TBD

There is part of me that wants to move back to the Detroit area, there is a certain energy there now which is hard to beat.  Not many places have as low of real estate prices as there right now even in the nicer suburbs.  My only selling point is Kosmette wouldn't likely have to work, but she rather likes her current job here.  I'm sure competition is stiff for existing jobs there….

David Cameron has come out recently to say The Jams - "Eton Rifles" and Housemartins "London 0 Hull 4" are among his favorites, guess that whole anti-Tatcher message is some how eluding him.  He needs to go back to listening to his old public school old timey music maker favs Mumford and Sons.

James wrote:
If you're that frustrated, why not just leave?

Portland (OR or ME), Seattle, Austin, Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, dozens of smaller liberal college towns…there must be something out there that's more suitable for you.

hutch wrote:
interesting

I agree with Chaz, Steve Wizzle, etc.

I think the increase in cost of living in the DC area - combined with a rather unpleasant cultural mindset- no longer makes it smart to live here…not unless you are one of the ones making bank with some job likely having to do with the national security state or military industrial complex or government corruption or lobbying/greasing….in other words something rather unsavory….some job that requires you to spend most of your time here because its where the "business" is done…or unless you have a job in this area and can't get one elsewhere

I mean who wouldn't rather live in the San Francisco bay area? I remember 10-15 years ago thinking "well, I'd like to live there but its just so expensive…" same for NYC… well now, unbelievably, DC is as expensive as those areas…

A house was just built in my hood with barely any garden and sold for over a million bucks… virtual hovels are selling in the 700s…

This is not to mention the houses being sold in DC in relatively unsafe neighborhoods with poor schools for astronomical sums….

Junior one bedrooms in DC are renting for $2000 a month…I mean its just insane… and you can get an apartment on Miami Beach on Collins Avenue for less than in NW DC… you may not like Miami Beach but at least you got the beach..

I think things have gotten wacky in DC and wonder if its not due for some "adjustment" but I can't really see it…. I mean maybe if someone like Rand Paul came in on a strong anti-DC platform and tried to dismantle the national security state, downsize government, and change the rules of the game.. but I don't see that as likely…there is too much built up momentum to really effect substantive change of any sort…. but I'd be very reluctant to purchase real estate in DC right now (I say that as a new bubble has taken shape the past few months… houses in north Arlington are barely on the market a few days right now)…

well, there are good reasons for staying… do you want me to tell you them? they are kind of - like- personal… but if you really want to know i could tell you!

;D

I'll be glad to listen if we ever meet up for a beer.

I probably have the same like of thinking as you. I've been here for 16 years and definitely wanted to leave for the first five. It's definitely not my dream Metro region, but I've learned to appreciate certain things about it. My wife and I both like our jobs, so that's the biggest thing.

So staying seems in the cards for us for now, the real battle would be where to go after here (if anywhere) when it is time to move on.

hutch wrote:

James wrote:
If you're that frustrated, why not just leave?

Portland (OR or ME), Seattle, Austin, Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, dozens of smaller liberal college towns…there must be something out there that's more suitable for you.

hutch wrote:
interesting

I agree with Chaz, Steve Wizzle, etc.

I think the increase in cost of living in the DC area - combined with a rather unpleasant cultural mindset- no longer makes it smart to live here…not unless you are one of the ones making bank with some job likely having to do with the national security state or military industrial complex or government corruption or lobbying/greasing….in other words something rather unsavory….some job that requires you to spend most of your time here because its where the "business" is done…or unless you have a job in this area and can't get one elsewhere

I mean who wouldn't rather live in the San Francisco bay area? I remember 10-15 years ago thinking "well, I'd like to live there but its just so expensive…" same for NYC… well now, unbelievably, DC is as expensive as those areas…

A house was just built in my hood with barely any garden and sold for over a million bucks… virtual hovels are selling in the 700s…

This is not to mention the houses being sold in DC in relatively unsafe neighborhoods with poor schools for astronomical sums….

Junior one bedrooms in DC are renting for $2000 a month…I mean its just insane… and you can get an apartment on Miami Beach on Collins Avenue for less than in NW DC… you may not like Miami Beach but at least you got the beach..

I think things have gotten wacky in DC and wonder if its not due for some "adjustment" but I can't really see it…. I mean maybe if someone like Rand Paul came in on a strong anti-DC platform and tried to dismantle the national security state, downsize government, and change the rules of the game.. but I don't see that as likely…there is too much built up momentum to really effect substantive change of any sort…. but I'd be very reluctant to purchase real estate in DC right now (I say that as a new bubble has taken shape the past few months… houses in north Arlington are barely on the market a few days right now)…

well, there are good reasons for staying… do you want me to tell you them? they are kind of - like- personal… but if you really want to know i could tell you!

;D

kosmo wrote:
There is part of me that wants to move back to the Detroit area, there is a certain energy there now which is hard to beat.  Not many places have as low of real estate prices as there right now even in the nicer suburbs.  My only selling point is Kosmette wouldn't likely have to work, but she rather likes her current job here.  I'm sure competition is stiff for existing jobs there….

Yeah a certain energy of vacant houses and no services like fire department.  Good place to be a pyromaniac.

James wrote:
I'll be glad to listen if we ever meet up for a beer.

I probably have the same like of thinking as you. I've been here for 16 years and definitely wanted to leave for the first five. It's definitely not my dream Metro region, but I've learned to appreciate certain things about it. My wife and I both like our jobs, so that's the biggest thing.

So staying seems in the cards for us for now, the real battle would be where to go after here (if anywhere) when it is time to move on.

