Anonymous wrote:More stuff that white people like.

So not true. We live in the exurbs and moved here on purpose. We wanted a shot at homeownership in a nice, family friendly neighborhood with good schools for our kids. It's the American dream.

We have a lot of minority neighbors and acquaintances who live in our area who've moved here from Baltimore and Washington DC, and they had the same desires.

I live in Loudoun, semi-voluntarily. It's all part of DH's master plan and I'm kind of along for the ride, but also stuck. Sounds like I love it, right? Yeah.

Commuting is hell, and I don't work out here. I just moved into a management position so the promise of a new telework policy at my job...isn't so applicable, although I will force the issue to telework at LEAST once a week. DH's commute is even worse, but for some reason he still chooses living out here anyway. Case in point: His latest master-plan move was to put our 3-year-old tikky-tack semi-attached house (4500 sq ft "duplex" or "grand villa") we built in a subdivision on the market and build a new, bigger SFH in another subdivision a mile up the street. I think he's having some second thoughts about it, and I hate the idea although I see some of its merits (custom MIL suite, Loudoun public schools). But hell, we've already put down a $30k deposit on the new house and are set to break ground soon.

Like I said, stuck. Sorry, end rant. I would not like to move to the exurbs, but unfortunately for various reasons, it ended up that I did. I just hope to make it out some day.

I don't live in the country but I have a beautiful vegetable garden in my backyard. I am growing Tomatoes, Peppers, Green Beans, Cucumbers, Corn, Strawberries and Blackberries right here in Bethesda. I have 3 raised beds and it's plenty of work, of course farm animals are another story.

Only if I had to because my job was out there. With two parents working in the city, no way. I also prefer city life in general.

There's not such a clear distinction between country and exurb as some posters would have you believe. I live on 50 acres in the PW county "rural crescent." And I commute to DC via VRE 4 days a week. I can see the stars, wake up to the sound of farm animals, and enjoy the fresh air and countryside views. I can also walk a mile to a little bit of retail, or drive 8-10 minutes to several big suburban-style shopping centers with Harris Teeter, Target, Safeway, and all of the essentials. Is it a treud? Well, we've started trends before.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More stuff that white people like.

Huh, my black Latino husband is trying to convince me to move to the exurbs and give farming a shot. Go figure.

Yeah that is a weird statement. My parents are both Caribbean. Dad loves the country and mom loves the city. Lots of black people in America grow up in rural environments particularly in the South.

Nope. I don't want to even live in the suburbs

Anonymous wrote:What is an exburb ? You mean the country ? Just say country.

I don't care what is trendy. I just like living in privacy. Quiet peaceful unassuming real down to Earth existence.

This morning a baby bunny graced my patio. You can have your urban hell.

Country is Frederick county, West Virginia or Hagerstown.

Exurb is Urbana, Darnestown, Olney, Latonsville.

Thankfully jobs have moved out of the city to the burbs so you can live in these areas, commute 20-30 minutes, have all the amenities you want, have great schools and never have to live in the city/burbs. You can live in a community that you need to drive house to house or one that is close enough to walk... "cookie cutter home", townhouses, condo or custom homes, many different choices.

You don't have to get a lot too big to manage or a huge house where you can't handle the upkeep. Lots of options.

What is an exburb ? You mean the country ? Just say country.

I don't care what is trendy. I just like living in privacy. Quiet peaceful unassuming real down to Earth existence.

This morning a baby bunny graced my patio. You can have your urban hell.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whoever told you this was a trend was lying.

Not really. I used to think exurbs were doomed to become future ghost towns but hearing a lot of conflicting data recently. Makes sense though- with a shrinking middle class, everyone can't afford urban daycare and housing.


http://www.forbes.com/sites/joelkotkin/2015/11/03/so-much-for-the-death-of-sprawl-americas-exurbs-are-booming/#614d6cbe1359

http://www.marketplace.org/2016/02/22/business/real-estate

This is why the population of urban centers like DC are up nearly 40% over the past decade. oops

I dont think anyone is disputing urban growth just saying that exurbs are now starting to grow as well

Anonymous wrote:I live roughly 50 yards from the DC line near a metro and have livestock. No need to move out to the boonies for this.

Pray, tell where is this heaven!

As someone who loves the city life, I am actually scared off by the idea of the exurbs. All that land I would have to care for, and a huge house that would just gather clutter and dust.

I'm not equipped to handle the exurbs!

I live roughly 50 yards from the DC line near a metro and have livestock. No need to move out to the boonies for this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whoever told you this was a trend was lying.

Not really. I used to think exurbs were doomed to become future ghost towns but hearing a lot of conflicting data recently. Makes sense though- with a shrinking middle class, everyone can't afford urban daycare and housing.


http://www.forbes.com/sites/joelkotkin/2015/11/03/so-much-for-the-death-of-sprawl-americas-exurbs-are-booming/#614d6cbe1359

http://www.marketplace.org/2016/02/22/business/real-estate

This is why the population of urban centers like DC are up nearly 40% over the past decade. oops

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never. I grew up in that kind of environment and hated it. No sidewalks, and there was nothing in walking distance anyway including friends, a pool, library, or anyplace else to go and hang out. Until I had my license I was stuck at home unless one of my parents was able and willing to drive us somewhere, or my friends' parents were able and willing to come get me.

It's very peaceful to visit my parents as a weekend getaway, but no way would I want to live my life like that daily.

I grew up in a similar environment, too, so I get your point, and that was just the way it was. However, it wasn't like we ever had a problem getting someone's parent to drive us where we wanted to go.

My question, however, is at what age *nowadays* are you willing to let your kids walk alone to the pool and library? 13 at the earliest? 14?

I'm the PP. In my case, the nearest grocery store was 5mi away. The pool and library were farther. We lived on a county road with a speed limit of 50mph. No way was I allowed, nor would I allow my teens or pre-teens, to bike on that type of roadway. They might be mature enough to be alone, but it wasn't and isn't safe.

I agree with another poster. I'd love a larger house and yard, not huge but maybe 1/3-1/2acre in a neighborhood where I can walk to some sort of little shopping district. We are in Arlington, and if the neighborhoods surrounding it were just a bit nicer, I'm thinking of a community near Westover. (before anyone gets up in arms, I live in one of those communities, it's just not comprised of large houses on large, pretty lots of land).