Relocating out of DC

[Anonymous]

We moved to Orlando in 2009.
We have a great group of friends now, but I never liked it.
We plan to move back to DC in 2017. That was always the plan. We moved to save money so when we go back to DC, we can buy the house we want.

Our house in Orlando costs double in Fairfax County. So, financially, it has been worth it. But ready to go back to DC, especially when our DD starts school. Florida is not known to have good public schools compared with other states.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
My hangups about the midwest are tornadoes and heavy snow. Where in the midwest can I live without these?

You can't. Put on your big girl pants.

I'm the PP. I had ruled out living in the midwest because of weather preferences; was asking if perhaps I was wrong to ignore an entire swath of states. Apparently that's not the case. So, I (and my big girl pants) will continue to not live in the midwest.

I did live in Ann Arbor for three years, and didn't care for it. Not knocking those who do, but I'm always a little disappointed when people hold it up as the best example of midwest living.

[Anonymous]

My husband and I have been trying to move to Minneapolis for two years. He works in Biglaw and its taken quite a toll on our family. I just want to be near my family, have less traffic, and be able to buy a house. If feels like we worked very hard all these years in our careers and don't have anything to show for it (we still rent). Our problem is that Minnesotans only want to hire other Minnesotans. This has been a roadblock for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:my wife and i have been here for over 4 years and plan to head back to the philadelphia area in the next 1-3 years. dc is a great city but the COL is prohibitive, even if you make a very good living. we still plan to spend a lot of money on a house ($1 million +) but I am excited at the prospect of an actual large house and yard.

good choice. main-line realestate stock is much nicer than stuff worth 2x-3x here.

We have friends in Devon, Pennsylvania. Our friend works in Paoli, which we also thought was nice. I think it is lovely there. I am from the Midwest originally.

We're in Bryn Mawr. 19 minute train ride to Philly, and 5 bedroom, 2700 sq ft house, recently renovated for $500k. We thought we'd died and gone to heaven moving from DC. Oh, and great schools.

How are the public schools (or is that what you are talking about)? How do the public schools compare to DC?

[Anonymous]

the public schools on the main line in philly burbs are really very great. some of the best in the nation.

We're working hard to relocate there. The longer I live in DC the more unsatisfied I am.

The funny thing, SO many people thing this, can't afford to stay and can't afford to move. I wonder if the leaders in the area know this and/or care?

[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!

I was born and bred in DC and I feel this way. I have alternated with a couple years abroad and a couple years in DC for the last 20 years. I am planning a summer visit for my sons to see the grandparents and I am dreading it. Just arranging ped appointments on the phone with the snitty curt schedulers whom you have to pull information out of made my BP rise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
My hangups about the midwest are tornadoes and heavy snow. Where in the midwest can I live without these?

You can't. Put on your big girl pants.

I'm the PP. I had ruled out living in the midwest because of weather preferences; was asking if perhaps I was wrong to ignore an entire swath of states. Apparently that's not the case. So, I (and my big girl pants) will continue to not live in the midwest.

I did live in Ann Arbor for three years, and didn't care for it. Not knocking those who do, but I'm always a little disappointed when people hold it up as the best example of midwest living.

Ann Arbor is very overrated. Can you have fun there? Yes. Also overrated is Zingermann's Deli.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband and I have been trying to move to Minneapolis for two years. He works in Biglaw and its taken quite a toll on our family. I just want to be near my family, have less traffic, and be able to buy a house. If feels like we worked very hard all these years in our careers and don't have anything to show for it (we still rent). Our problem is that Minnesotans only want to hire other Minnesotans. This has been a roadblock for us.

Same with people in Southeastern Michigan - very insular. But if you have family ties, try to get that in the cover letter.

[Anonymous]

I totally feel the competition business that bothers others.

I was born and bred in DC. I have alternated with a couple years abroad and a couple years in DC for the last 20 years. I am planning a summer visit for my sons to see the grandparents and I am dreading it. Just arranging pediatric appointments on the phone with the snitty curt schedulers whom you have to pull information out of made my BP rise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the public schools on the main line in philly burbs are really very great. some of the best in the nation.

We're working hard to relocate there. The longer I live in DC the more unsatisfied I am.

The funny thing, SO many people thing this, can't afford to stay and can't afford to move. I wonder if the leaders in the area know this and/or care?

Really? How would you compare to Arlington, Montgomery, or Fairfax counties?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Raleigh, NC
Boulder, CO
Portland, ME
Austin, TX
Madison, WI
Minneapolis, MN
Burlington, VT

Nice list

[Anonymous]

We've done that last year! We have relocated to Austin, beautiful place to live. My husband and I always wanted to move out of DC, our jobs didn't let that happen. Anyhow..we finally made it. BTW relocating was a pain in the neck. Our kids were 16 and 21 so from that point of view things weren't so bad. I also remember that we use a company which gave us few free moving quotes something like www.youthemover.com
Have a good one ladies!

[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!

Hey PP-I feel your pain 100%. I have posted several messages similar to yours on DCUM and reddit and am met with a hostile response generally, so I wanted to reach out and say that there is someone out there sharing your feelings.
I've been here a little over 6 years and my wife has been here for 11, and I've seen the ways the DC lifestyle and pace has changed her, especially when we go back home (South).
Like you, I grew up with very little traffic or urban competition or any of the hustle that I feel every day around here.

When I moved here from FL years ago, I thought that I would adjust and this was just a temporary cultural shock....but the feeling of being out of place with all these people elbowing me out of the way has yet to leave me.

Honestly, I don't know why/how so many younger people with young families "love it" here so gd much. I really cant relate, honestly. They must have more comfortable circumstances than ours....

I sat down with DW a few years back and laid it out for her: if we were going to have a kid (which we did), there was no way I'm raising him/her in DC. We live in a "developing neighborhood" in NE DC and there is very little grass, space, or even kids around for him to play with. I gave her a list of places we'd both talked a bit about previously, and told her that we need to be looking toward the future starting now. I also let her know plainly that I was VERY unhappy in DC. She told me she wanted a year or two to "say goodbye" to the place she feels so attached to, and I compromised on that in order to gain more experience and stability in my current job.

That was three years ago, and I think we are getting close this week to a new job offer back home. DC lovers, I know, "don't let the door hit me on my way out", but still....that initial conversation opened her eyes to my truth, my reality.

I think you should talk with your husband and have a frank discussion about the direction of your lives together and where you BOTH want to be. Just because his business is based in DC doesn't necessarily mean you guys have to live here, right?
I am sure your DH loves and respects you, and would want to know your feelings on this if he doesn't already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We moved to Orlando in 2009.
We have a great group of friends now, but I never liked it.
We plan to move back to DC in 2017. That was always the plan. We moved to save money so when we go back to DC, we can buy the house we want.

Our house in Orlando costs double in Fairfax County. So, financially, it has been worth it. But ready to go back to DC, especially when our DD starts school. Florida is not known to have good public schools compared with other states.

I would be careful about generalizing on such a huge state without any kind of statistical data.

Plus, you live in Orlando. Schools there DO suck.

As someone who went to public schools in the state, I can speak to this.

[Anonymous]

DW and I cannot wait to move back to TX.

We met in DC and have slugged it out in NE for 10 years, but ready to go where the family is. Plus we want to raise DS in a somewhat civilized environment.

DC is a young person's town and we're both in our late thirties. Plus COL here is absurd for what you get, unlike (imo) Philly, Boston.