Young couples with kids---Where did you move to from the DC area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You guys must all be white.

Asian.

Most of the midwest cities are fairly diverse between black and white, with much smaller numbers in hispanic, muslim, asian and indian nationalities.

If you are looking for almost all white with a spattering of other races, it is the pacific northwest (spattering of asians) or the upper northeast (all white).

The midwest is not even close to being all white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You guys must all be white.

Asian.

Most of the midwest cities are fairly diverse between black and white, with much smaller numbers in hispanic, muslim, asian and indian nationalities.

If you are looking for almost all white with a spattering of other races, it is the pacific northwest (spattering of asians) or the upper northeast (all white).

The midwest is not even close to being all white.

Of course the midwest is not all white, but I think the PP was suggesting that it's mainly white people that would find themselves happier in the midwest than in DC (or another large city).

[Anonymous]

Moved to DC about 7 years ago and are now seriously thinking on moving back to NY (Westchester County). We make good money but are just miserable. Have no family near by, no meaningful friendships and no way to afford a nice house with a backyard In the area whitout selling home of my kidneys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honest question, not being snarky.

I see a lot of these threads, people singing the praises of places like Kansas City, Des Moines, how they don't regret leaving DC.

And yet...

...you are posting this on DCUM.

Does the fact that you have never left DCUM maybe indicate something? Sure the COL is lower elsewhere and there is less hassle to daily life. But DC is an important city on the international stage and even in local affairs these days there is a real energy, a sense of change and progress. I think it is this energy that I would miss most if we left, and I wonder if it's also the reason that you're all still on DCUM? Just a hypothesis.

I haven't moved yet, but I imagine I'll stay on DCUM because most of the topics here are pretty universal- I mean, I don't need to be living in DC to discuss disciplining preschoolers or the 2016 election or 529 plans, right? (Unless I'm missing something.) If there was a "Des Moines Urban Moms and Dads" site with the breadth (and anonymity!) of DCUM I'd go there, but this kind of site doesn't really exist elsewhere.

Plus didn't Jeff say the majority of users on here aren't even from the DC area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

How different was your life in KC though? You saved a lot of money and got a great house. How about walkability? Activities? Entertainment (museums, plays, cultural parties)? I just did a google search and KC itself doesn't seem to have many condos or even 'non-suburban' homes. They all look like planned lots that you need to drive in and out along major highways. Is there a downtown historic section of homes that I could look at (generally close to everything)?

Thanks for your questions. There are quite a few "walkable" neighborhoods in Kansas City: W. 39th Street Corridor/Historic Westport; Brookside, Waldo, Hyde Park, and Southmoreland. For those looking for a loft experience rather than SFHs, there's a ton of activity going on in the Midtown Arts District. For classic, pre-war 2 and 3 bedroom apartments centered on retail, consider Country Club Plaza.

If we go back, Brookside (centered on W. 63rd Street and Brookside Blvd.) is probably where we'll buy. A bit pricy for KC, but walkable with a great retail corridor - places like Reading Reptile and Brookside Science and Toys alone are fantastic kid-centered stores. It also has good school options - St. Peter's (Catholic) and Academie Lafayette (French language immersion PCS).

Kansas City is currently building a streetcar line along Main Street from downtown (City Market) to Union Station. From Union Station south to West 75th Street, Kansas City has the MAX Bus along Main Street and Brookside Boulevard. It is similar in concept to the Circulator and about a 20 minute trip from Brookside to downtown. It runs 7 days a week with service every 10-30 minutes depending on day/time.

Before we went to KC, I'd been in DC for 7 years and my spouse for 11. We probably took in more "culture" during our single year in KC than in any 3 year span in DC. We fell in love with Unicorn Theater and got to attend two opening night celebrations ("Grounded" and "Other Desert Cities"). We were welcomed with open arms and felt right at home. I became involved with KKFI, Kansas City's community radio station and found it very welcoming. I even got the chance to DJ a 3 hour show that celebrates my favorite music genre (80s New Wave, synth, and industrial) just prior to leaving - that was one of the highlights of my year. There are many cultural events, book talks, concerts, etc. UMKC is a fairly comprehensive university and that brings much to the city. Also, a fair number of KU faculty live in KC, MO and reverse commute to Lawrence for work.

For families, there is so much so close - Union Station, The Royals, Children's Science Museum, the Aquarium, Zoo, Kids Shows at Sprint Center, Crown Center, City Market, Schlitterbahn, easy access to nature/farms. There's even a small ski facility north of KC.

