Anonymous wrote:Where were you happy before? What doesn't work for DC for you? Those are three very different places (obvs!).

We were in Philadelphia before this and liked it - that's where we went to college and lived until we moved to DC. We both grew up on the west coast. Just the general "vibe" of DC doesn't jive well - fast paced lifestyle, rather cold people, uber competitive parents, power/political obsession, materialism, SO crowded, etc.

These places suck you'll be back after the jobs dry out

Where were you happy before? What doesn't work for DC for you? Those are three very different places (obvs!).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you be willing to say which Chicago suburb? I know the area well and might be able to be more specific if I knew where you were talking abotu.

Job based in Aurora.

That's as far from Chicago as Baltimore is from DC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you be willing to say which Chicago suburb? I know the area well and might be able to be more specific if I knew where you were talking abotu.

Job based in Aurora.

Once you get as far out as Aurora, it's pretty much bland suburbia. BUT, you could live in LaGrange, Western Springs, Hinsdale, Elmhurst, etc. and commute.

The winters suck though.

Chicago 'burbs or Tampa.

Chicago is a great place to raise a family but has hard winters compared to DC. Lower COL compared to DC but not sure about taxes.

Tampa is a nice city and there are a lot of great things to do within close driving distance. I think Floridians don't pay state income tax, and it's an even lower COL than Chicago.

Anonymous wrote:Would you be willing to say which Chicago suburb? I know the area well and might be able to be more specific if I knew where you were talking abotu.

Job based in Aurora.

Would you be willing to say which Chicago suburb? I know the area well and might be able to be more specific if I knew where you were talking abotu.

That should read eastern suburb of Tampa above.

You couldn't pay me to live in Tampa (though to be honest I haven't been there in years), and I'm not a suburban person, so I guess I would choose Pittsburgh.

How old are your kids? Tampa is okay but you have to be very specific about the school districts. That puts you in a DC position of having to spend mucho $$ for some better South Tampa neighborhoods or a longer commute out to a western suburb.

Western suburbs of Chicago are the more upscale suburbs (thinking Naperville and surrounds) with the good schools. If he can work and live in the same place, that's a bonus. But you do have those winters...

I know nothing about Pittsburgh. Sorry!

Pittsburgh or Chicago,but not tampa

Tampa is a bright spot in FL. I'd go there.

I wouldn't want to live in Pittsburgh or Tampa. Ugh.

We've lived in DC for the past 8 years, and things have never really clicked. After about year 3, we actively started looking for an out. Unfortunately, nothing that felt right came through. Now, however, DH has found jobs with an option of which to take. Tell me about each place, please?

- one job offer in the far Western suburbs of Chicago
- one job offer in Tampa, FL
- one job offer in Pittsburgh