Anonymous wrote:Why do people find it so difficult to believe that some people (not everyone) prefer being in the city and do not derive much pleasure from going on a hiking trail through bethesda or being members of a suburban community pool? I'm a city person. I get that a lot of people hate the noise, the long lines at the grocery store, the busy traffic right outside your window. Why can't those people then appreciate that some people (not everyone) equally hate sitting in a quiet house that is isolated from people and activities? They are clearly very difficult lifestyles and it's not so hard to believe that some people won't ever warm up to one or the other.

Full disclosure, I'm a PP who has posted suggestions for the OP so obviously I am currently in the suburbs. But having lived on multiple continents in rural, suburban and urban environments and having enjoyed them all, this made me laugh. I guess some people are less flexible than others, but life is short and it's good to know yourself.

I think op is just looking for reassurance that it gets better and tips on how to make the transition. Am I right op? Sounds like you have been in the city most of your life.

Why do people find it so difficult to believe that some people (not everyone) prefer being in the city and do not derive much pleasure from going on a hiking trail through bethesda or being members of a suburban community pool? I'm a city person. I get that a lot of people hate the noise, the long lines at the grocery store, the busy traffic right outside your window. Why can't those people then appreciate that some people (not everyone) equally hate sitting in a quiet house that is isolated from people and activities? They are clearly very difficult lifestyles and it's not so hard to believe that some people won't ever warm up to one or the other.

This might seem a bit extreme. And I'm not in any way saying that this is what it is...

But OP, have you thought about postpartum depression? Are you unhappy overall? Whether it is is this, or loneliness, or feeling overwhelmed, make sure you that you reach out to someone.

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I'm having a lifestyle crises. I'm not young. I've lived in a city proper since I went to university in 1995. Living in tranquility is very new to me. Just looking for similar experience words of wisdom

As PPs have stated, when your kids are a bit older, you will appreciate it more. I lived in a walkable city out west, and swore I'd never move out, until I had kids. Moving to the burbs is like having kids..it vastly changes your lifestyle and takes some time getting used to. Of course, you will miss those days when you could <fill in the blanks pre kids, living in the city>. After 12 yrs, I still miss some of those things.

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Anonymous wrote:Why'd you move there OP? Schools, space, other?

We live in the same area and although we felt out of place at first have come to really like it. (granted, we live in the much more walkable part though.) If you go regularly to neighborhood spots like livingston playground, sweet teensy bakery, potomac pizza, chevy chase pavilion (great for riding up and down escalators/elevators with bored toddlers on a rainy day), ann's aquatics classes, you'll start to see the same families over and over and most people are very friendly.

All those things. We needed more space do had to move, always liked this neighborhood and schools, close in but not as far out as Bethesda downtown. Are you in brookdske? I have not even sorted what the boundaries are for these neighborhoods

No, we are on the DC side, but most of the people we've met at the above spots live on the MD side.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I'm having a lifestyle crises. I'm not young. I've lived in a city proper since I went to university in 1995. Living in tranquility is very new to me. Just looking for similar experience words of wisdom

OP my words of wisdom are that you need to get to know your neighbors. Expect it to be a challenge in the years before your kids start at Westbrook (am I guessing correctly at your school district?). Start now and build your local village.

Any suggestions on how? Preschools you recommend maybe? Other activities?

Concord St. Andrew's, St. Columba's or Westmoreland Children's Center. Take walks around your neighborhood and go to Brookdale Park. Farther afield, go to Somerset or Westmoreland Hills Parks, and Little Falls Library when it re-opens in January. Get on the wait list for Little Falls pool (Mohican, Merrimack and Bannockburn are alternatives if the wait list is still too long, maybe there are others closer to Somerset that I don't know about). The more friends you make that are walkable or a short drive, the better.

Op I would suggest going to the parks and trying to meet folks there

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why'd you move there OP? Schools, space, other?

We live in the same area and although we felt out of place at first have come to really like it. (granted, we live in the much more walkable part though.) If you go regularly to neighborhood spots like livingston playground, sweet teensy bakery, potomac pizza, chevy chase pavilion (great for riding up and down escalators/elevators with bored toddlers on a rainy day), ann's aquatics classes, you'll start to see the same families over and over and most people are very friendly.

Not op. What area is this?

Same area as OP, just closer to the FH metro. We sacrificed space and a yard to be closer in b/c it was non-negotiable for DH to be in a walkable area (he grew up in a pretty small apt in nyc and thought it was great).

Preschool recommendations?

Mine actually aren't old enough for preschool yet so I don't know a ton about the preschool scene. Our neighbors send their kid to Friendship Childrens Center (the one on Western Ave) and are happy with it. There's also a montessori on western between river and mass - crestview montessori i think

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Anonymous wrote:OP I know what you're going through. We started out house hunting looking at quiet neighborhoods like Kenwood and realized it wasn't for us. We replicated what we loved about city living (Logan Circle) and found the same thing in the "suburbs": walk to whole foods and library, 5 blocks from the metro, close to stores and the movies. Added bonus about living out here are better schools and a sense of peace and quiet.

What hood?

Brookdale

OP actually lives in Brookdale herself and dislikes it. That's the whole point of this thread PP. Did you miss that?

It's great that you like it, but, you know, YMMV

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Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thx. We live across western in md (close to au park and FH) your right about school.. But that's a few years away

oh FFS. Did you previously live at the intersection 7th and G streets? No? then stop acting like Brookdale might as well be Poolesville. I know the area well and if you're "driving all the time" then it's because you're unimaginative or just pregnant or something. I just checked WalkScore and if you're in Brookdale like it sounds from your description, you're no lower than 80 and potentially as high as 93.

This. Times a billion. Are you f-ing seriously complaining about living in one of the most expensive AND closest of close-in suburban neighborhoods in the entire region? Because... it's too quiet??? And the diamonds on the soles of your shoes are really uncomfortable too, right? And undoubtedly you lived in a suburban area of DC to begin with, so what you're really complaining about is what exactly OP?

Anonymous wrote:This is op who is new here but people have told me westmoreland center and spring valley. Veterans if the hood may be able to chime in

https://www.washingtonian.com/2014/08/05/dig-for-chemical-weapons-in-spring-valley-extended-to-2017/
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/228326.page

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I think I probably live close to the Brookdale and other pp who just posted. If you have ideas in how I can get to know the hood please share! I'm on the Westbrook list serve but that's all I got so far.

If you live in Brookdale, there's a nice neighborhood listserv. Are you part of the Little Falls Swim Club? We like to go to Sushiko, Range, and Ledo Pizza. Do you go on walks/hikes? The Cpaital Crescent Trail is right there and there are all kinds of hiking and biking groups. What do you like to do?

This is op who is new here but people have told me westmoreland center and spring valley. Veterans if the hood may be able to chime in

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why'd you move there OP? Schools, space, other?

We live in the same area and although we felt out of place at first have come to really like it. (granted, we live in the much more walkable part though.) If you go regularly to neighborhood spots like livingston playground, sweet teensy bakery, potomac pizza, chevy chase pavilion (great for riding up and down escalators/elevators with bored toddlers on a rainy day), ann's aquatics classes, you'll start to see the same families over and over and most people are very friendly.

Not op. What area is this?

Same area as OP, just closer to the FH metro. We sacrificed space and a yard to be closer in b/c it was non-negotiable for DH to be in a walkable area (he grew up in a pretty small apt in nyc and thought it was great).

Preschool recommendations?