So the kids will live out there and OP and DH will be leaving before they wake up in the morning and getting home when they're in bed to beat traffic.

No, it's not dumb. Some folks just prefer to raise their children with more grass and peace and quiet vs. commotion and pollution. The choice is OP's. Others prefer convenience over those things.

Well, DC is an urban area and CHOOSING to live where it takes you 2-4 hrs everyday to get to work is pretty dumb.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not a completely personal matter. I know I won't convince you because you evidently have your priorities, but someone needs to point it out: you are wasting everybody's environmental resources when you choose to drive for 2-4 hours EVERY SINGLE WORK DAY. It is irresponsible. I know tons of people do it, but that doesn't make it right. It is indeed unsustainable for all of us.

Seriously? Get a grip. Or go work in your organic, low-carbon garden.

I knew someone would get defensive...

Not defensive. I live in DC and take the metro every day. But I think it is absolutely ridiculous to chastise someone for driving to work every day -- something millions and millions of people in this country do every day. "Irresponsible" is beyond an overstatement -- it is laughable.

Agree with PP. What do you think folks all over American do, who do not live in urban areas? Some drive 2+ hours each way to get to work. And, besids, the OP wasn't asking about sustainability, but was asking about the commute from the area, and the best ways/options to do it. And, after reading the last post, it sounds like driving may not be the only option. The DC area has some of the worst commutes in the nation. A week or so ago WTOP did this "Commuter Idol" competition, and lots of folks drive in from West Virginia, Delaware, etc., to work in DC.....EVERY DAY. So lay off the OP!

OP here again. First, to the earthy crunchy people whining about environmental stuff: I get it. But families need to prioritize these days. I work full time, DH works full time. As feds (with pretty much decreasing salaries), we don't have $1 million to buy a 4 bedroom home in North Arlington on the metro.

Alexandria is not an option because the schools stink and housing costs are equally high. We like Great Falls. We like the schools. We like that there are wide open spaces and fresh air, and that our kids and pets could actually have a real backyard with a swing set and places to hike to.

So all that being said, we would all most likey carpool in together or alternatively drive to metro and then take metro in, once that becomes an option. The Silver Line will make a huge difference.

FWIW, we also looked in the W. Springfield / Burke area, but have heard equally depressing horror stories about the commute up 95 and/or VRE.

So, it really bothers me that some eco-crunchy judgemental biatch is talking about "sustainability." Don't get after me, but get after your public administrators to build more public transportation infrustructure!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not a completely personal matter. I know I won't convince you because you evidently have your priorities, but someone needs to point it out: you are wasting everybody's environmental resources when you choose to drive for 2-4 hours EVERY SINGLE WORK DAY. It is irresponsible. I know tons of people do it, but that doesn't make it right. It is indeed unsustainable for all of us.

Seriously? Get a grip. Or go work in your organic, low-carbon garden.

I knew someone would get defensive...

Not defensive. I live in DC and take the metro every day. But I think it is absolutely ridiculous to chastise someone for driving to work every day -- something millions and millions of people in this country do every day. "Irresponsible" is beyond an overstatement -- it is laughable.

Agree. Chastising people in this area for driving to work is nuts. There's so many reasons why. First, there's not enough housing for everyone to live where you live or live close to a metro or bus route that would get them direclty to work. Second, metro is almost at capacity during rush hour, there's no way everyone could take it to work. Third, you are disregarding any complications or limitations on people who live further out. It's absurd.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not a completely personal matter. I know I won't convince you because you evidently have your priorities, but someone needs to point it out: you are wasting everybody's environmental resources when you choose to drive for 2-4 hours EVERY SINGLE WORK DAY. It is irresponsible. I know tons of people do it, but that doesn't make it right. It is indeed unsustainable for all of us.

Seriously? Get a grip. Or go work in your organic, low-carbon garden.

I knew someone would get defensive...

Not defensive. I live in DC and take the metro every day. But I think it is absolutely ridiculous to chastise someone for driving to work every day -- something millions and millions of people in this country do every day. "Irresponsible" is beyond an overstatement -- it is laughable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not a completely personal matter. I know I won't convince you because you evidently have your priorities, but someone needs to point it out: you are wasting everybody's environmental resources when you choose to drive for 2-4 hours EVERY SINGLE WORK DAY. It is irresponsible. I know tons of people do it, but that doesn't make it right. It is indeed unsustainable for all of us.

Seriously? Get a grip. Or go work in your organic, low-carbon garden.

I knew someone would get defensive...

Anonymous wrote:It's not a completely personal matter. I know I won't convince you because you evidently have your priorities, but someone needs to point it out: you are wasting everybody's environmental resources when you choose to drive for 2-4 hours EVERY SINGLE WORK DAY. It is irresponsible. I know tons of people do it, but that doesn't make it right. It is indeed unsustainable for all of us.

Seriously? Get a grip. Or go work in your organic, low-carbon garden.

Anonymous wrote:Most people in Great Falls drive to work. Public transit options aren't usually the biggest factor in deciding to live there.

Not yet.

Most people in Great Falls drive to work. Public transit options aren't usually the biggest factor in deciding to live there.

The best public transit options are getting on the Metro at Vienna or waiting for the silver line to open up in Reston (wiehle ave). There's a commuter bus from Reston to WFC metro that's not too bad. Still, your overall commute time will be at least an hour, assuming you time everything right. At least with mass transit you can read or do work during your commute.

Anonymous wrote:If there are no public transit options (I don't know if there are) I wouldn't do it. Your property value is going to deteriorate in the long run as gas prices rise.

I don't think this is necessarily accurate. Esp considering how far out people live nowadays. Great falls has always been a good neighborhood.

If there are no public transit options (I don't know if there are) I wouldn't do it. Your property value is going to deteriorate in the long run as gas prices rise.

I would still expect about an hour or so commute time from those locations. Its hard when you are both doing the downtown commute. My family doesn't think its too bad because one of us works in Tysons and the other is in DC, so at least one parent can get home quickly if necessary. But with young kids it seems like you are running home or to school at least once a week for some reason or another.