Have you thought about how far you'll have to drive every day for kids activities/sports/errands/groceries?

Why do you want to BUY if you are moving again in 2 years?

Anonymous wrote:
Because you sound awful. You are going to have an adventure and live off the land! Don’t you realize how patronizing you sound?

NP. I completely disagree and think you're revealing more about your (miserable/critical projecting) self than making a reasonable point about the OP. Get outside of the DC bubble and people don't find it patronizing to suggest they'd like to have more land and try more rural living. We know about a dozen of professional upper middle class families living in places like Denver and Montana - that share the desire to go more rural and see it as an "adventure" and personally fulfilling. Why you take such offense to this is your own to deal with.

OP, having some experience with close-to rural living I'd second the suggestion you rent if you are confident you will be deployed again in 2 years. The closing costs and selling costs, and risk of trouble selling/renting make this a financially risky investment unless you intend to keep it long term and can afford to pay the mortgage and/or rental maintenance when over seas for several years.

Waterford VA

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You must have no friends.

They move around every couple of years. Of course they have no friends.

OP here, I just have to ask why someone would take the time to write this? I know you don't know me and all, and I won't justify my life to strangers, but for not one person but two to be nasty for no reason, I just don't get it. Is this how you want your children to behave? Is this who you're raising them to be? Try to do better.

As you can see how vapid and miserable people in DC are, living far away from these miseravle cows is a good choice.

+1. Take me with you, OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You must have no friends.

They move around every couple of years. Of course they have no friends.

OP here, I just have to ask why someone would take the time to write this? I know you don't know me and all, and I won't justify my life to strangers, but for not one person but two to be nasty for no reason, I just don't get it. Is this how you want your children to behave? Is this who you're raising them to be? Try to do better.

Because you sound awful. You are going to have an adventure and live off the land! Don’t you realize how patronizing you sound?

NP. Wanting to move to a rural community for a couple years is patronizing? Um, okay. OP sounds like a person who likes to try new things. Sounds open-minded and fun. And OP already made it clear that in two years they’re not going to have a working farm up and running but just a garden and some chickens so she seems pretty realistic to me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in bumfuck and let me tell you, it is NOT an adventure.

OP here, when you've lived in New Delhi for four years, it sure as shit will be an adventure.

God OP you sound insufferable..."look at me! I lived in India with all the natives! I'm ready for some peace and quiet!" Eww.

New Delhi is an incredibly densely populated city. My impression is that’s what making rural life alluring for OP, not anything about “the natives.” But good job projecting your crap onto everyone and everything.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You must have no friends.

They move around every couple of years. Of course they have no friends.

OP here, I just have to ask why someone would take the time to write this? I know you don't know me and all, and I won't justify my life to strangers, but for not one person but two to be nasty for no reason, I just don't get it. Is this how you want your children to behave? Is this who you're raising them to be? Try to do better.

Because you sound awful. You are going to have an adventure and live off the land! Don’t you realize how patronizing you sound?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You must have no friends.

They move around every couple of years. Of course they have no friends.

OP here, I just have to ask why someone would take the time to write this? I know you don't know me and all, and I won't justify my life to strangers, but for not one person but two to be nasty for no reason, I just don't get it. Is this how you want your children to behave? Is this who you're raising them to be? Try to do better.

As you can see how vapid and miserable people in DC are, living far away from these miseravle cows is a good choice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rural areas don’t tend to be liberal.

Thank you, yes, that's why I'm asking if anyone has found anywhere that is somewhat liberal.

Why do you want to live in a bubble?
You sound narrow minded.

OP here, just logged back in after the time difference and want to say thank you for all the really wonderful advice. You've given me a ton to think about, especially about renting instead of buying. I will respond individually as soon as I can. Thanks a ton.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in bumfuck and let me tell you, it is NOT an adventure.

OP here, when you've lived in New Delhi for four years, it sure as shit will be an adventure.

God OP you sound insufferable..."look at me! I lived in India with all the natives! I'm ready for some peace and quiet!" Eww.

Is your husband going to Main State or FSI

Anonymous wrote:Hi, we are a family formerly based in DC (proper) who joined the Foreign Service and have now lived overseas for 6 years. We are coming back for 2 years and have decided to have an adventure and try living on some land.

Anywhere in VA or MD is fine as long as it's near a Marc line so spouse can commute in on Mondays and come home Fridays. Two or even 3 hours out is fine.

Schools are middle and elementary - we just need good schools with enthusiastic teachers who give a crap about the kids.

We are fairly liberal and would love to find a community that isn't too conservative.

Price up to $600K but preferably lower! Somewhere between 5 and 20 acres.

Any thoughts based on those factors?

The places I've found mentioned so far are New Windsor/New Market/Frederick in Maryland (I was in Frederick this summer and it was adorable) and also Warrentown / Winchester VA and Shephardstown WV.

Thank you!

How much were you planning to spend for DH's apartment for M-F or does he have a parent there where he can stay for free? you looking for a real farm, to write off as a farm, or just space?

I'd look in oakton, Clifton, Great Falls and have DH commute on the metro. You have young children. Do you have long term live in help? Oddly when my DD was young she asked at a few houses if so and so was an aunt, great aunt, grandma-well that caused offense.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rural areas don’t tend to be liberal.

yeah but everyone's nice as long as you're white and don't talk about politics.

You are astoundingly ignorant.

OP, we live on 50 acres and all the land surrounding ours is owned by family. We aren't near DC right now.

It's wonderful! I love not having neighbors on top of me. I love that I can actually see tbe stars. I love the quiet. I love the fresh air and the slower pace. When my kids were little they had so much freedom. We do have a large garden and we have livestock. It's a lot of work. But to us, it's worth every bit. The best part is having our huge family over often. Two of our kids are married and we have two grandchildren. My sisters are married with kids and grandkids. My parents and inlaws are fairly young and very healthy. We have a large pool in our backyard and a big pond. We have so much fun spending time together on our little farm. The space makes it so nice. Some of the kids camped out in the woods on our property over the weekend. There is always something for the kids to do.

I would say most people in my area lean conservative (but are not Trump supporters at all). But unlike the "tolerant liberals" in this thread, I'm ok with that. I'm very liberal but living near people who are different than I am is ok with me. I don't just talk about how great diversity is. I actually live it. The town nearest us is probably about 30% AA. We also have a large Indian and Hispanic population. Not sure why, actually. But it's wonderful. It's definitely not an all white area.

Some of you oh so tolerant, educated liberals might consider leaving your bubble occasionally.