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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]How is beltway traffic?  Are people generally stressed out and competitive, or is it a laid back vibe?  Is the emphasis on money and success, or is there a real diversity of interests and goals?  Is there a lot of socioeconomic segregation?  Are people generally happy?  Is it a good place for older kids, or generally a fairly intense environment?  Is a 10-15 minute commute to work downtown out of the question?  [/quote]

I'll play.

Beltway traffic: We live in Arlington; spouse works here and I work in DC. We almost never get on the beltway on a weekday and rarely any other time.

Stressed out & competitive vs laid back: I think this depends on who you hang out with. I am a mid-level public sector employee and my spouse is a teacher. Our jobs can be stressful at times, but they're definitely not competitive. Spouse works 8-4, I work 9:30-5:30. I stay late sometimes but never take work home. Spouse rarely stays late but frequently grades papers at home. We--and our lifestyles--are pretty laid back. Spouse is off in the summer, so that definitely lends to a laid-back atmosphere at our house. I don't have stats to back up this point, but my perception is that more families in the DC area have 2 parents WOH. I think that is a major reason why people seem stressed out here compared with other areas.

Emphasis on money and success: Again, depends on who you hang out with. Our closest friends are a lot like us--teachers, public & nonprofit employees, etc. Obviously not a lot of emphasis on money and traditional measures of success. But our friends do tend to be passionate about their pet projects or concerns--education or the environment or health care, etc. People are more interested in public policy and politics here than elsewhere, for sure, but I don't think that describes everyone. Our neighbors, with whom we are very friendly, are a fairly diverse group in terms of interests. I don't really know what other people's goals are, it's not something I talk about with others very much.

Socioeconomic segregation: I think there is a fair amount, yes, though I live in a very mixed area, with old homes housing older folks and upper middle income families with kids, big new homes with wealthier families with kids, and small apartments/rental homes with a lot of younger people. My neighborhood is mostly white, although that is changing. My kids' high school is *very* economically & racially diverse; it was a major reason why we bought in our neighborhood. My kids have friends of all different colors; they live in very large homes and small apartments and everything in between.

Happy: I am.

Older kids: I love our neighborhood for my teens. They walk and ride their bikes everywhere. They have lots of opportunities in terms of school clubs, sports, volunteering, etc. We take advantage of museums, theater, etc. My kids are B+/A- students, good but not stellar, and that's fine with us and with them. I know some kids are caught up in the Quest for Elite Colleges, but my kids are not. They have plenty of free and family time.

Commute: well, you asked about the Beltway above. A 10-15 minute commute to downtown is out of the question from anywhere near the Beltway. Assuming by "downtown" you mean Connecticut & K, you can do a 15-minute commute from *some* points in the city--Georgetown, Glover Park, Dupont Circle. You'd have to allow for more time from from Capitol Hill during rush hour. You can do it in 15 minutes from very close-in parts of North Arlington (say from Spout Run area and east).

What don't I like about living here: **Exorbitant** cost of living. I think we are far from weekend fun like skiing and the beach (but obviously that depends on your point of reference). Crowds, always and everywhere.[/quote]

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