In short, we found a great community spirit and things just seemed so much more accessible to families on a Federal salary than in DC. KC also has a very vibrant civic activist culture which I personally loved. Again, it was just so much easier to "plug into" than DC. I really enjoyed the opportunity to join with Stand Up KC and the Heartland Labor Forum on the Fight for 15 and other causes. I haven't had opportunities like this since before I came to Washington.

Of course, there's also the suburban option if that's what people want. The Johnson County (KS) suburbs are all quite accessible to KC with many amenities.

I hope this helps.

This message has been brought to you by: The Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Kansas City Realtors' Association, and the Kansas City Tourism Board.

PP, I'm glad you enjoyed your time there. Sounds too good to be true.

Wow, I've been in DC over 10 years, but grew up in Brookside in KC and go back to visit family there a few times a year. This is all incredibly accurate. It's a great place to raise kids and/or grow up. It makes me sad every time I visit that there isn't anything close to a place like Brookside at an affordable price in the DC area. Del Ray is the closest I have found but it's not the same (and before someone mentions the ACPS schools, the KCMO schools in Brookside have the same reputation; it's private schools for most).

If anyone else is seriously considering this move, a few points for consideration. I think this truly depends on your preferences and one isn't better than another. In KC, your average water cooler or neighborhood conversations will most likely revolve around local sports (Royals right now, but Chiefs, and KU or MU basketball work as well). In DC, I can start a conversation with "I heard on Morning Edition..." and it's not uncommon for people to have heard the same story and want to discuss. In your average office in KC, you wouldnt have that type of conversation. Another anecdotal difference is that people in KC tend to go on vacation to the lake (Lake of the Ozarks) or Mexico/Carribean. Vacationing to Europe or larger cities in the US is a bit more outside the mainstream, and people may perceive you as somewhat snobby or different.

The biggest thing is that it can be really hard to break into social circles on a more than superficial level. People there (especially in the older, walkable and more historic neighborhoods like Brookside, Sunset Hills, the Plaza) have been there for a long time and their friend groups often are made up of people they went to high school and grade school with, and in a lot of cases, their parents also went to the same high school and grade schools. (In KC, there are tons of second and third generation families at schools like St. Peter's and Visitation and high schools like Rockhurst and St. Teresa's). People are very friendly on a surface level but often aren't looking for new people to join their groups. I read on DCUM that people have trouble making friends in this area, but I've truly had the opposite experience, and found that many transplants are actively searching for new friends. I now have great groups of friends from grad school, my first job, DH's job, DD's preschool etc. I was nerdy in high school and from what I've heard/seen from those still there, I think I would have a harder time finding a solid group back in KC. Second to my lack of transferable job skills, that's the biggest factor holding me back from moving back to KC.

While my experience is KC focused, from what I have heard, the same is true for many medium sized Midwestern cities (St. Louis, Minneapolis etc.). There are a lot of good qualities, but they aren't perfect either. Just depends on what you are looking for.

I'm surprised more of the posts here haven't talked about making new friends! DH and I have a 7 month old and have been toying with the idea of leaving DC, but I wonder what the odds are of ending up with a nice big yard/porch/dining room/etc., but nobody to invite over.

[Anonymous]

Moved to DC about 7 years ago and are now seriously thinking on moving back to NY (Westchester County). We make good money but are just miserable. Have no family near by, no meaningful friendships and no way to afford a nice house with a backyard In the area whitout selling home of my kidneys.

Take us with you. I don't even like Westchester, but DC is making me think fondly about Tarrytown or Port Chester.

[Anonymous]

Waving at you from the sunshine state! Couldn't be happier in our N Florida beach town. I knocked it too, until I tried it! Miss my friends and nothing else.

[Anonymous]

I fantasize about a move to Florida - I love warm weather and we have family in the Tampa area. However, we have a lot of friends in DC and good jobs here that I doubt we could replicate anywhere else. I also think I would probably miss the energy in DC and the sense of opportunity and being where the action is.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in a midsize city not too dissimilar from Kansas City and I can see where you're coming from. But when you have a sizeable metro area there will be a niche for everyone. My parents lived in a neighborhood comparable to Sunset Hill but did that mean they talked about sports all the time? No. Sometimes they talked about the local sports teams, but we were still very engaged with national and international news and events. Among my parents' friends and the parents of my childhood friends, some were long time residents, others were people who had moved into the area. If you are (as I suspect many of us on here are) well-educated with an interest in the various topics of life, you will gravitate towards likeminded people regardless of where you live.

