Relocating out of DC

[Anonymous]

Are most of these posts from a "White people, free to roam the land" POV? I have a gut feeling that the experiences my family will face in a lot of these places greatly differs from most of these posters. I honestly feel that outside of major cities, a vast portion of this country is still homogenous and insufferable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are most of these posts from a "White people, free to roam the land" POV? I have a gut feeling that the experiences my family will face in a lot of these places greatly differs from most of these posters. I honestly feel that outside of major cities, a vast portion of this country is still homogenous and insufferable.

Americans are free to roam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are most of these posts from a "White people, free to roam the land" POV? I have a gut feeling that the experiences my family will face in a lot of these places greatly differs from most of these posters. I honestly feel that outside of major cities, a vast portion of this country is still homogenous and insufferable.

I am white, so I will acknowledge that I may see the world only from a white privilege point of view. But I'd be careful about generalizing about everywhere outside of major cities. I have lived all over the east coast, including DC. I now live in a midwesternish city where I grew up. My experience is that there is great variety away from the coasts. For example, in my midwesternish city, I live in a city neighborhood that is incredibly diverse, international and educated, while also diverse in that it is not too expensive so there is a huge variety of socioeconomics. I live near several universities and hospitals, and that contbributes to the diversity of the community. However, drive to one of my cities' suburbs and I agree, it is white-white-white middle america. I love my city, but would not love living in one of its suburbs. So please don't generalize about the entire US apart from the coasts..that ignores the variety within even individual cities.

More generally, I made the DC to midwest home city move about 2 years ago. There have certainly been challenges mostly related to finding the right job opportunities and meeting new people, but my life quality of life overal is so many times better (again except for the job opportunities which are fabulous IMO in DC). We got to pick our neighborhood of choice (whereas I hated where we could afford to live in DC), my commute is easy, we have tons of family help with babysitting, everything is much cheaper, our city has a real homegrown culture, which I always found DC to lack, and trips out of town are easy. I have several museums in walking distance from my house, whereas in DC, we were living so far from the national mall, going to museums was a huge pain the butt. Things are much less crowded et cetera, et cetera...

[Anonymous]

We moved from Fairfax to the a Northern Atlanta area almost two years ago. For the same reasons as you but also my entire family is here (whereas we had none in DC) so it made sense long term, especially for when we have kids. I am "lower skill" than my husband so I easily had something lined up through an old friend before we moved but it took my (breadwinner) husband almost 8 months to get work. We would have drained our savings if we weren't living at my moms house during that time. We are very happy now but to be honest I did panic for a minute that maybe we made the wrong decision. I caution anyone moving to Atlanta area to make sure their cost of living will be low/savings high or they have something lined up beforehand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are most of these posts from a "White people, free to roam the land" POV? I have a gut feeling that the experiences my family will face in a lot of these places greatly differs from most of these posters. I honestly feel that outside of major cities, a vast portion of this country is still homogenous and insufferable.

I am white, so I will acknowledge that I may see the world only from a white privilege point of view. But I'd be careful about generalizing about everywhere outside of major cities. I have lived all over the east coast, including DC. I now live in a midwesternish city where I grew up. My experience is that there is great variety away from the coasts. For example, in my midwesternish city, I live in a city neighborhood that is incredibly diverse, international and educated, while also diverse in that it is not too expensive so there is a huge variety of socioeconomics. I live near several universities and hospitals, and that contbributes to the diversity of the community. However, drive to one of my cities' suburbs and I agree, it is white-white-white middle america. I love my city, but would not love living in one of its suburbs. So please don't generalize about the entire US apart from the coasts..that ignores the variety within even individual cities.

More generally, I made the DC to midwest home city move about 2 years ago. There have certainly been challenges mostly related to finding the right job opportunities and meeting new people, but my life quality of life overal is so many times better (again except for the job opportunities which are fabulous IMO in DC). We got to pick our neighborhood of choice (whereas I hated where we could afford to live in DC), my commute is easy, we have tons of family help with babysitting, everything is much cheaper, our city has a real homegrown culture, which I always found DC to lack, and trips out of town are easy. I have several museums in walking distance from my house, whereas in DC, we were living so far from the national mall, going to museums was a huge pain the butt. Things are much less crowded et cetera, et cetera...

