Re: Commute from Dominion Valley, Haymarket to downtown D.C.
Posted by:
Petey Greene
()
Date: May 20, 2016 05:27PM
Newbie Transplant Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How Long? Forever Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > That commute would suck the life out of you.
> > You'll be moving within the first year.
>
> Nonetheless, there are many people who make this
> commute. How do they do it, day after day?
> It's obviously going to be a compromise and a
> sacrifice. Getting a fairly new home out in
> Haymarket or a 1940's cracker box rambler in
> Annandale.
>
> Just today, I was talking with my wife and having
> second thoughts about moving to this area. Thank
> God, we don't have kids which would make our
> decision making efforts even more difficult. I
> told her I think we made a mistake moving here,
> and under her breath, I could tell that she
> somewhat agreed.
> If there were an emoticon for :punchballs:, I
> think this might be where in this post I used it.
Welcome to the D.C. Metropolitan area, a region that will suck the living life out of you for so many reasons.
I was fortunate to have started my career here in the early 70's when things were not so difficult as they are now. We bought our first home, a townhouse, in Springfield in 1982, soon after my wife and I were married. Upgraded to a colonial in Fairfax Station in 1985 and spent the remainder of our time there, until retiring South to more accommodating pastures. Paid $185k for the Fairfax Station home and sold it in 2006 for $1.2MM.
Thinking about it, I can't think of any reason I would want to return to the D.C. area.
You probably came here for a promotion, as most people do. But, as many quickly realize, no amount of salary increase is going to make this area a tolerable one in which to live.
Count your blessings that you don't have kids.
My advice on where to live: as close to your work as possible. Even if it is a 1940's cracker box rambler in Annandale.