In terms of making friends it's always down to the effort you put in and this is no different in DC as well. Actually, if you have young children, it's probably even a lot easier to meet new families as that's an automatic ice breaker. So I wouldn't be afraid of moving to a new place.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

How different was your life in KC though? You saved a lot of money and got a great house. How about walkability? Activities? Entertainment (museums, plays, cultural parties)? I just did a google search and KC itself doesn't seem to have many condos or even 'non-suburban' homes. They all look like planned lots that you need to drive in and out along major highways. Is there a downtown historic section of homes that I could look at (generally close to everything)?

Thanks for your questions. There are quite a few "walkable" neighborhoods in Kansas City: W. 39th Street Corridor/Historic Westport; Brookside, Waldo, Hyde Park, and Southmoreland. For those looking for a loft experience rather than SFHs, there's a ton of activity going on in the Midtown Arts District. For classic, pre-war 2 and 3 bedroom apartments centered on retail, consider Country Club Plaza.

If we go back, Brookside (centered on W. 63rd Street and Brookside Blvd.) is probably where we'll buy. A bit pricy for KC, but walkable with a great retail corridor - places like Reading Reptile and Brookside Science and Toys alone are fantastic kid-centered stores. It also has good school options - St. Peter's (Catholic) and Academie Lafayette (French language immersion PCS).

Kansas City is currently building a streetcar line along Main Street from downtown (City Market) to Union Station. From Union Station south to West 75th Street, Kansas City has the MAX Bus along Main Street and Brookside Boulevard. It is similar in concept to the Circulator and about a 20 minute trip from Brookside to downtown. It runs 7 days a week with service every 10-30 minutes depending on day/time.

Before we went to KC, I'd been in DC for 7 years and my spouse for 11. We probably took in more "culture" during our single year in KC than in any 3 year span in DC. We fell in love with Unicorn Theater and got to attend two opening night celebrations ("Grounded" and "Other Desert Cities"). We were welcomed with open arms and felt right at home. I became involved with KKFI, Kansas City's community radio station and found it very welcoming. I even got the chance to DJ a 3 hour show that celebrates my favorite music genre (80s New Wave, synth, and industrial) just prior to leaving - that was one of the highlights of my year. There are many cultural events, book talks, concerts, etc. UMKC is a fairly comprehensive university and that brings much to the city. Also, a fair number of KU faculty live in KC, MO and reverse commute to Lawrence for work.

For families, there is so much so close - Union Station, The Royals, Children's Science Museum, the Aquarium, Zoo, Kids Shows at Sprint Center, Crown Center, City Market, Schlitterbahn, easy access to nature/farms. There's even a small ski facility north of KC.

In short, we found a great community spirit and things just seemed so much more accessible to families on a Federal salary than in DC. KC also has a very vibrant civic activist culture which I personally loved. Again, it was just so much easier to "plug into" than DC. I really enjoyed the opportunity to join with Stand Up KC and the Heartland Labor Forum on the Fight for 15 and other causes. I haven't had opportunities like this since before I came to Washington.

Of course, there's also the suburban option if that's what people want. The Johnson County (KS) suburbs are all quite accessible to KC with many amenities.

I hope this helps.

This message has been brought to you by: The Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Kansas City Realtors' Association, and the Kansas City Tourism Board.

PP, I'm glad you enjoyed your time there. Sounds too good to be true.

Wow, I've been in DC over 10 years, but grew up in Brookside in KC and go back to visit family there a few times a year. This is all incredibly accurate. It's a great place to raise kids and/or grow up. It makes me sad every time I visit that there isn't anything close to a place like Brookside at an affordable price in the DC area. Del Ray is the closest I have found but it's not the same (and before someone mentions the ACPS schools, the KCMO schools in Brookside have the same reputation; it's private schools for most).

If anyone else is seriously considering this move, a few points for consideration. I think this truly depends on your preferences and one isn't better than another. In KC, your average water cooler or neighborhood conversations will most likely revolve around local sports (Royals right now, but Chiefs, and KU or MU basketball work as well). In DC, I can start a conversation with "I heard on Morning Edition..." and it's not uncommon for people to have heard the same story and want to discuss. In your average office in KC, you wouldnt have that type of conversation. Another anecdotal difference is that people in KC tend to go on vacation to the lake (Lake of the Ozarks) or Mexico/Carribean. Vacationing to Europe or larger cities in the US is a bit more outside the mainstream, and people may perceive you as somewhat snobby or different.