I'm pretty sure we are moving to the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area.  Longer summers and shorter winters, but still 4 seasons.  A decent metro area…not the cultural amenities of DC but not too shabby either.  Good local music scene.  Good economy for both mine an my wife's chosen careers.  Great schools.  And we can buy a 5 acre farm 20 minutes from the city for about $400k.  And down there, if you live 20 miles from your job you get in the car and drive 30 min and park in a parking space.  For free.

chaz wrote:



I'm pretty sure we are moving to the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area.  Longer summers and shorter winters, but still 4 seasons.  A decent metro area…not the cultural amenities of DC but not too shabby either.  Good local music scene.  Good economy for both mine an my wife's chosen careers.  Great schools.  And we can buy a 5 acre farm 20 minutes from the city for about $400k.  And down there, if you live 20 miles from your job you get in the car and drive 30 min and park in a parking space.  For free.

yeah.. I think that is smart.

Good for you guys. Go for it.

I lived in Chapel Hill for a year in 1996-1997 and moved here. Loved that area and the people there, but hated my job. That's probably still one of the places I'd happily transfer my job to.

chaz wrote:

James wrote:
I'll be glad to listen if we ever meet up for a beer.

I probably have the same like of thinking as you. I've been here for 16 years and definitely wanted to leave for the first five. It's definitely not my dream Metro region, but I've learned to appreciate certain things about it. My wife and I both like our jobs, so that's the biggest thing.

So staying seems in the cards for us for now, the real battle would be where to go after here (if anywhere) when it is time to move on.

I'm pretty sure we are moving to the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area.  Longer summers and shorter winters, but still 4 seasons.  A decent metro area…not the cultural amenities of DC but not too shabby either.  Good local music scene.  Good economy for both mine an my wife's chosen careers.  Great schools.  And we can buy a 5 acre farm 20 minutes from the city for about $400k.  And down there, if you live 20 miles from your job you get in the car and drive 30 min and park in a parking space.  For free.

At a prior company they offered to move me to Columbus, Ohio and if I couldn't sell my house in 3 months they would buy it from me.  Plus they would give me a raise.  House prices are cheap in Columbus and there isn't much traffic and it seems like a decent city but in the end I decided not to move. 

Having lived in Baltimore for three years and visited Columbus twice, I'd choose Baltimore too.

Though the Columbus Brewing Company's local to Ohio draft-only Bodhi DIPA is miles better than any beer ever produced in Baltimore, but that's a different thread.

atomic wrote:
At a prior company they offered to move me to Columbus, Ohio and if I couldn't sell my house in 3 months they would buy it from me.   Plus they would give me a raise.  House prices are cheap in Columbus and there isn't much traffic and it seems like a decent city but in the end I decided not to move. 

atomic wrote:
At a prior company they offered to move me to Columbus, Ohio and if I couldn't sell my house in 3 months they would buy it from me.   Plus they would give me a raise.  House prices are cheap in Columbus and there isn't much traffic and it seems like a decent city but in the end I decided not to move. 

I'd say that's probably one of the better decisions you've made in your life. Why would one want to live in Ohio?

There are many more college girls in Columbus than Baltimore, that's one thing.

Yada wrote:

atomic wrote:
At a prior company they offered to move me to Columbus, Ohio and if I couldn't sell my house in 3 months they would buy it from me.   Plus they would give me a raise.  House prices are cheap in Columbus and there isn't much traffic and it seems like a decent city but in the end I decided not to move. 

I'd say that's probably one of the better decisions you've made in your life. Why would one want to live in Ohio?

James wrote:
Good for you guys. Go for it.

I lived in Chapel Hill for a year in 1996-1997 and moved here. Loved that area and the people there, but hated my job. That's probably still one of the places I'd happily transfer my job to.

Aside from the messed up state politics it's a great area.  My brother is down there and my wife went to hs down there, so we know lots and lots of people.  I probably have more friends with kids down there than i do up here.  Close to great beaches, close to the mountains, and great motorcycle roads to boot.

Definitely a downgrade in the cuisine department.  I will miss that. 

James wrote:
There are many more college girls in Columbus than Baltimore, that's one thing.

Yada wrote:

atomic wrote:
At a prior company they offered to move me to Columbus, Ohio and if I couldn't sell my house in 3 months they would buy it from me.   Plus they would give me a raise.  House prices are cheap in Columbus and there isn't much traffic and it seems like a decent city but in the end I decided not to move. 

I'd say that's probably one of the better decisions you've made in your life. Why would one want to live in Ohio?

Yeah hot Ohio State chicks, good food, and realtively low crime. It has stuff going for it.  Plus they have  a hockey team and an outdoor music venue right downtown.  But never order crab cakes in Ohio.  Size of a quarter and taste like poop.

I had to travel there quite a few times for that company. It isn't so bad but it takes a little more than that to get me to move.  If San Francisco was the same cost of living or I got paid twice as much in salary I would move there.  Unfortunatley, housing is much more and income is only a little more. 

atomic wrote:
If San Francisco was the same cost of living

Then how would we keep the riff-raff out?

http://www.today.com/entertainment/monty-python-announces-greatest-hits-reunion-show-2D11624352

not sure about this one.  could go either way.  and can we get a spell checker in here?  i mean really, its so almost two thousand fourteen.  or is using google chrome that much easier.  i only use google chrome for my gmail.

workin' on "the squinch"

walkonby wrote:
http://www.today.com/entertainment/monty-python-announces-greatest-hits-reunion-show-2D11624352

not sure about this one.  could go either way.  and can we get a spell checker in here?  i mean really, its so almost two thousand fourteen.  or is using google chrome that much easier.  i only use google chrome for my gmail.

what are you yammerin' about? it will be awesome..

Some great maps of San Francisco.  I lived in Lesbians for a while
maps of SF