Anonymous
12/09/2013 16:52
Subject: Re:Moved to the burbs and I hate it
OP, maybe you need to find a different suburb
We moved to FFX City (near OT) and I can't believe myself, but I like it. We can walk to most of my 16 m.o. activities, indoor playroom,pool, free concerts, fire station, several playgrounds. Burke is about 5 miles away and it had even more stuff for kids. I walk to work, my DH's commute is short.
There are several coffee shops and restaurants within the walking distance. Weekends are usually spent in DC, but sometimes go to children's activities in the area.
I would be miserable here pre-kids, but I like it now. My kid is very comfortable here. He knows kids on the playgrounds and play room. Neighbors, shop owners, recognize him and chat.
DH hates it passionately though and it makes me feel very guilty.
We moved to FFX City (near OT) and I can't believe myself, but I like it. We can walk to most of my 16 m.o. activities, indoor playroom,pool, free concerts, fire station, several playgrounds. Burke is about 5 miles away and it had even more stuff for kids. I walk to work, my DH's commute is short.
There are several coffee shops and restaurants within the walking distance. Weekends are usually spent in DC, but sometimes go to children's activities in the area.
I would be miserable here pre-kids, but I like it now. My kid is very comfortable here. He knows kids on the playgrounds and play room. Neighbors, shop owners, recognize him and chat.
DH hates it passionately though and it makes me feel very guilty.
Anonymous
12/09/2013 16:47
Subject: Moved to the burbs and I hate it
Gang, the OP can barely raise her kid - don't encourage her to get a dog to be mean to it also....
Anonymous
12/09/2013 16:41
Subject: Moved to the burbs and I hate it
Do you have a dog? I have met a lot of people in my neighborhood walking my dog. And I see them frequently, so it does create that feeling of always running into people you know.
Anonymous
12/09/2013 16:37
Subject: Moved to the burbs and I hate it
Depends on your finances. Can you handle being landlords? Can you float your mortgage for a few months while also paying rent? What kind of loan did you use to purchase your house?
Anonymous
12/09/2013 16:36
Subject: Moved to the burbs and I hate it
I don't think it's really an either-or, OP. We bought on a low budget in DC (H Street) when I was pregnant. We'd been living in a 600 square foot apartment in upper NW. There are, believe it or not, still neighborhoods in DC where you could afford more of what you want. Schools may be challenging, but there are lots of options. (Our kids are in DCPS and we are very happy.)
Just take it slow. And if you still want to move in a year, go ahead and do it.
Just take it slow. And if you still want to move in a year, go ahead and do it.
Anonymous
12/09/2013 16:34
Subject: Moved to the burbs and I hate it
Anonymous wrote:So what now?
Move to Frederick and get 70% of the DCUM Dream (albeit with an 90-minute commute)?
Stay put? I'm guessing you have little in common with your neighbors. That can't be fixed, but surely there's a MOMS club or something you can do (church, social club, etc.)
Move back to Columbia Heights and find the limitations of city living (terrible schools, cramped space, petty crime that might suddenly become more annoying, etc.)?
16:15, I think you've got two conflicting desires here in OP, and -- let's face it -- in most DCUM regulars.
"Pretend to be 23 the rest of your life" vs. "Doing the 'mature' thing and moving out to the burbs."
The "moving to the burbs is mature" thing has been drilled into us by parents/relatives/suburbanites who're still stuck in Barry-era stereotypes.
I suspect the ones who slink off to Urbana/Ashburn/Stafford/Crofton (or live 70% of the DCUM Dream in Frederick/Leesburg/Fredericksburg/Annapolis) go away, never to return.
She could move to Upper Caucasia, join DCUM Team Smug, and still get the satisfaction of telling everyone who will listen that she lives in "DC proper," but it too would be heavy on the old white people for her taste. That said, it's a way to live in DC with none of the "undesirable" elements, such as schoolchildren who aren't, ahem, "motivated." Isn't that the euphemism they're using these days?