The biggest thing is that it can be really hard to break into social circles on a more than superficial level. People there (especially in the older, walkable and more historic neighborhoods like Brookside, Sunset Hills, the Plaza) have been there for a long time and their friend groups often are made up of people they went to high school and grade school with, and in a lot of cases, their parents also went to the same high school and grade schools. (In KC, there are tons of second and third generation families at schools like St. Peter's and Visitation and high schools like Rockhurst and St. Teresa's). People are very friendly on a surface level but often aren't looking for new people to join their groups. I read on DCUM that people have trouble making friends in this area, but I've truly had the opposite experience, and found that many transplants are actively searching for new friends. I now have great groups of friends from grad school, my first job, DH's job, DD's preschool etc. I was nerdy in high school and from what I've heard/seen from those still there, I think I would have a harder time finding a solid group back in KC. Second to my lack of transferable job skills, that's the biggest factor holding me back from moving back to KC.

While my experience is KC focused, from what I have heard, the same is true for many medium sized Midwestern cities (St. Louis, Minneapolis etc.). There are a lot of good qualities, but they aren't perfect either. Just depends on what you are looking for.

[Anonymous]

This message has been brought to you by: The Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Kansas City Realtors' Association, and the Kansas City Tourism Board.

PP, I'm glad you enjoyed your time there. Sounds too good to be true.

Wow, I've been in DC over 10 years, but grew up in Brookside in KC and go back to visit family there a few times a year. This is all incredibly accurate. It's a great place to raise kids and/or grow up. It makes me sad every time I visit that there isn't anything close to a place like Brookside at an affordable price in the DC area. Del Ray is the closest I have found but it's not the same (and before someone mentions the ACPS schools, the KCMO schools in Brookside have the same reputation; it's private schools for most).

If anyone else is seriously considering this move, a few points for consideration. I think this truly depends on your preferences and one isn't better than another. In KC, your average water cooler or neighborhood conversations will most likely revolve around local sports (Royals right now, but Chiefs, and KU or MU basketball work as well). In DC, I can start a conversation with "I heard on Morning Edition..." and it's not uncommon for people to have heard the same story and want to discuss. In your average office in KC, you wouldnt have that type of conversation. Another anecdotal difference is that people in KC tend to go on vacation to the lake (Lake of the Ozarks) or Mexico/Carribean. Vacationing to Europe or larger cities in the US is a bit more outside the mainstream, and people may perceive you as somewhat snobby or different.

The biggest thing is that it can be really hard to break into social circles on a more than superficial level. People there (especially in the older, walkable and more historic neighborhoods like Brookside, Sunset Hills, the Plaza) have been there for a long time and their friend groups often are made up of people they went to high school and grade school with, and in a lot of cases, their parents also went to the same high school and grade schools. (In KC, there are tons of second and third generation families at schools like St. Peter's and Visitation and high schools like Rockhurst and St. Teresa's). People are very friendly on a surface level but often aren't looking for new people to join their groups. I read on DCUM that people have trouble making friends in this area, but I've truly had the opposite experience, and found that many transplants are actively searching for new friends. I now have great groups of friends from grad school, my first job, DH's job, DD's preschool etc. I was nerdy in high school and from what I've heard/seen from those still there, I think I would have a harder time finding a solid group back in KC. Second to my lack of transferable job skills, that's the biggest factor holding me back from moving back to KC.

While my experience is KC focused, from what I have heard, the same is true for many medium sized Midwestern cities (St. Louis, Minneapolis etc.). There are a lot of good qualities, but they aren't perfect either. Just depends on what you are looking for.

I lived in a mid sized city at one point and experienced this kind of stuff frequently. Everyone I worked with and hung out with was educated but there was still a difference in interests and hobbies. People in "middle America" seem really into sports. One time I had a two day layover in London before meeting friends in another European city. The friends I had in the midsized city were shocked I would spend two days in London by myself. They thought it was incredibly strange and I received so many questions about what I was going to do. Very few people in dc would make a big deal about this. This was also during the financial crisis and most people I interacted with seemed to barely have a clue that our economy was tanking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Moved to DC about 7 years ago and are now seriously thinking on moving back to NY (Westchester County). We make good money but are just miserable. Have no family near by, no meaningful friendships and no way to afford a nice house with a backyard In the area whitout selling home of my kidneys.

