I live in western prince William...I’ve lived in and out of this area my whole life because I’m a military brat, who married a military brat, I was in the military, and both my father and father in law retired out of the pentagon and stayed in this area

I moved back up here a decade ago to help dying relatives and so my wife could be close to her family

Full disclosure

I would not move here if I didn’t have ties here

This state will be another northeast liberal state in a decade.

Maybe next year. If the democrats win control of the senate next year you WILL have northeast style tax restrictions and gun laws go into effect in the summer of 2020

This isn’t chicken little the sky is falling stuff. They control the house and the governorship. Be prepared for this state to be way more restrictive than Washington within a year of moving here.

The traffic here is the worst in the country. That’s not hyperbole. The NTSB agrees. If you live in Loudoun or Haymarket and work in DC you WILL spend 3-4 hours a day on your commute (total). So be prepared for that. It used to be you could work “off hours” and make it a little better but I’ve sat on 66 at 430 in the morning and 1030 in the morning. This is reality. If you are ok with that, fine. Hut don’t kid yourself that Seattle is worse than DC for traffic. LA isn’t worse than DC

This article is a few years old, hut there are newer, and its gotten worse. As you can see, Seattle didn’t even make this list

https://wtop.com/local/2015/11...amn-freeway-america/

I own a small business and have kids in school ranging in ages from 7-16. Public schools in this area are good....for public schools....if things go as planned next year all 3 of my kids will be in private school...I’m a former special education teacher married to a developmental pediatrician....I know a little about schools....

If I could move tomorrow I would. The reality is I’m here probably another 10 years until my daughter goes to college

But the second I can sell my business I’m gone

Don’t get me wrong. There are pros to the area. But those exist in plenty of other places without the cons this area has.

Virginia is now a blue state.

Demographic shifts: Loss of population from the conservative rural areas and great gains in population to NoVA and the Norfolk areas are the reason. Sure we have good gun laws, a healthy economy, etc., but for how much longer? It still has a lot going for it. It's my home and I love it, but it's days are numbered. The left is taking it over and will fuck it up. It'll take a while and hopefully it won't happen until I've achieved room temperature. I think of Richmond as Baltimore Lite. The left fucks up EVERYTHING they touch. They could ruin a steel ball with a rubber mallet.

Leftist carpetbaggers coming here are like people fleeing the bubonic plague in the middle ages. They aren't escaping it, only bringing it with them and spreading it.


Edited to add: I was typing while Kevbo was posting. He's absolutely right.

quote:

Virginia is now a blue state.
...
Leftist carpetbaggers coming here are like people fleeing the bubonic plague in the middle ages. They aren't escaping it, only bringing it with them and spreading it.

Unfortunately... truth.

no email in your profile. Feel free to shoot me an email. I may be able to help!

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Shugart:
Virginia is now a blue state.

Demographic shifts: Loss of population from the conservative rural areas and great gains in population to NoVA and the Norfolk areas are the reason. Sure we have good gun laws, a healthy economy, etc., but for how much longer? It still has a lot going for it. It's my home and I love it, but it's days are numbered. The left is taking it over and will fuck it up. It'll take a while and hopefully it won't happen until I've achieved room temperature. I think of Richmond as Baltimore Lite. The left fucks up EVERYTHING they touch. They could ruin a steel ball with a rubber mallet.

Leftist carpetbaggers coming here are like people fleeing the bubonic plague in the middle ages. They aren't escaping it, only bringing it with them and spreading it.


Edited to add: I was typing while Kevbo was posting. He's absolutely right.

another south of RVA resident,

Jim is correct, as far as Richmond City,

the city gov is a freaking joke, and likely to not get better,

I would never live in NoVA. I do live in Richmond. I have enjoyed my family life here, but look forward to returning to a more rural life in retirement.

To many democraps live up there in that area. God Bless

After a two-year stint, I just moved from Gainesville back to my beloved PA... thank God! I lived/worked in both Montgomery County (talk about a police state) and Frederick MD for 8 years prior to NoVA/PWC so I knew what to expect traffic wise, but there’s also a cultural shift that I didn’t like. Haymarket isn’t too bad but I would check out Vint Hill, Middletown ($) and Purcelville if I were in your shoes depending on where you worked. Route 66 & the Beltway sucks. One of two commutes in the nation that are on par with L.A.

I was born and raised in Alex, Va Mount Vernon area left in 93. Mom still lives in Springfield. Personally I prefer to never go back. Overcrowded, horrible traffic, everthing is expensive. To put it in perspective I also lived in Puyallup, WA worked in Seattle 2.5 hour 1 way commute 60miles. DC it's 1.5hrs to go 15miles.

I do miss my mountains. And my Bay.

I live in a small town, Berryville.

Winchester is 15 minutes away to the west, everything you could need, we are in clarke county, quiet, and reasonable prices.

Many if not most folks here commute to NOVA, Route 7... Worth looking living a little farther away, and commuting I believe.