I guess she can't afford that though.
Anonymous
12/09/2013 16:33
Subject: Moved to the burbs and I hate it
Anonymous wrote:
The "moving to the burbs is mature" thing has been drilled into us by parents/relatives/suburbanites who're still stuck in Barry-era stereotypes.
+1. I lived in the 'burbs: kids would play in our yard for maximum 15 minutes, and they couldn't go to the neighbor kids' houses without arranging. They wanted me to take them to the park which I could do on foot in the city. With that, why live in the burbs to sacrifice for your kids?
Anonymous
12/09/2013 16:32
Subject: Re:Moved to the burbs and I hate it
We were like you until we encountered all of the following while living close to Columbia Heights:
- Cars broken into multiple times
- Neighbor murdered in a nearby alley
- Next-door neighbors ranged from noisy college grads to gang members
- Man on block arrested for threatening POTUS
- Spouse was confronted by man exposing himself in DC public library
- Syringes left on playground at local ES
- Drunks urinated in alley behind house
- Local teenagers hung out on corner smoking and selling weed
- Teen moms would ask us to look out after their kids for an hour, and come back five hours later
- Kids who'd played together as toddlers stopped seeing each other because they were all at different pre-schools and privates
Dunno, maybe you have to experience some of that first-hand to appreciate people who take care of their yards and decorate for XMas.
- Cars broken into multiple times
- Neighbor murdered in a nearby alley
- Next-door neighbors ranged from noisy college grads to gang members
- Man on block arrested for threatening POTUS
- Spouse was confronted by man exposing himself in DC public library
- Syringes left on playground at local ES
- Drunks urinated in alley behind house
- Local teenagers hung out on corner smoking and selling weed
- Teen moms would ask us to look out after their kids for an hour, and come back five hours later
- Kids who'd played together as toddlers stopped seeing each other because they were all at different pre-schools and privates
Dunno, maybe you have to experience some of that first-hand to appreciate people who take care of their yards and decorate for XMas.
Anonymous
12/09/2013 16:32
Subject: Moved to the burbs and I hate it
Anonymous wrote:Raising my child in a 'closet' in the city. He loves it. Three parks in walking distance, lots to do.
+1. We did the reverse move -- when we had a kid, we moved from our big home out in the 'burbs into the city -- we're much happier as a family.
Anonymous
12/09/2013 16:32
Subject: Moved to the burbs and I hate it
OP, do you only have 1 kid and do you only plan to have 1? If so, move back. Seriously.
If you want 2 or more kids, I suggest finding a middle ground somewhere between completely urban and suburban.
If you want 2 or more kids, I suggest finding a middle ground somewhere between completely urban and suburban.
Anonymous
12/09/2013 16:31
Subject: Moved to the burbs and I hate it
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
My husband and I lived in a tiny 800 square foot condo in Columbia Heights for 10 years and I absolutely loved it – loved the neighborhood, loved the walkability, loved the people, loved running into friends everywhere, loved the feel of tons of stuff happening right outside my front door. Place was tiny but cozy and I loved it.
Then we had a baby and ran out of room.
We looked for over a year with a very low budget, and 6 months ago in the Maryland burbs we found a decent-sized place in great condition, a mile from a metro. And I HATE IT. I hate not seeing anyone on the street, I hate being in a silent neighborhood surrounded by car-choked streets, I hate being in the freaking car ALL THE TIME, I hate spending time on the stupid lawn, I hate f’ing pressure to decorate for Christmas, I hate having nothing but old white people as neighbors.
Is it insane to try renting out this place and moving into a rental back in the city? It has only been six months, but I just despair about spending years of my life in this place.
Everything about your post screams complete immaturity. Why on earth did you buy a place in the suburbs in the first place if you really want to live in a hispter neighborhood and pretend to be 23 the rest of your life?
Your poor child.
