Anonymous wrote:I just walked into a CVS at night with no one on duty and that's cool because no one steals in our town.

Then I walked home on a darker block and didn't worry for my safety because nothing ever happens here.

My doors are unlocked frequently because nothing ever happens here.

This isn’t in the DC suburbs is it?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's peaceful and quiet.
There aren't homeless people sleeping in front of your house.
The air is fresh and doesn't smell like garbage, urine and pot.
There are nice playgrounds within walking distance.
People are kinder and less pushy.
If you live in a neighborly neighborhood, you will build meaningful connections.
I can drive to Shenandoah National Park and go hiking for the day.
The schools are great.
The grocery stores are much nicer than urban grocery stores.

I live in DC and do all of this + walk to a brand new Whole Foods.

DC smells like pot

If you live in DC you'll just be living among other transplants who think they're too good. The DC natives were long pushed out but every DC native I've met has been real, down to earth, and friendly. You'll find them out in the Virginia or Maryland suburbs.

I just walked into a CVS at night with no one on duty and that's cool because no one steals in our town.

Then I walked home on a darker block and didn't worry for my safety because nothing ever happens here.

My doors are unlocked frequently because nothing ever happens here.

Anonymous wrote:It's peaceful and quiet.
There aren't homeless people sleeping in front of your house.
The air is fresh and doesn't smell like garbage, urine and pot.
There are nice playgrounds within walking distance.
People are kinder and less pushy.
If you live in a neighborly neighborhood, you will build meaningful connections.
I can drive to Shenandoah National Park and go hiking for the day.
The schools are great.
The grocery stores are much nicer than urban grocery stores.

I live in DC and do all of this + walk to a brand new Whole Foods.

Anonymous wrote:I live in NYC. I could never leave… Well, maybe if someone gifted me a $10mm house in a suburb somewhere, I suppose then I would

How does this answer the op’s question? You are living in an alternate universe.

I live in NYC. I could never leave… Well, maybe if someone gifted me a $10mm house in a suburb somewhere, I suppose then I would

Check out Bethesda. It has the access to shops and restaurants that you seek, but less crime, homeless people, etc The public schools are excellent.

The subway is also better. Tons of parks (lakes and pools) in every direction. I think you will like it more than you expect.

Anonymous wrote:I love these threads where some D from Azz Fv*k, OH, lives in Manhattan for a year and suddenly thinks they're too special to live in Alexandria.

+2873379292

Anonymous wrote:I love these threads where some D from Azz Fv*k, OH, lives in Manhattan for a year and suddenly thinks they're too special to live in Alexandria.

Love posters who needlessly put down OH for no reason. You are not sophisticated if you live in Alexandria or anywhere in red state Confederate VA. Try harder.

It's peaceful and quiet.
There aren't homeless people sleeping in front of your house.
The air is fresh and doesn't smell like garbage, urine and pot.
There are nice playgrounds within walking distance.
People are kinder and less pushy.
If you live in a neighborly neighborhood, you will build meaningful connections.
I can drive to Shenandoah National Park and go hiking for the day.
The schools are great.
The grocery stores are much nicer than urban grocery stores.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why New Yorkers do this. They leave NY, move to a soulless suburb of another city and then complain nonstop how they hate X city. No, you hate the burns.

I had the same reaction.

OP, if you are a nice, normal, halfway intelligent person, you will realize in about 10 minutes that this forum generally consists of 20-30 people who post over and over and over again, most of whom hate DC because they’ve been laid off, forced to move, are “too poor” for whatever they deem worthy of their station in life, etc. DC (the real area, not the DCUm version) attracts people from all over the country (and the world) — surely you will get better advice from those people than the ones who tend to hang out here and offer gems like “Bloomington, Michigan” is where things are really happening. I promise you that outside of this forum, many people like DC and even seek it out. This includes those of us who have moved from cities like New York and Chicago. Can’t speak for Bloomington, Michigan, and I’m sure the shopping malls are high end, indeed. For those high class citizens that rank cities on the basis of shopping malls, anyway. It is true that if you make a lot of money, you’ll be happier here because it is very expensive. But there are many great suburbs and areas of the city that people (not anonymous crazies) can tell you all about. Including areas of Bethesda, Chevy Chase, McLean, Arlington. There are beautiful homes and less beautiful homes - much like you’ll see in westchester or newton or, even (I’m just spitballing) the great state of Michigan. I don’t know anyone as miserable in life as I see on this forum. It is just bizarre. Good luck in your move and search for the right suburb for yourself. You’ll love it wherever you end up.

Anonymous wrote:Please only share positive things. I need a morale boost! I’m gonna miss stepping out of my apartment and walking to my favorite coffee shops, restaurants, playgrounds, etc. I don’t mind driving but getting the kids in and out of car seats vs. taking them places in a stroller seems like a hassle. I know I’ll get used to it but would love to hear why you love living in this area!

I live in Lyon Park Arlington and can do all the things you list without a car. The best thing about DC compared to NYC is that the suburbs are very close to the nice parts of the city (you don't have to go through the Bronx - no offense to the Bronx) and there are a lot of walkable DC suburbs. Also the metro stations have elevators. That makes it much easier to metro with a stroller vs NYC.

I hate DC suburbs and am in the process of moving my family back to Boston. Looked at many and lived in some of the neighborhoods mentioned in these posts in NOVA and hated them all. Yes, even NWDC and CCMD. Old Town is the closest you will get to the urban feel of New York, but with mediocre restaurants, cafes, and no culture to speak of. I'm sorry you have to move.