It sounds great! May I ask which city you live in? I agree with you!

[Anonymous]

We moved out of DC for a slower pace of life. I actually am bored here - want to move back to city life. That was a surprise to me.

[Anonymous]

We moved to a Denver suburb and I like it here!! Love to visit DC and go frequently, have a lot of family there. I do nOt miss living there. Hate DC traffic, crowds, housing $, schools are YMMV, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HI. I am feeling particularly sad today that I am living here and so tired of the pace here. The running to work, the running the kid to activities, the constant competition... You see, I'm a midwesterner who grew up with a third of the traffic of this place. We never struggled to find parking or had to wait in line to do things. I often feel that people here look at me as if I am crazy when I express how tired I am of this stress here and the rude people who are always in a hurry..running, running everywhere. To me, life was just easier. I am a slower moving person. I don't thrive on stress, or being super planned or being first or having my kid be a super over achiever. I just want her to be happy and healthy.

I cannot get out of here and am stuck. We both need to continue working to pay the bills and to fund our retirement and our jobs are based here. Husband is a New Yawker who doesn't know what it is like to grow up in a slower environment.

We are stuck here because his business is based here.

I love him dearly but want to MOVE and I can't.

Just looking for like minded folks to gripe with today. I need to know I am not alone.

Sorry for the bitching!

This is me! I daydream everyday about where else we could make it work - what a sad existence... originally from the West Coast, where not everyone has to one up everyone else all the time - there you would be considered rude if you did that

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are most of these posts from a "White people, free to roam the land" POV? I have a gut feeling that the experiences my family will face in a lot of these places greatly differs from most of these posters. I honestly feel that outside of major cities, a vast portion of this country is still homogenous and insufferable.

I am white, so I will acknowledge that I may see the world only from a white privilege point of view. But I'd be careful about generalizing about everywhere outside of major cities. I have lived all over the east coast, including DC. I now live in a midwesternish city where I grew up. My experience is that there is great variety away from the coasts. For example, in my midwesternish city, I live in a city neighborhood that is incredibly diverse, international and educated, while also diverse in that it is not too expensive so there is a huge variety of socioeconomics. I live near several universities and hospitals, and that contbributes to the diversity of the community. However, drive to one of my cities' suburbs and I agree, it is white-white-white middle america. I love my city, but would not love living in one of its suburbs. So please don't generalize about the entire US apart from the coasts..that ignores the variety within even individual cities.

More generally, I made the DC to midwest home city move about 2 years ago. There have certainly been challenges mostly related to finding the right job opportunities and meeting new people, but my life quality of life overal is so many times better (again except for the job opportunities which are fabulous IMO in DC). We got to pick our neighborhood of choice (whereas I hated where we could afford to live in DC), my commute is easy, we have tons of family help with babysitting, everything is much cheaper, our city has a real homegrown culture, which I always found DC to lack, and trips out of town are easy. I have several museums in walking distance from my house, whereas in DC, we were living so far from the national mall, going to museums was a huge pain the butt. Things are much less crowded et cetera, et cetera...

Are you living in the West End in STL?

[Anonymous]

Anyone happen to be from St Louis or to have moved there? We are considering it right now...

[Anonymous]

Anyone consider Orlando?

[Anonymous]

bump

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone consider Orlando?

I did NOT like downtown Orlando. My inlaws lived there and all that is downtown is nightlife. And very young/ not very diverse nightlife (most bars/clubs/restaurants seemed the same). I couldn't even get a pedicure without driving a few miles out of downtown. I thought that was strange. Most downtown city areas have shopping/services, etc.

But to be honest I don't like most of FL for anything but visiting.

[Anonymous]

You're not alone 1217. I'm with you. DH, a lifelong Marylander, actually said to me the other day that we need to get out of here because MD has gotten too liberal for him. He can't take the high taxes and the traffic anymore and wants DD to be a well-rounded, respectful girl. He finds that the kids he knows in this area, including our own nieces and nephews, are entitled, lazy kids who wait for rich mom and dad to get them out of jams. Of course, that's a function of the area we live in. I'm all for moving back to NC, where I'm from. I only worry about the schools.

[Anonymous]

We're considering a move to Charlottesville or Roanoke. Much better pace of life and lower COL.