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[quote=Anonymous]Native.  Before I was born (in the 70s) my parents had been here for over 20 years.  My kids were born in DC too (Sibley second generation).

I agree with the comment that natives aren't as impressed with DC.  I think that is probably true for natives of any city.  I love DC and seeing its sights but seeing them everyday when I worked downtown meant that it lost some of its power.  I don't agree with previous comments that natives don't say "the city."  We do.  People from New York like to correct us that "the City" is New York.  To me, it is DC.  Because that is the closest City--not because I don't think NY is important.  Transplants from the NY area are desperate to show their dominance and superiority and correcting me on my use of "the city" is one example.  I also use downtown to refer to the area around the White House and K Street and the all the business and agencies around it.  I know it initially referred to the geographically lower part of Manhattan.  I KNOW!  
Georgetown is Georgetown, Dupont is Dupont, U Street is U Street.  Downtown is around the white house and K street and would probably include everything between GWU and Capital Hill.  I never refer to any of that as the Mall.  The Mall is the grassy part surrounded by museums.

To Natives, the Metro is the Metro.  Not the subway or the underground.  The Zoo is the National Zoo.  Period.  Reagan is still called National and not because we are anti-Reagan.  It is habit.  Natives remember how scary DC was and still get a little nervous in parts that are now generally safe.  14th street was for hookers.  U Street was literally boarded up from the Riots.

I find that the biggest difference is that people from other places that come here are always commenting on how competitive it is.  I don't really see it.

I grew up in Bethesda and I guess it was competitive but growing up it was just my life.  We did lots of activities, college was expected, doing well was expected.  Didn't always pan out but it was what most parents expected because most parents were successful.  I went from public to private school and the expectation was even more acute.  Not bad but just ever-present.  People from other places who seem to have been the rockstars of their school/town and have succeeded and are excited to be in Bethesda or you name it prestigious suburb are often really trying hard.  I don't feel the same burning desire.  My spouse is not a native and he sees the difference.  I was always a medium fish in a huge competitive pond.  Lots of people who transplant here were the big fish in a small pond and they don't adjust well.  They either overdo it with their kids (swimming competitively at 5 and you name it with tutors) or they give up and tell their kids to be happy (but totally take the pressure off their kids in terms of achievement.

I am sure I will piss someone off.  Whatever.  I am native and probably won't move.  Most of you will move at some point.  People who grew up here know that for sure--lots of people move here and then move away.  [/quote]

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