I'm tired of all the DC area people bashing: tell me what you like about living here!

[Anonymous]

Love many things, but especially the clean air. Left D.C. years ago to live in a developing country, so am happy (and lucky) to be returning soon.

[Anonymous]

Clean air????? Okay, now we're reaching.......

[Anonymous]

Love the city's suburban neighborhoods now that I am older with kids but loved the urban areas (U Street) long ago when I was "young." Love that I can drive in this city, unlike NYC. Love that there are so many wonderful places to run or bike--C& O path, Crescent trail, the bridges loop, path to Old Town, Rock Creek. Love that you can drive a short distance and be out of the city entirely. Love the embassy row area---I feel like I am in Europe every time I drive through. Love looking at the beautiful Georgetown homes, especially at Christmastime. Love that the airport is so close. Love how clean the metro is compared to other cities.

Things I wish for:

More people riding bikes or scooters (Vespas....so stylish) to work
More dog parks
Public schools we can be proud of
More stylishly dressed/hipper citizens--New Yorkers dress circles around us

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most of us are here because of jobs. That said, there are some nice neighbourhoods, it is a lot more international than most places in the states, great museums, good bike trails, and good international flight connections.

Speak for yourself. Most of the people I know grew up in this area.

Not the poster you are responding to, and not doubting that most of the people you know grew up here, but DC is famous for having many people not from here. A ton of folks come here every year fresh out of college or grad school, and many come here to attend the many schools we have, to work for the government, there are many, many international folks here, there are many companies here that attract folks from all over the world, etc.

So I don't think it is inaccurate to say that many are here because of jobs. Maybe to say "most" but definitely think at least half are transplants.

Depends. That may be true is some of the hip inner suburbs, like Clarendon (where I used to live and believe that to be the case.) Not so much in the other suburbs and the less hip places. I live in Fairfax and most people I know grew up here in NoVA.
And, I consider NoVA the "DC area."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most of us are here because of jobs. That said, there are some nice neighbourhoods, it is a lot more international than most places in the states, great museums, good bike trails, and good international flight connections.

Speak for yourself. Most of the people I know grew up in this area.

Not the poster you are responding to, and not doubting that most of the people you know grew up here, but DC is famous for having many people not from here. A ton of folks come here every year fresh out of college or grad school, and many come here to attend the many schools we have, to work for the government, there are many, many international folks here, there are many companies here that attract folks from all over the world, etc.

So I don't think it is inaccurate to say that many are here because of jobs. Maybe to say "most" but definitely think at least half are transplants.

Depends. That may be true is some of the hip inner suburbs, like Clarendon (where I used to live and believe that to be the case.) Not so much in the other suburbs and the less hip places. I live in Fairfax and most people I know grew up here in NoVA.
And, I consider NoVA the "DC area."

Clearly it's a mix - many people are from here, many people come here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:dont you think since the topic of dc bashing comes up so much that maybe there's a little truth to the fact that it really sucks to live here!!!??

Every city in the world has its detractors. I've never lived anywhere that didn't have its share of vocal critics. *shrug*

Self-loathing. Common among the highly educated.

And among miserable people.

[Anonymous]

Wow, now we're bashing smart people? And other threads bashing wealthy people?

Let's take out the smart and wealthy from D.C. and see what that leaves the haters. Not much. Yes, indeed, maybe it's you. Nope, it's definitely you.

I know I'va never seen an area so blissfully full of themselves and blissfully full of ignorance.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Whoops - that smiley face was for the previous post. I like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most of us are here because of jobs. That said, there are some nice neighbourhoods, it is a lot more international than most places in the states, great museums, good bike trails, and good international flight connections.

Speak for yourself. Most of the people I know grew up in this area.

When I said "us" I meant people on DCUMs. maybe an exaggeration, but I bet very many of us on DCUMs didn't grow up here.

[Anonymous]

I grew up here.

[Anonymous]

I did not grow up here - moved here after undergrad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did not grow up here - moved here after undergrad.

Oh, and so did my husband (grew up out west, moved here after undergrad). The vast majority of my friends, co-workers, and neighbors did not grow up here.

[Anonymous]

Well, I don't care. I'll say it proudly: I love it here. Yeah, it has downsides. But every city does. To me the upsides outweigh the bad.

I moved here from the midwest after grad school. It is more home to me than where I grew up. Don't care what anyone says to the contrary. To each his own.

[Anonymous]

Another thing I like about DC. At most of dd's schools, you could never be sure of the race/ethnicity of the parent by looking at the kid. I met black kids with a white parent and a white kid with a black parent and lots of other combinations.