Anonymous
Post 01/26/2011 14:34     Subject: Anyone consider leaving DC metro area?
We have not considered leaving the area. We grew up here and have tons of friends and family here. There is so much variety in this area that if we decide we want something different we can move to a different county or neighborhood. I know there are other places in the country we would love but we can't move away from an area with such great schools and an amazing amount of diversity. We love it here.
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2011 14:23     Subject: Anyone consider leaving DC metro area?
EVERY DAY! We have no family here and while we make good salaries, our quality of life would be much higher if we moved. We're also looking into TX.
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2011 14:21     Subject: Anyone consider leaving DC metro area?
I agree with so many of the points made above. I just wanted to add one cautionary note: moving somewhere less expensive/slower is a bit of a one-way ticket. The salaries won't keep pace, the housing market won't keep pace, so it might be difficult to ever move back. But if you don't think you'll want/need to return, then go for it!
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2011 13:07     Subject: Re:Anyone consider leaving DC metro area?
Anonymous wrote:I haven't read the posts, but I'm in the same boat - hubs and I moved here after college and stayed 10 years. We now have a toddler and one on the way and we're moving back to TX in the summer. Yes, you can make fun of Texas and Texans all you want (and I admit that the East Coast has instilled some intellectual snobbery in me as well), but I'm just sick and tired of all the crap we put up with to live here. Awful commutes, tiny old houses in borderline sh*tty neighborhoods, the constant workaholic attitude, the frenzy, the pompous arrogance of people who believe that working 100 hours per week in an "important" job outranks the joy of a boring life surrounded by kids and dogs and work days that end by 6:00pm and dinners with friends and a good bottle of wine. And I'm a big law attorney so I make great money and we live better than many do in this area. But, we're trading it in. And you know, with the money we will save living in Texas we will be able to save for college and graduate school and travel with our children to expose them to wonderful educational experiences to make up for living in a less cultured state. And I'll get to see my husband again. On a daily basis. Bliss.


I'm with you, 100%. We moved last week to Rochester, New York, and we are excited about the change.

Our main motivation is to be near our families, and we have a lot of friends here, too, so there's instant community waiting. Also, to picking up on OP's point and PP's point above, we're eager to take full advantage of the slower pace of life and the MUCH lower cost of living. We're able to scale back our work hours considerably (part time for both of us) with near zero commute time. And the low cost of living means we won't need to sacrifice on the quality of our house or neighborhood. Winter weather is rough, of course, but I assume spring will be here eventually . . . .
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2011 13:05     Subject: Anyone consider leaving DC metro area?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Beautiful home in TX.

http://www.trulia.com/property/photos/3000742464-3601-Bella-Vista-Drive-Plano-TX-75074#item-0



I love that place.
If I get it, will my children be less noisy?


And it's right by Southfork Ranch. In case you were a fan of "Dallas." I mean could it get any better
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2011 12:32     Subject: Anyone consider leaving DC metro area?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'd move to Phoenix in a heartbeat.


Are you from the Midwest? Everyone I know who loves Phoenix is from Wisconsin or Minnesota.

DH and I are from the Phoenix area and moving back never worked out, job-wise. It would be nice only because my parents and large extended family are there. Otherwise, ick. Too sprawly and hot. We are in Colorado now and love it. Excellent public schools and lots of Catholics in our area, OP.


I'm not -- I'm from California, where I would never EVER choose to live. Sprawl AND expense.

I don't mind the hot as it means I am avoiding the cold. The summer is really PHX's winter. At least I can go from a/c house to a/c car to a/c office..


Different pp then you quoted. I once had to spend two months in Phoenix for work. It fell out that I went in July and August. I'd take those triple digit days in the desert over the swampy mosquito infested summers here hands down.
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2011 12:31     Subject: Anyone consider leaving DC metro area?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Beautiful home in TX.

http://www.trulia.com/property/photos/3000742464-3601-Bella-Vista-Drive-Plano-TX-75074#item-0



I love that place.
If I get it, will my children be less noisy?


Yes, keep them in the big yard or in their own section of the house. If you can't hear them, no they aren't noisy. LOL
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2011 12:31     Subject: Re:Anyone consider leaving DC metro area?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I haven't read the posts, but I'm in the same boat - hubs and I moved here after college and stayed 10 years. We now have a toddler and one on the way and we're moving back to TX in the summer. Yes, you can make fun of Texas and Texans all you want (and I admit that the East Coast has instilled some intellectual snobbery in me as well), but I'm just sick and tired of all the crap we put up with to live here. Awful commutes, tiny old houses in borderline sh*tty neighborhoods, the constant workaholic attitude, the frenzy, the pompous arrogance of people who believe that working 100 hours per week in an "important" job outranks the joy of a boring life surrounded by kids and dogs and work days that end by 6:00pm and dinners with friends and a good bottle of wine. And I'm a big law attorney so I make great money and we live better than many do in this area. But, we're trading it in. And you know, with the money we will save living in Texas we will be able to save for college and graduate school and travel with our children to expose them to wonderful educational experiences to make up for living in a less cultured state. And I'll get to see my husband again. On a daily basis. Bliss.


wanna share a moving van?


