are we doing for Presidents Day/Memorial Day -- and if the response is, oh it'll be nice to have 3 days off, maybe we can see if such-and-such museum is open, we get a "we never do anything" kind of response bc clearly they want to hear-- let's fly off to Fl. or NYC for 3 days, I'll book the hotels/flights tomorrow.

DH and I didn't grow up with money. So when we started making money, we were both adamant that we'd take a vacation every year. So to us, 1 week away domestically is a BIG deal (and I'm talking -- a week in LA doing touristy things staying in a nice but not uber luxury hotel; and the following year checking out Seattle and Portland). And now we're in a place where our own kids scoff at that because they have begun to think that the true vacations are Hawaii, Europe, 5 star hotels with lots of shopping in Manhattan. Is this just the friends they're hanging out with? Or is this kind of common all over Bethesda? And FWIW - I like their friends and friends' parents, and I don't think they act braggy about these things; if anything, it's very matter of fact like if my kid asks to hang out over Presidents day, they'll say "sorry -- I'll be in Vail that weekend, how about next weekend." From what I can tell, these kids have had this kind of schedule since they were babies, so now 13 years later, it's NBD to them.

So? Spend more energy worrying about your house. Not what everyone else is doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread makes me happy that I live in a “poor” part of DCUMland. Less pressure to keep up with the Joneses.

+1

That certainly helps, because at least your DC's friends are available during school breaks, not overseas somewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Were you unaware that you moved in among rich people?

If I could, I would take more vacations.

Um -- I lived somewhere comparable in NY and I imagine OP lived someplace comparable in Chicago, so don't act like there aren't rich people outside this area. But the desperation to run away every time there is a day off is definitely exclusive to this area.

x1000

[Anonymous]

This is a Bethesda/Potomac thing. Those are the areas of the DMV most associated with conspicuous consumption.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a Bethesda/Potomac thing. Those are the areas of the DMV most associated with conspicuous consumption.

Travelling is not conspicuos consuption unless you're one of those annoying twats that has to put everything on facebook or instagram. Some people are just not as parochial as you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a Bethesda/Potomac thing. Those are the areas of the DMV most associated with conspicuous consumption.

Travelling is not conspicuos consuption unless you're one of those annoying twats that has to put everything on facebook or instagram. Some people are just not as parochial as you.

Calling someone parochial because they don’t or can’t go on multiple vacations is being a twat.

[Anonymous]

You did move to Bethesda, not a lower income area.

[Anonymous]

So at least at our school the most frequently asked question is not "are you going away" but "where are you going?" So I guess that says something about the climate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You did move to Bethesda, not a lower income area.

Exactly, the avg home in the US is about 250k. Good luck finding that in Bethesda. What did you expect from a place where homes go for 800k+? Tell your children you can’t afford to do what their friends do and let it go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a Bethesda/Potomac thing. Those are the areas of the DMV most associated with conspicuous consumption.

Travelling is not conspicuos consuption unless you're one of those annoying twats that has to put everything on facebook or instagram. Some people are just not as parochial as you.

Calling someone parochial because they don’t or can’t go on multiple vacations is being a twat.

I can't think of anything more parochial than people who think UMC vacationing is "travel" and represents some kind of virtue or enlightenment. PS I like seeing my friends' vacation pictures on facebook.

[Anonymous]

DC attracts people who have intl experience and who are travelers. Virtually everyone I know has spent some time abroad. It is not surprising then, that once these people start earning money, they prioritize travel. In other parts of the country, they might prioritize cars, houses, hobbies, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC attracts people who have intl experience and who are travelers. Virtually everyone I know has spent some time abroad. It is not surprising then, that once these people start earning money, they prioritize travel. In other parts of the country, they might prioritize cars, houses, hobbies, etc.

This area has the worst cars I've ever seen for a high cola area. I live in a million dollar neighborhood and my neighbors drive VW, Mazda and lots of Hondas.