Great info., thanks! I spoke to another gentleman in northern VA earlier (thanks Frank!) and he said almost the exact same thing.
I appreciate the feedback and an overall feel for the area because it is hard to move to a new area, sign a lease for example, and hope it was a good maneuver. A year is a long time to live with a mistake like that.
Jared is leaving WA state tomorrow and driving east- should be here in 5 days or so.
I am going to take a moment here and share with you folks, who I consider friends that I simply have not met most of in the flesh, a little selfish pride. I have two sons, 31 and 27 (Alex and Jared respectively; Jared is the one moving to the D.C. area); both joined the Army, starting in November 2001 (!), and did their time with long overseas hitches (Afganistan, Iraq, one in each, one two times, and both in South Korea). Both were honorably discharged and started making their way through college even while in the service. Both graduated this year, Jared cum laude with a degree in economics (hence the job in D.C.- clearly they could use more economists, right?
). Anyway, I am proud of both pups and really enjoying watching them work their way through life. I believe they will make good citizens; my only real goal when raising them was the hope that I could get them to think instead of simply reacting and so far, they are doing pretty well I think. Anyway, I know there are seven billion of us here and me and mine are not special but still, I am pretty happy with what is going on with them at the moment.
So next week Jared should be scouting around for an apartment in the greater D.C. area. And then off to his new (and first in this field, economics) where hopefully he can do some REAL damage!
Again, thanks folks for the feedback- it is appreciated.
Brian
I live in Alexandria, VA, work in Landover, MD. Stay away from DC's south-east (and MD's immediate vacinity - PG County). Other areas around DC are fine.
DC politics, very liberal, of course. DC has a lot to keep the younger generations busy/ occupied/ entertained. But it's expensive to live in the city. Driving in DC is also aggrevating. Metro is the only way to travel there and keep the blood pressure down. Working for FedGov, your young'un will most likely get a Metro pass issued, so the commute will be free.
That gub'mint paycheck will also mean that housing should be affordable (maybe/ maybe not in the ciity, but out in the 'burbs).
MD, north and north-west of DC are nice. Politics in these areas have a slight right slant, but are outnummbered by the denser populations of leftists in the eastern part of the state. You do have all the ammenities you could want. But, it's still MD. Gun laws are awful. Ever changing taxes (that you only find out about when you file).
Northern VA politics is pretty centered. Slips back and forth between the left and right (more to the left, right now). VA, west of DC - Tyson, Vienna... - is REALLY pretty and expensive (still not as bad as living in DC, though). VA, south of DC (my area) is nice. A lot more affordable - unless you go south of Woodbridge, VA (then prices drop dramatically). VA's gun laws are great. Open carry (permit only issued for concealed carry, and it's easy to get).
Rush hour traffic, anywhere around DC, can be downright ugly. But usually it's just inconvenient. My 21 mile ride to work takes an average of 40 minutes.