People who moved from DC to Arlington / suburbs in general -- did things improve for you?

[Anonymous]

We loved living on the Hill, loved our kid's school, but we couldn't afford to buy anything there, so when we were ready to buy we headed to NOVA. We could've bought EOTR or in MD, but I work in VA so that didn't make sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just to counter - we moved from intown DC to upper NW. If you can afford it - it's great. Feels like the suburbs up here with lots of trees and open space. Schools are good and it is great to have your kids be able to walk to school. Plus, no school buses which means your kids will go to school roughly the same time from elementary school through high school.

There are other areas like this across DC - the intense urban areas can be so much fun and yet so exhausting.

We basically did this. It's been great -- pretty quiet, feels safe, walk to school, etc. Which kind of just goes to prove that there is actually kind of a spectrum from "inner city dangerous" to "boring, bland, car-dependent suburbs." It's not a binary choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved from DC to Arlington and I love it!!! In DC our kids went to a charter school which meant every morning started with fighting city traffic for a 3 mile drive and then hunting for parking. Ugh! Now my kids take a free school bus that picks up two blocks away and there is even a late bus for when they do after school clubs! We go for tons of bike rides because biking on the city streets isn't terrifying and we can pretty easily get to trails that are much less crowded than the Rock Creek Park trail we used to bike on. overall, our lives are so much simpler and easier now.

My spouse works in Arlington so one of our commutes is much shorter now and my commute is about the same by metro. I can walk to a few good coffee shops, Sweetgreens, Giant, Trader Joes, Whole Foods. It is actually more walkable than some of the places I lived in DC. (We live in Lyon Park).

I just noticed the earlier PP who looked down on people who want things to be easier. I used to be like that but honestly after 10 years of DH and I each working 50+ hours a week and juggling two kids, I was just worn down and wanted free school buses. And we are actually as close or closer to the DC museums than we were when we lived in DC. And my favorite local theater is Signature, which is in Arlington so no loss there (although I do still see shows at Arena Stage and Studio).

I used to live in Chicago and was pretty smug about being able to deal with the cold. Now having been gone a decade, I realize it’s just nice for things to be nice. Easy, pleasant, convenient. It’s great.

I'm the PP who doesn't appreciate the desire for things to be easy. I also used to live in the upper Midwest. Sure, dealing the any kind of extreme weather can be a source of personal pride, and yes I find it nice not to deal with such extremes anymore. The difference is that the weather isn't a social phenomenon; whether you live in Chicago or DC, you don't bear responsibility for each cold snap. And, although global warming is a function of human choices, it doesn't directly depend on where you live, except to the extent that you can locate in a place that reduces your carbon emissions (i.e. the city). You're not abdicating any responsibility by moving to a more comfortable climate.

Also, not to make this about me, but the people who are speculating that I live in a suburban part of DC and am therefore being hypocritical are mostly wrong. I live in a rowhouse within the L'Enfant City. There are probably 20,000 people per square mile in my neighborhood, which is much more than the city average, but still quite a bit less than in our densest neighborhoods. I'm not one to argue that we should all be trying to live in high-rise condos, or that every city should look like Midtown Manhattan. I get that there are trade-offs in all of life's choices, and that not everyone can afford this particular lifestyle. But I find it really disappointing when people who *can* afford this lifestyle (which in DCUM-land is a lot of people) decide that they would rather that things be easy than that they use their position of fortune to contribute to the social good. And I do believe that things like sending your children to urban public schools with others who have less than them, working to deter crime in the community rather than fleeing it, and remaining connected to the artistic and cultural communities of the city are important parts of that contribution to the social good. I'm not perfect, nor is anyone, but it's very sad to see that so few people consider these trade-offs.

In short, people should expect more of themselves.

Question: Do you have school-age kids? Because in my experience, that is generally the turning point.