LOL. Not only do you think that ColHi is a "hipster" neighborhood (I swear, I haven't heard that word used correctly in 5 years), but you think the only people that want some REAL quality of life are pretending to be 23? If growing up means moving to the suburbs, kill me now.
Anonymous
12/09/2013 16:26
Subject: Moved to the burbs and I hate it
So what now?
Move to Frederick and get 70% of the DCUM Dream (albeit with an 90-minute commute)?
Stay put? I'm guessing you have little in common with your neighbors. That can't be fixed, but surely there's a MOMS club or something you can do (church, social club, etc.)
Move back to Columbia Heights and find the limitations of city living (terrible schools, cramped space, petty crime that might suddenly become more annoying, etc.)?
16:15, I think you've got two conflicting desires here in OP, and -- let's face it -- in most DCUM regulars.
"Pretend to be 23 the rest of your life" vs. "Doing the 'mature' thing and moving out to the burbs."
The "moving to the burbs is mature" thing has been drilled into us by parents/relatives/suburbanites who're still stuck in Barry-era stereotypes.
I suspect the ones who slink off to Urbana/Ashburn/Stafford/Crofton (or live 70% of the DCUM Dream in Frederick/Leesburg/Fredericksburg/Annapolis) go away, never to return.
Move to Frederick and get 70% of the DCUM Dream (albeit with an 90-minute commute)?
Stay put? I'm guessing you have little in common with your neighbors. That can't be fixed, but surely there's a MOMS club or something you can do (church, social club, etc.)
Move back to Columbia Heights and find the limitations of city living (terrible schools, cramped space, petty crime that might suddenly become more annoying, etc.)?
16:15, I think you've got two conflicting desires here in OP, and -- let's face it -- in most DCUM regulars.
"Pretend to be 23 the rest of your life" vs. "Doing the 'mature' thing and moving out to the burbs."
The "moving to the burbs is mature" thing has been drilled into us by parents/relatives/suburbanites who're still stuck in Barry-era stereotypes.
I suspect the ones who slink off to Urbana/Ashburn/Stafford/Crofton (or live 70% of the DCUM Dream in Frederick/Leesburg/Fredericksburg/Annapolis) go away, never to return.
Anonymous
12/09/2013 16:26
Subject: Re:Moved to the burbs and I hate it
Whiny Bitch.
Anonymous
12/09/2013 16:24
Subject: Moved to the burbs and I hate it
you will be fine. we moved from CH to MOCO 4 years ago because of the kids. it's fine. the kids are what matters. i go to sleep at 9 anyways due to utter exhaustion. focus on your positives. to live otherwise - you are missing out.
p.s. i am probably your neighbor and i ain't old or white.
p.s. i am probably your neighbor and i ain't old or white.
Anonymous
12/09/2013 16:23
Subject: Moved to the burbs and I hate it
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
My husband and I lived in a tiny 800 square foot condo in Columbia Heights for 10 years and I absolutely loved it – loved the neighborhood, loved the walkability, loved the people, loved running into friends everywhere, loved the feel of tons of stuff happening right outside my front door. Place was tiny but cozy and I loved it.
Then we had a baby and ran out of room.
We looked for over a year with a very low budget, and 6 months ago in the Maryland burbs we found a decent-sized place in great condition, a mile from a metro. And I HATE IT. I hate not seeing anyone on the street, I hate being in a silent neighborhood surrounded by car-choked streets, I hate being in the freaking car ALL THE TIME, I hate spending time on the stupid lawn, I hate f’ing pressure to decorate for Christmas, I hate having nothing but old white people as neighbors.
Is it insane to try renting out this place and moving into a rental back in the city? It has only been six months, but I just despair about spending years of my life in this place.
Everything about your post screams complete immaturity. Why on earth did you buy a place in the suburbs in the first place if you really want to live in a hispter neighborhood and pretend to be 23 the rest of your life?
Your poor child.
LOL!
