There are some people who know how to make friends anywhere, what a blessing. Often I have found these are people who only live someplace 2-3 years and "make nice" because they know they will only be here (wherever) 2-3 years. Again, a blessing.

Everyone I know who has left D.C. (for places all over the U.S. - NOT just "small town folk") has NOT regretted it at all.

It does not make sense to me to retire here, hell it doesn't even make sense to me to be here not retired.

As for the MA poster - are you the same one who hates MA and NY people that keeps posting. You are very tiresome. If OP asks a question, stick with the question at hand or move to a different post. Common board etiquette.

As for the MA food - PP, if you don't like fresh from the ocean, top grade seafood, I guess you ARE in the wrong place. Do you live anywhere near the city? Most of MA is amazing and has all sorts of genuine opportunities. But I wouldn't want too many DCUM's getting wind of that! I would not think they would appreciate any of it, as it would add to a finer taste of life.

Left DC, love the midwest. Low cost of living, smart and cool friends in university town, better weather in the summers and once it is below 40 degrees, everything sucks so the winters are not that different enjoyment-wise. We miss our DC friends but have made new ones.

Anonymous wrote:It's not just DC that can't handle the snow. I was at UVA back in 1986 -87. We had a biggish storm that dropped some snow. OMG you wouldn't believe how they freaked out! Said they'd never had that kind of snow, didn't actually own any snowplows, closed schools and government that morning before the snow even hit. I went to the movies and laughed at all of them. So, the more the things change the more they stay the same..

That was during the infamous Barry years, when the ex-Mayor-for-Life's concept of "snow removal" was done with nostrils, a mirror and a straw. Indeed, you may be referring to the storm where he out of town, found strung out on cognac and crack in L.A. Asked upon his return how DC would get rid of the snow, Barry helpfully said "spring." By the time Barry served jail time and slithered back into the District Building in the mid-1990s, things still hadn't improved, and the blizzard of January '96 was even worse in DC. When the control board and Mayor Williams came in, they bought snow plows and DC's record through the Williams and Fenty years was much improved.

The DC government did not handle the big storm in late January this year at all well. Still, despite Vincent Gray's apparent back-to-the-future nostalgia for the lazy, crazy days of the Barry era, winter storm work is still a lot better than it once was.

Anonymous wrote:Yes. We're in Baltimore. It's much more laid back, cheaper, slower pace of life.

So glad to hear that. We're thinking of moving to Baltimore and having DH commute to DC until the economic turns around and he can get a job up there.

We moved BACK to DC and couldn't be happier. I hated leaving. Neither one of us grew up here but to us it is "home." Yes, people are rude and the cost of living is ridiculous but it works for us. We have great friends and love living on Capitol Hill. I was ready to slit my wrists in a perfect type suburb out west.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved to Chicago burbs and we couldn't be happier!

In 3 months here I've made more friends than in 6 years there! I think just this number says it all.

Sit through a few winters and then report back.

The last few DC winters have been brutal. Snow + Ice = major disruption and school closings in DC. Chicago seems to handle the winter weather much better!

You think the last few DC winters have been "brutal"? Aw, man, Chicago winters are going to break you like a wineglass dropped on a freezing tile floor.

That was my post, not the Chicago resident's post. My "brutal" comment was about the silly disruption and school closings, not the actual inches of snow.

I'll compare places I've lived; 1 to 10 (10 being loved the place)
Philly: 1
Boston: 4 (lower because of winters, cost of living some Massholes)
Salt Lake City: 6 (excellent food, summer wasn't that bad, no traffic)
Seattle: 7
Honolulu: 10 (not practical to afford housing)
DC: 5

There you have it...

Anonymous wrote:We left DC 18 months ago for the New England burbs. I think there are some things I prefer in DC and other things I prefer here. I am much happier that I no longer spend time stressing about finding a parking spot! I miss the great restaurants all over DC (MA food sucks). I have met a lot of people but some I find a bit vanilla. All this taken into consideration we are very happy here and will stay for a while and maybe return to DC when we are old and retired.

You are not going to the right places in Boston! I LOVED the food in Boston, DC by comparison of Sushi/Indian/Mexican places is terrible.

Anonymous wrote:No. To be in a less anxiety ridden and stressful environment. To be where traffic doesn't pile up on the highways/roads at 3:00 PM. To be someplace warm where we can swim, golf, and bike! Not necessarily Florida. And, yes, to sell the house and get something cheaper somewhere else!!

Fair enough, thanks for responding. None of those things, individually or collectively, is/are enough to make me want to leave DC.

Just thought of something I missed during the years when I lived in another US city. The number of beautiful public spaces -- lavishly maintained landscaping, public art or scupltures of historic figures, bridges that aren't just a means of transportation but gorgeously designed and ornamented.

Of course, all this is the result of DC being "the federal city." DC has been heavily subsidized over the last 200+ years by taxes paid from the rest of the country. We really do live in the Rome of our time.

No. To be in a less anxiety ridden and stressful environment. To be where traffic doesn't pile up on the highways/roads at 3:00 PM. To be someplace warm where we can swim, golf, and bike! Not necessarily Florida. And, yes, to sell the house and get something cheaper somewhere else!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would anyone retire in D.C.? I suppose it is cheaper than most of the north east, but still.

agreed. Hubby and I are putting the house up for sale and leaving once DC is gone and we leave our jobs.

why? to move to be near family? to move someplace cheaper?

Anonymous wrote:Why would anyone retire in D.C.? I suppose it is cheaper than most of the north east, but still.

agreed. Hubby and I are putting the house up for sale and leaving once DC is gone and we leave our jobs.

We've lived lots of places over the last 20 years. I find the positive in each place. Every place has its drawbacks. Instead of focusing on bad snow removal and horrible traffic here, focus on the variety of restaurants, the museums, the Cherry Blossom festival... I don't like the humidity, but I love the 4 seasons (don't get that in So Cal), and the green trees (don't get that in west Texas).
Like others, it has taken me a while to make friends. Been here 4 1/2 years. Neighbors in our last neighborhood with like-aged kids seemed bent on only networking. Not our style. We moved to a different neighborhood, and within a month I met most of my neighbors. They are all friendly. Some are older retirees, some are younger with kids like me. We just don't wave to each other getting in and out of the car - we stop and talk. So I think some of it depends on the neighborhood, and sometimes you have to make the effort yourself to meet people.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved to Chicago burbs and we couldn't be happier!

In 3 months here I've made more friends than in 6 years there! I think just this number says it all.

Sit through a few winters and then report back.

The last few DC winters have been brutal. Snow + Ice = major disruption and school closings in DC. Chicago seems to handle the winter weather much better!

You think the last few DC winters have been "brutal"? Aw, man, Chicago winters are going to break you like a wineglass dropped on a freezing tile floor.

Just to clarify I'm the Chicago PP and I'm not the poster you're quoting. I saw nothing brutal about the winters in DC except ppls bad attitude and awful driving skills.