They are not yet school age, no, but we have given quite a bit of consideration to our long term plans for schooling. Yes, I understand that may people leave as their children get older, but contrary to what people here would have you believe, it's by no means universal. We have friends and neighbors with older children who are staying in DC for the duration, whose kids are doing quite well, and whose advice we solicit. Is it the easy choice? No. But to paraphrase the other poster who is so offended by my opinion, sometimes it's not just about you or your family.

[Anonymous]

So PP your kids aren't school aged and you feel you can lecture is on not taking the easy road? Spare me.

My kids used to start their day with a 30 min drive through traffic to get to their charter. Now they bike ride one mile to a great public school in Arlington that is just as diverse as their charter and their parents have shorter commutes and see get home earlier. We also drive less (pre Covid-19) in Arlington compared to DC, which is better for the planet. Tell me why exactly we should have stayed in DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved from DC to Arlington and I love it!!! In DC our kids went to a charter school which meant every morning started with fighting city traffic for a 3 mile drive and then hunting for parking. Ugh! Now my kids take a free school bus that picks up two blocks away and there is even a late bus for when they do after school clubs! We go for tons of bike rides because biking on the city streets isn't terrifying and we can pretty easily get to trails that are much less crowded than the Rock Creek Park trail we used to bike on. overall, our lives are so much simpler and easier now.

My spouse works in Arlington so one of our commutes is much shorter now and my commute is about the same by metro. I can walk to a few good coffee shops, Sweetgreens, Giant, Trader Joes, Whole Foods. It is actually more walkable than some of the places I lived in DC. (We live in Lyon Park).

I just noticed the earlier PP who looked down on people who want things to be easier. I used to be like that but honestly after 10 years of DH and I each working 50+ hours a week and juggling two kids, I was just worn down and wanted free school buses. And we are actually as close or closer to the DC museums than we were when we lived in DC. And my favorite local theater is Signature, which is in Arlington so no loss there (although I do still see shows at Arena Stage and Studio).

I used to live in Chicago and was pretty smug about being able to deal with the cold. Now having been gone a decade, I realize it’s just nice for things to be nice. Easy, pleasant, convenient. It’s great.

I'm the PP who doesn't appreciate the desire for things to be easy. I also used to live in the upper Midwest. Sure, dealing the any kind of extreme weather can be a source of personal pride, and yes I find it nice not to deal with such extremes anymore. The difference is that the weather isn't a social phenomenon; whether you live in Chicago or DC, you don't bear responsibility for each cold snap. And, although global warming is a function of human choices, it doesn't directly depend on where you live, except to the extent that you can locate in a place that reduces your carbon emissions (i.e. the city). You're not abdicating any responsibility by moving to a more comfortable climate.

Also, not to make this about me, but the people who are speculating that I live in a suburban part of DC and am therefore being hypocritical are mostly wrong. I live in a rowhouse within the L'Enfant City. There are probably 20,000 people per square mile in my neighborhood, which is much more than the city average, but still quite a bit less than in our densest neighborhoods. I'm not one to argue that we should all be trying to live in high-rise condos, or that every city should look like Midtown Manhattan. I get that there are trade-offs in all of life's choices, and that not everyone can afford this particular lifestyle. But I find it really disappointing when people who *can* afford this lifestyle (which in DCUM-land is a lot of people) decide that they would rather that things be easy than that they use their position of fortune to contribute to the social good. And I do believe that things like sending your children to urban public schools with others who have less than them, working to deter crime in the community rather than fleeing it, and remaining connected to the artistic and cultural communities of the city are important parts of that contribution to the social good. I'm not perfect, nor is anyone, but it's very sad to see that so few people consider these trade-offs.

In short, people should expect more of themselves.

Question: Do you have school-age kids? Because in my experience, that is generally the turning point.