I did 11 years in NoVa before escaping to Richmond a few years ago. When I was in college with no responsibilities, it was amazing. Metro everywhere, drink a lot, no maintenance apartment living.

Then I got married and had to park two cars, and deal with two people commuting.

Then we got pregnant a decided we needed more 'space' and moved outside the beltway to a townhouse in burke for one miserable year before we were lucky enough to escape.

The place just gets worse and worse and the older you are, the less tolerable it is. Great place for young singles in their 20s, pretty crappy for everyone else.

Lived & worked in the DC area for 42 years. Lived in NVA since 2008. Retired and moved back to the midwest earlier this year. Glad to get away from the area. I lived in Prince William County, drove up and down 95 in and out of DC everyday. Everything that the members have stated about NVA is no bullshit. No way in hell would I move back to NVA at all. Virginia is now going damn near blue, and was clearly on the way in 2008.
Traffic is horrible in NVA. I have nothing to say about the public school systems other then what I heard and that ain't good. There is a lot to do in the region, but it all comes down to traffic. Do yourself a big favor,and forgo living in the NVA area. I don't miss the area at all.

Been living in NOVA for the past 35 years. Can't wait to talk the wife into finally leaving this place....

We were in Springfield for 6 mortal years. I grew to hate the “spaghetti bowl” of the Beltway.
Best thing were the Fairfax schools. We got back to the PNW and I swear the kids didn’t crack a book for a year. They were that far ahead.

To be honest I’d tell you stay out here. Get away from Seattle.

I'm really shocked to hear all the negative views of that area. Every time I've visited, it feels like the quality of life is so much better than the Seattle area. You have parks you can take the kids to that aren't filled with homeless people, that's amazing!


Very interesting viewpoints, I appreciate them.

Don't kid yourself, DC itself has a huge homeless population. Yes, the public sites like the memorials and the mall are fairly well patrolled to keep them nice for the tourists. Get away from there and the quality of the parks declines rapidly. I have a feeling it may be the similar in Seattle, get away from the city proper and more out in the suburban areas and you may find parks without homeless encampments.

quote:

Originally posted by matai:
I'm really shocked to hear all the negative views of that area. Every time I've visited, it feels like the quality of life is so much better than the Seattle area. You have parks you can take the kids to that aren't filled with homeless people, that's amazing!


Very interesting viewpoints, I appreciate them.

Perspective bro.

To someone from Seattle it would seem conservative, to someone from Arkansas it's a liberal hell. As a long time resident (all my life) it's a liberal hell hole as I live in a county that was for years conservative and has flipped since 2008. I hate it.

Reason I stay, I bought my house in 2006 and it's still worth less than I paid, but cheaper than renting if I sold it. Also I make over 50% more than median income from my profession.

We are so out of here when we can afford it, possibly before that if we have kids.

quote:

Originally posted by 2000Z-71:
Don't kid yourself, DC itself has a huge homeless population. Yes, the public sites like the memorials and the mall are fairly well patrolled to keep them nice for the tourists. Get away from there and the quality of the parks declines rapidly. I have a feeling it may be the similar in Seattle, get away from the city proper and more out in the suburban areas and you may find parks without homeless encampments.

Completely untrue. Yes DC has a bunch of homeless, get outside of the city and that number drops exponentially the further west you travel. In the areas you are looking it's practically nil.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:

quote:

Originally posted by 2000Z-71:
Don't kid yourself, DC itself has a huge homeless population. Yes, the public sites like the memorials and the mall are fairly well patrolled to keep them nice for the tourists. Get away from there and the quality of the parks declines rapidly. I have a feeling it may be the similar in Seattle, get away from the city proper and more out in the suburban areas and you may find parks without homeless encampments.

Completely untrue. Yes DC has a bunch of homeless, get outside of the city and that number drops exponentially the further west you travel. In the areas you are looking it's practically nil.

Skins,

I think you may have misunderstood me. DC proper has a huge homeless population. Whitebread northern VA suburbs, no so much.

quote:

Originally posted by 2000Z-71:

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:

quote:

Originally posted by 2000Z-71:
Don't kid yourself, DC itself has a huge homeless population. Yes, the public sites like the memorials and the mall are fairly well patrolled to keep them nice for the tourists. Get away from there and the quality of the parks declines rapidly. I have a feeling it may be the similar in Seattle, get away from the city proper and more out in the suburban areas and you may find parks without homeless encampments.

Completely untrue. Yes DC has a bunch of homeless, get outside of the city and that number drops exponentially the further west you travel. In the areas you are looking it's practically nil.

Skins,

I think you may have misunderstood me. DC proper has a huge homeless population. Whitebread northern VA suburbs, no so much.

Well that may be true, it is completely irrelevant. He's talking about working in Herndon (22ish miles away) and living 30-70mi outside the city. The homeless are a non-factor until he possibly may work in Arlington which is one to seven miles outside the city.