cjsmith is looking for a new place to live, and asked: Are you happy where you are now? My answer was too long for a comment, so I'm putting it here
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I was probably exaggerating the cost. See, I want to live in a small town somewhere. So I came up with Johnson City, TN, where one can get a lovely house on a couple of acres for what I could sell my townhouse for here.
But you're looking at larger cities than I was (not big cities, but not the kind of small town I was looking for), and many of the other places you're considering are similar in price to this area. I complain about how expensive it is here because I live in one of the higher-cost areas (because it has the highest-scoring schools in the state, which is self-reinforcing -- house prices are higher, therefore fewer poorer people live here, therefore the schools are better, therefore house prices are higher...).
Since you don't need schools, there are lots of places in this area that have all the attributes but are much more affordable. Examples, just off the top of my head, would be Laurel, Bowie, Catonsville, Waldorf -- there are even some very nice affordable homes inside the Beltway (though of course they'd be a little older and on smaller lots -- but still larger than California lots, and it's very close-in) ... for example, in College Park. Those are only examples -- don't write off this area without checking it out.
It indeed is not a political/ideological monoculture. There are a few mainly liberal communities (Takoma Park and Columbia come to mind), but in general it's just as diverse politically as every other way.
Ah, yes; compared to Johnson City of course Maryland-near-DC is more pricey. I'm hoping to get a house on an acre for $400K. I'm hoping for good access to scrumptious ethnic food and I'm hoping for a short commute. Rob requires the lack of a humid sticky summer, which might be a problem. I should ask my bro.
He lives on the south side of DC, technically in Virginia but juuuuuust inside the Beltway. I've been there exactly once and I don't know the region well. If I remembered the drive last summer better, I'd know what major road is the closest "spoke" on the Beltway wheel. They're looking to move soon, staying near DC but leaving the house they're subletting.
Combined with a short commute? Oh well, I guess I'll have to give up trying to persuade you. You can have one or the other in this area, but not both. We do have plenty of scrumptious ethnic food, but summers are pretty humid and sticky. And with global warming, that will probably get worse rather than better. Have you considered anywhere in New England? There is no place more beautiful than Vermont and New Hampshire. It's not perfect -- snow in the winter and annoying little blackflies in June -- but no place is perfect.
I used to go camping in Vermont and New Hampshire when I lived in New York. Every time I crossed the into northern New England I felt like I was coming home -- I had that feeling the very first time I ever went there. Every time I crossed back into Massachussetts I felt like I was leaving home instead of on my way home. I never felt that in southern New England (Mass, Conn and RI), and, oddly, I never felt it in Maine, either. But I love Vermont and NH.
He lives on the south side of DC, technically in Virginia but juuuuuust inside the Beltway.
Oh, sure! Probably McLean, Annandale or Alexandria. That's very close to where Meredith lives -- she's in Vienna, juuuuust outside the Beltway. :-)
I didn't mention northern Virginia because the traffic is worse, and it's a terribly benighted state. Maryland is very gay friendly and on the point of legalizing gay marriage (keep your fingers crossed!) while Virginia is the most gay-UNfriendly state in the country (yes, even worse than the Deep South with their unique law nullifying any contracts between gay partners that would convey any benefit that marriage would convey and explicitly permitting discrimination on the basis of sexual preference!).
I know that's not the only issue, and Northern Virginia is quite liberal, but in general that's a good example of the difference between the two state legislatures on every matter. Traffic is another good example -- the legislature won't fund enough roads for Northern Virginia and that's why the traffic there is worse than in the Maryland suburbs. (Not that it's good in the Maryland suburbs! But the Virginia suburbs are much worse!)
I wish I'd had a chance to meet you! If you ever come to call and/or visit your brother again, make sure I know about it!
But you're looking at larger cities than I was (not big cities, but not the kind of small town I was looking for), and many of the other places you're considering are similar in price to this area. I complain about how expensive it is here because I live in one of the higher-cost areas (because it has the highest-scoring schools in the state, which is self-reinforcing -- house prices are higher, therefore fewer poorer people live here, therefore the schools are better, therefore house prices are higher...).
Since you don't need schools, there are lots of places in this area that have all the attributes but are much more affordable. Examples, just off the top of my head, would be Laurel, Bowie, Catonsville, Waldorf -- there are even some very nice affordable homes inside the Beltway (though of course they'd be a little older and on smaller lots -- but still larger than California lots, and it's very close-in) ... for example, in College Park. Those are only examples -- don't write off this area without checking it out.
It indeed is not a political/ideological monoculture. There are a few mainly liberal communities (Takoma Park and Columbia come to mind), but in general it's just as diverse politically as every other way.
Where does your brother live?
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He lives on the south side of DC, technically in Virginia but juuuuuust inside the Beltway. I've been there exactly once and I don't know the region well. If I remembered the drive last summer better, I'd know what major road is the closest "spoke" on the Beltway wheel. They're looking to move soon, staying near DC but leaving the house they're subletting.
Reply
Combined with a short commute? Oh well, I guess I'll have to give up trying to persuade you. You can have one or the other in this area, but not both. We do have plenty of scrumptious ethnic food, but summers are pretty humid and sticky. And with global warming, that will probably get worse rather than better. Have you considered anywhere in New England? There is no place more beautiful than Vermont and New Hampshire. It's not perfect -- snow in the winter and annoying little blackflies in June -- but no place is perfect.
I used to go camping in Vermont and New Hampshire when I lived in New York. Every time I crossed the into northern New England I felt like I was coming home -- I had that feeling the very first time I ever went there. Every time I crossed back into Massachussetts I felt like I was leaving home instead of on my way home. I never felt that in southern New England (Mass, Conn and RI), and, oddly, I never felt it in Maine, either. But I love Vermont and NH.
He lives on the south side of DC, technically in Virginia but juuuuuust inside the Beltway.
Oh, sure! Probably McLean, Annandale or Alexandria. That's very close to where Meredith lives -- she's in Vienna, juuuuust outside the Beltway. :-)
I didn't mention northern Virginia because the traffic is worse, and it's a terribly benighted state. Maryland is very gay friendly and on the point of legalizing gay marriage (keep your fingers crossed!) while Virginia is the most gay-UNfriendly state in the country (yes, even worse than the Deep South with their unique law nullifying any contracts between gay partners that would convey any benefit that marriage would convey and explicitly permitting discrimination on the basis of sexual preference!).
I know that's not the only issue, and Northern Virginia is quite liberal, but in general that's a good example of the difference between the two state legislatures on every matter. Traffic is another good example -- the legislature won't fund enough roads for Northern Virginia and that's why the traffic there is worse than in the Maryland suburbs. (Not that it's good in the Maryland suburbs! But the Virginia suburbs are much worse!)
I wish I'd had a chance to meet you! If you ever come to call and/or visit your brother again, make sure I know about it!
Reply
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