How would you afford a home in the NY area? I assume you'd have a two to three hour commute each day? Honestly you need to make some sort of change in your life. There are plenty of people in Dc and if you can't make friends the problem is you!! Do you talk about NY frequently? People get tired of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

How different was your life in KC though? You saved a lot of money and got a great house. How about walkability? Activities? Entertainment (museums, plays, cultural parties)? I just did a google search and KC itself doesn't seem to have many condos or even 'non-suburban' homes. They all look like planned lots that you need to drive in and out along major highways. Is there a downtown historic section of homes that I could look at (generally close to everything)?

Thanks for your questions. There are quite a few "walkable" neighborhoods in Kansas City: W. 39th Street Corridor/Historic Westport; Brookside, Waldo, Hyde Park, and Southmoreland. For those looking for a loft experience rather than SFHs, there's a ton of activity going on in the Midtown Arts District. For classic, pre-war 2 and 3 bedroom apartments centered on retail, consider Country Club Plaza.

If we go back, Brookside (centered on W. 63rd Street and Brookside Blvd.) is probably where we'll buy. A bit pricy for KC, but walkable with a great retail corridor - places like Reading Reptile and Brookside Science and Toys alone are fantastic kid-centered stores. It also has good school options - St. Peter's (Catholic) and Academie Lafayette (French language immersion PCS).

Kansas City is currently building a streetcar line along Main Street from downtown (City Market) to Union Station. From Union Station south to West 75th Street, Kansas City has the MAX Bus along Main Street and Brookside Boulevard. It is similar in concept to the Circulator and about a 20 minute trip from Brookside to downtown. It runs 7 days a week with service every 10-30 minutes depending on day/time.

Before we went to KC, I'd been in DC for 7 years and my spouse for 11. We probably took in more "culture" during our single year in KC than in any 3 year span in DC. We fell in love with Unicorn Theater and got to attend two opening night celebrations ("Grounded" and "Other Desert Cities"). We were welcomed with open arms and felt right at home. I became involved with KKFI, Kansas City's community radio station and found it very welcoming. I even got the chance to DJ a 3 hour show that celebrates my favorite music genre (80s New Wave, synth, and industrial) just prior to leaving - that was one of the highlights of my year. There are many cultural events, book talks, concerts, etc. UMKC is a fairly comprehensive university and that brings much to the city. Also, a fair number of KU faculty live in KC, MO and reverse commute to Lawrence for work.

For families, there is so much so close - Union Station, The Royals, Children's Science Museum, the Aquarium, Zoo, Kids Shows at Sprint Center, Crown Center, City Market, Schlitterbahn, easy access to nature/farms. There's even a small ski facility north of KC.

In short, we found a great community spirit and things just seemed so much more accessible to families on a Federal salary than in DC. KC also has a very vibrant civic activist culture which I personally loved. Again, it was just so much easier to "plug into" than DC. I really enjoyed the opportunity to join with Stand Up KC and the Heartland Labor Forum on the Fight for 15 and other causes. I haven't had opportunities like this since before I came to Washington.

Of course, there's also the suburban option if that's what people want. The Johnson County (KS) suburbs are all quite accessible to KC with many amenities.

I hope this helps.

We are an Obama loving, uber democratic, biracial family and I wonder if we would have the same experiences as you in Kansas City? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Waving at you from the sunshine state! Couldn't be happier in our N Florida beach town. I knocked it too, until I tried it! Miss my friends and nothing else.

* * * *

Anonymous wrote:I fantasize about a move to Florida - I love warm weather and we have family in the Tampa area. However, we have a lot of friends in DC and good jobs here that I doubt we could replicate anywhere else. I also think I would probably miss the energy in DC and the sense of opportunity and being where the action is.