They are not yet school age, no, but we have given quite a bit of consideration to our long term plans for schooling. Yes, I understand that may people leave as their children get older, but contrary to what people here would have you believe, it's by no means universal. We have friends and neighbors with older children who are staying in DC for the duration, whose kids are doing quite well, and whose advice we solicit. Is it the easy choice? No. But to paraphrase the other poster who is so offended by my opinion, sometimes it's not just about you or your family.

PP, I assume you won't be applying to high performing charters or OOO public schools, so the presence of your kids can help out students in your neighborhood public school?

Come lecture us when your kids complete third grade at your neighborhood public school. You're kidding yourself that your perspective will remain static until then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just to counter - we moved from intown DC to upper NW. If you can afford it - it's great. Feels like the suburbs up here with lots of trees and open space. Schools are good and it is great to have your kids be able to walk to school. Plus, no school buses which means your kids will go to school roughly the same time from elementary school through high school.

There are other areas like this across DC - the intense urban areas can be so much fun and yet so exhausting.

We basically did this. It's been great -- pretty quiet, feels safe, walk to school, etc. Which kind of just goes to prove that there is actually kind of a spectrum from "inner city dangerous" to "boring, bland, car-dependent suburbs." It's not a binary choice.

We were lucky to be able to do this (or something similar like lyon village). The inner suburbs/NW DC (near metro/retail) are amazing. But they will cost you. Good schools, commute, safe neighborhoods, and almost everything in walking distance. Our house outside the beltway would be 1/3 the cost...

[Anonymous]

We’ve made the opposite move, and are much happier in NWDC. It’s more beautiful than NOVA, and we love our DCPS elementary school much more. Teachers and families are great, it feels much more personal. I think some DC schools got so much better that this stereotype about NOVA schools being the best seems really outdated now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’ve made the opposite move, and are much happier in NWDC. It’s more beautiful than NOVA, and we love our DCPS elementary school much more. Teachers and families are great, it feels much more personal. I think some DC schools got so much better that this stereotype about NOVA schools being the best seems really outdated now.

Straw-man argument. Everyone knows DCPS has some decent elementary schools but the quality drops off sharply in middle and high school. Wilson would be in the bottom 1/3 in APS and bottom 1/4 in FCPS or LCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’ve made the opposite move, and are much happier in NWDC. It’s more beautiful than NOVA, and we love our DCPS elementary school much more. Teachers and families are great, it feels much more personal. I think some DC schools got so much better that this stereotype about NOVA schools being the best seems really outdated now.

Straw-man argument. Everyone knows DCPS has some decent elementary schools but the quality drops off sharply in middle and high school. Wilson would be in the bottom 1/3 in APS and bottom 1/4 in FCPS or LCPS.

DP. Not sure you can really base this statement on any hard data. Yes, DCPS has a lot more poor kids than most suburban schools, which brings the averages down. But kids from educated families tend to do well. Not sure I'd make a quality argument based on demographic differences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just to counter - we moved from intown DC to upper NW. If you can afford it - it's great. Feels like the suburbs up here with lots of trees and open space. Schools are good and it is great to have your kids be able to walk to school. Plus, no school buses which means your kids will go to school roughly the same time from elementary school through high school.

There are other areas like this across DC - the intense urban areas can be so much fun and yet so exhausting.

We basically did this. It's been great -- pretty quiet, feels safe, walk to school, etc. Which kind of just goes to prove that there is actually kind of a spectrum from "inner city dangerous" to "boring, bland, car-dependent suburbs." It's not a binary choice.

Yeah, I live in Glover Park and my DC is not filled with crime at all. My street is super quiet 24/7, and I hear the birds and wind. We walk in the trails and the kids in GP play outside together. Parking is a bitch but we have a Metrobus that runs through the neighborhood. There's a new TJ's within walking distance. I can be to Dupont in 15 minutes. So it's kind of the best of both worlds. It's funny... here on DCUM you either hear that DC's not a "real city" and it's so "suburban," but then others are saying it's a concrete jungle rampant with crime. Neither are true.