I double that. Big law momma I am so jealous of you right now but what a great future and opportunity you have ahead of you -- and the whole family.
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2011 12:26     Subject: Anyone consider leaving DC metro area?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Beautiful home in TX.

http://www.trulia.com/property/photos/3000742464-3601-Bella-Vista-Drive-Plano-TX-75074#item-0



I love that place.
If I get it, will my children be less noisy?
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2011 12:25     Subject: Re:Anyone consider leaving DC metro area?
Anonymous wrote:I haven't read the posts, but I'm in the same boat - hubs and I moved here after college and stayed 10 years. We now have a toddler and one on the way and we're moving back to TX in the summer. Yes, you can make fun of Texas and Texans all you want (and I admit that the East Coast has instilled some intellectual snobbery in me as well), but I'm just sick and tired of all the crap we put up with to live here. Awful commutes, tiny old houses in borderline sh*tty neighborhoods, the constant workaholic attitude, the frenzy, the pompous arrogance of people who believe that working 100 hours per week in an "important" job outranks the joy of a boring life surrounded by kids and dogs and work days that end by 6:00pm and dinners with friends and a good bottle of wine. And I'm a big law attorney so I make great money and we live better than many do in this area. But, we're trading it in. And you know, with the money we will save living in Texas we will be able to save for college and graduate school and travel with our children to expose them to wonderful educational experiences to make up for living in a less cultured state. And I'll get to see my husband again. On a daily basis. Bliss.


wanna share a moving van?
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2011 12:22     Subject: Re:Anyone consider leaving DC metro area?
I haven't read the posts, but I'm in the same boat - hubs and I moved here after college and stayed 10 years. We now have a toddler and one on the way and we're moving back to TX in the summer. Yes, you can make fun of Texas and Texans all you want (and I admit that the East Coast has instilled some intellectual snobbery in me as well), but I'm just sick and tired of all the crap we put up with to live here. Awful commutes, tiny old houses in borderline sh*tty neighborhoods, the constant workaholic attitude, the frenzy, the pompous arrogance of people who believe that working 100 hours per week in an "important" job outranks the joy of a boring life surrounded by kids and dogs and work days that end by 6:00pm and dinners with friends and a good bottle of wine. And I'm a big law attorney so I make great money and we live better than many do in this area. But, we're trading it in. And you know, with the money we will save living in Texas we will be able to save for college and graduate school and travel with our children to expose them to wonderful educational experiences to make up for living in a less cultured state. And I'll get to see my husband again. On a daily basis. Bliss.
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2011 12:12     Subject: Anyone consider leaving DC metro area?
Anonymous wrote:I'm from here but I can imagine leaving. The problem is that most of the places I can see myself living are just as expensive to live in, or nearly as bad -- the Philly metro, the NJ suburbs, Baltimore, Richmond, Hampton Roads, and Charlottesville.

We will likely stay put and adjust our lifestyle so we can have what we want and, honestly, keep in mind that families with four children used to all live in the bungalows in Silver Spring, Chevy Chase and Arlington. We need to adjust our mindsets too. For me, a lot of it is getting rid of physical stuff so I can enjoy the emotional richness of my life.


Well said. I am a zealous de-clutterer. We have expanded our space but I am obsessive about the need for the constant purging of "stuff".
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2011 12:11     Subject: Anyone consider leaving DC metro area?
Anonymous wrote:I'm from here but I can imagine leaving. The problem is that most of the places I can see myself living are just as expensive to live in, or nearly as bad -- the Philly metro, the NJ suburbs, Baltimore, Richmond, Hampton Roads, and Charlottesville.

We will likely stay put and adjust our lifestyle so we can have what we want and, honestly, keep in mind that families with four children used to all live in the bungalows in Silver Spring, Chevy Chase and Arlington. We need to adjust our mindsets too. For me, a lot of it is getting rid of physical stuff so I can enjoy the emotional richness of my life.


Well said. I am a zealous de-clutterer. We have expanded our space but I am obsessive about the need for the constant purging of "stuff".
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2011 12:05     Subject: Anyone consider leaving DC metro area?
Anonymous wrote:Beautiful home in TX.

http://www.trulia.com/property/photos/3000742464-3601-Bella-Vista-Drive-Plano-TX-75074#item-0


Anonymous
Post 01/26/2011 12:05     Subject: Anyone consider leaving DC metro area?
Anonymous wrote:I'm from here but I can imagine leaving. The problem is that most of the places I can see myself living are just as expensive to live in, or nearly as bad -- the Philly metro, the NJ suburbs, Baltimore, Richmond, Hampton Roads, and Charlottesville.

We will likely stay put and adjust our lifestyle so we can have what we want and, honestly, keep in mind that families with four children used to all live in the bungalows in Silver Spring, Chevy Chase and Arlington. We need to adjust our mindsets too. For me, a lot of it is getting rid of physical stuff so I can enjoy the emotional richness of my life.[/quote

If DCUM had a like button I would press it based on this comment alone. I look around and there a lot of things we can do and are doing to scale back, put money towards the right things and enjoy life and little better sans stress.