Yes to both of these. We were in Florida for several years on a job transfer lark. Figured worst case we'd hate it and move back in a couple years, best case we'd love it and stay for a few years until the next fun job transfer. Anything to get out of DC. We were there for 2 weeks and were like "we're never leaving". I am a big city, socialist, 50% of a "dynamic DC power couple", and despite all that, we freaking loved it. All of that ethereal crap doesn't matter when you actually love your day to day living - from getting up in the sunshine morning to walking in the sand on a daily basis. We had fantastic jobs in DC, but there are some good jobs in Florida (especially in tampa - lots of corporate headquarters down there; policy jobs in Tallahassee, and lawyer jobs all over the state). But the reality is that, to the extent you're someone who would love to leave DC, you just don't miss having a great DC job when you end up somewhere you love. We made friends with a ton of people in Florida, lots of lawyers (like me!) and frankly they were in jobs that were all C-list DC lawyer jobs (regional firms, local government, etc). They all knew it, we knew it - and we all laughed about it, because who cares when we were all having such a wonderful life with oceanfront cocktails on Friday night after we left work at 5pm? We also made much better and more meaningful friends in Florida than we ever did here. So when you talk about "DC jobs, energy, where the action is", all of this is just the bullshit we tell ourselves when we live in DC to justify how humdrum this lifestyle is. Those are the "big picture" things that get you through a year. But they don't make your long workday, your shitty commute, or your crappy small house in a mediocre school district any better. Live for the day!

[Anonymous]

^^pp. it sounds like you're happy with your move, which is great! However, I don't think people are mentioning the "energy" of dc because of something lacking in their life. I moved to a lcol city and found it boring. People weren't that career focused and there was less upward mobility career wise. I was held back due to my young age at the time and I'm now way more senior than people 10-15 years older than me in my former city. I would be bored drinking cocktails on the beach at 5 pm every day with people who most likely do not share common interests with me. That's not what I want. Maybe when I'm retired but not now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

How different was your life in KC though? You saved a lot of money and got a great house. How about walkability? Activities? Entertainment (museums, plays, cultural parties)? I just did a google search and KC itself doesn't seem to have many condos or even 'non-suburban' homes. They all look like planned lots that you need to drive in and out along major highways. Is there a downtown historic section of homes that I could look at (generally close to everything)?

Thanks for your questions. There are quite a few "walkable" neighborhoods in Kansas City: W. 39th Street Corridor/Historic Westport; Brookside, Waldo, Hyde Park, and Southmoreland. For those looking for a loft experience rather than SFHs, there's a ton of activity going on in the Midtown Arts District. For classic, pre-war 2 and 3 bedroom apartments centered on retail, consider Country Club Plaza.

If we go back, Brookside (centered on W. 63rd Street and Brookside Blvd.) is probably where we'll buy. A bit pricy for KC, but walkable with a great retail corridor - places like Reading Reptile and Brookside Science and Toys alone are fantastic kid-centered stores. It also has good school options - St. Peter's (Catholic) and Academie Lafayette (French language immersion PCS).

Kansas City is currently building a streetcar line along Main Street from downtown (City Market) to Union Station. From Union Station south to West 75th Street, Kansas City has the MAX Bus along Main Street and Brookside Boulevard. It is similar in concept to the Circulator and about a 20 minute trip from Brookside to downtown. It runs 7 days a week with service every 10-30 minutes depending on day/time.

Before we went to KC, I'd been in DC for 7 years and my spouse for 11. We probably took in more "culture" during our single year in KC than in any 3 year span in DC. We fell in love with Unicorn Theater and got to attend two opening night celebrations ("Grounded" and "Other Desert Cities"). We were welcomed with open arms and felt right at home. I became involved with KKFI, Kansas City's community radio station and found it very welcoming. I even got the chance to DJ a 3 hour show that celebrates my favorite music genre (80s New Wave, synth, and industrial) just prior to leaving - that was one of the highlights of my year. There are many cultural events, book talks, concerts, etc. UMKC is a fairly comprehensive university and that brings much to the city. Also, a fair number of KU faculty live in KC, MO and reverse commute to Lawrence for work.

For families, there is so much so close - Union Station, The Royals, Children's Science Museum, the Aquarium, Zoo, Kids Shows at Sprint Center, Crown Center, City Market, Schlitterbahn, easy access to nature/farms. There's even a small ski facility north of KC.

In short, we found a great community spirit and things just seemed so much more accessible to families on a Federal salary than in DC. KC also has a very vibrant civic activist culture which I personally loved. Again, it was just so much easier to "plug into" than DC. I really enjoyed the opportunity to join with Stand Up KC and the Heartland Labor Forum on the Fight for 15 and other causes. I haven't had opportunities like this since before I came to Washington.

Of course, there's also the suburban option if that's what people want. The Johnson County (KS) suburbs are all quite accessible to KC with many amenities.

I hope this helps.

We are an Obama loving, uber democratic, biracial family and I wonder if we would have the same experiences as you in Kansas City? Thanks.

Bump this.