[Anonymous]

We live near Rock Creek Park in DC and it's super quiet and green, no worries about safety--at least from people. I'm probably outing myself, but my spouse was recently attacked while jogging--by an owl! But never any concerns about human attacks, lol. And the only loiterers we get are deer, foxes, etc.

[Anonymous]

OP asked those who’ve made the move whether their quality of life improved, not for DC residents to interject with comments about whether they still like their DC neighborhoods. Obviously there is some confirmation bias to be expected, but the fact that the DC residents feel obliged to weigh in suggests they are a bit more anxious about their circumstances, particularly as Covid-19 makes living in less spaces more desirable, than they want to admit.

As someone who did move out of DC and has no regrets other than the shorter commute, I can attest to the fact that the advantages when it comes to privacy, additional space, and superior public schools quickly outweigh the disadvantages for most of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’ve made the opposite move, and are much happier in NWDC. It’s more beautiful than NOVA, and we love our DCPS elementary school much more. Teachers and families are great, it feels much more personal. I think some DC schools got so much better that this stereotype about NOVA schools being the best seems really outdated now.

Straw-man argument. Everyone knows DCPS has some decent elementary schools but the quality drops off sharply in middle and high school. Wilson would be in the bottom 1/3 in APS and bottom 1/4 in FCPS or LCPS.

It doesn’t really, unless you’re comparing cumulative scores of non-diverse and diverse schools for some reason. Our friend’ kids are doing great in Wilson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: They are not yet school age, no, but we have given quite a bit of consideration to our long term plans for schooling. Yes, I understand that may people leave as their children get older, but contrary to what people here would have you believe, it's by no means universal. We have friends and neighbors with older children who are staying in DC for the duration, whose kids are doing quite well, and whose advice we solicit. Is it the easy choice? No. But to paraphrase the other poster who is so offended by my opinion, sometimes it's not just about you or your family.

I really cannot even fathom the amount of arrogance and delusional self-importance that would lead one to conclude that living in DC and sensing your kids to public schools is somehow a great act of benevolence toward the other families. This attitude is frankly disgusting if we dig a bit deeper...no one needs you to ‘civilize’ their children with your presence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just to counter - we moved from intown DC to upper NW. If you can afford it - it's great. Feels like the suburbs up here with lots of trees and open space. Schools are good and it is great to have your kids be able to walk to school. Plus, no school buses which means your kids will go to school roughly the same time from elementary school through high school.

There are other areas like this across DC - the intense urban areas can be so much fun and yet so exhausting.

We basically did this. It's been great -- pretty quiet, feels safe, walk to school, etc. Which kind of just goes to prove that there is actually kind of a spectrum from "inner city dangerous" to "boring, bland, car-dependent suburbs." It's not a binary choice.

Yeah, I live in Glover Park and my DC is not filled with crime at all. My street is super quiet 24/7, and I hear the birds and wind. We walk in the trails and the kids in GP play outside together. Parking is a bitch but we have a Metrobus that runs through the neighborhood. There's a new TJ's within walking distance. I can be to Dupont in 15 minutes. So it's kind of the best of both worlds. It's funny... here on DCUM you either hear that DC's not a "real city" and it's so "suburban," but then others are saying it's a concrete jungle rampant with crime. Neither are true.

Glover Park is great, which I didn't realize until I moved away. The last 2-3 years have been rough (lots of businesses closing on Wisconsin), but I think with TJ's and the planned re-opening of WF, plus the Fannie Mae redevelopment, the tide looks like it's slated to turn.

I do wonder about that broader area (GP to, say, Tenleytown and Cleveland Park) in general and would love to get your opinion on it, DCUM. The mayor/her administration seems to want to stick a middle finger to ward 3 (Cathedral Commons' joke of a homeless shelter, the completely random and unsanitary COVID hotel on Connecticut, the story with Sedgewick Gardens) and I wonder if this will negatively affect the quality of life in the area if this continues.