Should people "quarantining" at their vacation homes maybe just stay there post-pandemic?

[Anonymous]

Was talking about it with a few neighbors during an alley hang over the weekend, and one of them pointed out something I hadn't thought of. A lot of our, shall we say, high maintenance neighbors aren't around. We live in a transitional neighborhood and while many of us bought our homes for 200-300k over a decade ago (or even longer for some of the old-timers), we also have some newer arrivals who are much more well off (housing prices are through the roof here) and some of them can be demanding. In recent years, we see way more noise complaints, combative arguments over property uses or renovations, and other not-very-neighborly behavior than we used to. Until the pandemic. It's been pretty peaceful, something I chalked up to people just being nicer in a stressful time.

My neighbor said that she speculates many of our newer arrivals are spending the pandemic elsewhere -- at vacation homes, with family that can accommodate longterm guests, etc. And that the more collaborative atmosphere in the neighborhood is partially due to the fact that our most demanding residents just aren't here anymore.

I can't stop thinking about it since she said it. We definitely have two families on our block, specifically, who have spent most of the pandemic elsewhere, save for a few months in the summer and early fall. And, yeah, when I think about it, these folks are often not very friendly (don't say hello on the street, don't participate in clean ups), more likely to complain about stuff, more easily offended by very normal city inconveniences. I don't dislike them (it's rare that I dislike anyone) but I'm not friends with any of them, either, even though I know pretty much every other family on the street and we socialize often. But these are not people who have put much effort into getting to know their neighbors.

It seems like the people who have left might also be the people least committed to the neighborhood and to DC in general. People with other options who don't feel the need to create a community here. And in light of the events of last week, community is something I really care about right now. So I guess I wonder if we wouldn't be better off if those folks just didn't return? I don't know how I'm going to feel when this is all over and the (let's just say it) rich folks return from their country and beach houses to mix with us plebes again. Part of me thinks if you can't tough it out during the hard times, what's the point of showing back up when it's over?

[Anonymous]

There will be some shifting around of domiciles. That is for certain. Your neighborhood sounds kind of... Unfun. But good luck.

[Anonymous]

Glad I don't live in your neighborhood, OP.

[Anonymous]

I wish I could stay in my beach house forever. Not sure my boss will go for it.

And yes we are "quarantining" here, what's with the quotes? I go to the grocery, take out a pizza, we spend the day WFH or DL, maybe walk the dogs on the beach. Just as isolated as at home in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure they'll be gone when their kids reach school age anyhow.

[Anonymous]

Schools, public and private tend to suck in beach communities

[Anonymous]

“Part of me thinks if you can't tough it out during the hard times, what's the point of showing back up when it's over?”

LOL.

[Anonymous]

Its those very same people who are driving your property value through the roof. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Living in a "transitional" neighborhood is only as attractive as the future house value. Been there done that. As PP said, once the kids hit school age, no way they're dealing with that neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like wishful thinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like wishful thinking.

This. You might be better off, but you have absolutely zero control over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Schools, public and private tend to suck in beach communities

A number of my Arlington neighbors have gone to beach towns that are near private boarding and day schools that began accepting more day students in April and May. They are staying until they can get their kids in local private or parochial schools but not going back to Arlington schools. They have seen how much better other schools are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools, public and private tend to suck in beach communities

A number of my Arlington neighbors have gone to beach towns that are near private boarding and day schools that began accepting more day students in April and May. They are staying until they can get their kids in local private or parochial schools but not going back to Arlington schools. They have seen how much better other schools are.

Local parochial schools are in no way “much better than” APS with the possible exception of in person classes this year, but nice try.

Tell me more about these awesome boarding and day schools at the beach, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“Part of me thinks if you can't tough it out during the hard times, what's the point of showing back up when it's over?”

LOL.

Seriously. It's their lives, not a reality TV show. You don't get points for persistence.

[Anonymous]

This post is nuts.

First, you don't even know that these people are at vacation homes -- your other neighbor just "speculates" that. It sounds like some of them are around, some are not; the latter may be staying with, e.g., family who can provide childcare so the parents can work. Or they may be sick, for all you know.

But fine, let's assume they're at a vacation home. You are glad they're gone (it's peaceful) but mad they left?

And now you prefer they not return to your neighborhood ever again, because they're not like you: they haven't spent their spare time with you doing things you value (cleanups?) and haven't been at home for parts of this year, which means they aren't "committed to the neighborhood." Because they have "other options" besides hanging out with you. Please try saying this aloud without sounding like a TV villain. I bet you can't.

You ask what the the point is of living in the neighborhood when covid is over. The point is to have a place to live near the jobs they will presumably need to commute to, and near the schools their children will attend in person.

[Anonymous]

IME, the long time neighbors were the grouchy ones in a transitional neighborhood. Always kvetching about the newbies and being unfriendly and unwelcoming.