Anyone have any advise / cautions about living around the DC area?

[Cholla]

Be advised MD is not 2nd Amendment friendly.

[Outback_Jon]

So my youngest pup is about to start a job working for the federal gummit, right smack- dab in the center of Washington, DC (the proverbial 'belly of the beast').

You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villany

[B.D.F.]

But it appears that VA is.

Thanks- that is a consideration.

Brian

Be advised MD is not 2nd Amendment friendly.

[B.D.F.]

 

Yep, there is truth in that. But at the same time, Washington does have quite a few sights to see, and there are many things nearby that can easily be done in a day trip. For example: I have been trying to get to Aberdeen proving grounds to see the museum and collected pieces there for years; I delayed so long that they actually moved the museum to VA :-(  Still, it could be a great day trip for me and perhaps my son to visit from wherever he ends up around the D.C. area. So me and the Mrs. can go to visit them, and I (and perhaps Jared) can in turn go visit the ordinance at Ft Lee, Virginia.

Brian

You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villany

[VirginiaJim]

Don't forget the Tank museum in Danville or the D-Day memorial in Bedford...  There's an aircraft museum in Va Beach.  Air and Space in Hampton.  Ft. Eustis has a museum as well.  We're just full of sites to see here.

[gPink]

I didn't get to see much when I was in the area but Arlington National Cemetary was a soul moving experience.

[Jim M.]

  MD is not 2nd amendment friendly or tax friendly. Something like 40 different taxes on the books. They even tax you for the amount of rain that hits your roof. No, really. A recent poll had nearly half say they would move out of MD if they could.  I'm spoiled here in VA. Very 2nd amendment friendly(open carry ok and conceal carry permits are easily obtainable), and the tax rates are lower. If you're interested in history, VA has the market cornered in that department from Jamestown to the Revolution to Civil War etc. Pretty much which ever place you decide, the commute is going to suck. Oh, us native Virginians don't really consider NoVA as VA, you have to go farther south than the Rappahannock and west of Leesburg to find the real VA.

[Son of Pappy]

I moved heaven and earth to get the heck out of MD.  My advice?  Don't, food stamps would be safer, more abundant, and easier to obtain than good living arrangements for a family.

I would recommend Jared do a u turn and return to WA State.

[gPink]

VA used to be a good size state before the War of Northern Aggression.

[twowheeladdict]

I traveled to the Crystal City and Rosslyn areas of DC at least once a month in the 2000s.  Personally, I would rather have a tiny apartment and be as close to work as possible even if it means I couldn't save any money untill I got a few promotions.  Definitely an expensive area to live.  Hopefully his salary reflects the higher cost of living. 

[B.D.F.]

Well, my son is on his way back after grabbing an apartment apparently. He ended up in the Quantico, VA area (not actually Quantico, just near there). It looks like a decent spot with a lousy commute to DC (as opposed to a horrible commute to DC  ). He is renting so he can move after a while if someplace else looks better, has a better commute (though that is not likely IMO), etc.

I just wanted to say thanks for those who took the time to give me some insight into that general area. It IS appreciated and definitely did help him in making this move.

Brian

[RFH87_Connie]

Tell hime welcome to VA!  Shoot me a PM with the address or community and I can give you some local info if you want it.  That's actually a pretty nice area.  Easy access to I-95 and HOV (or HOT lanes).

[B.D.F.]

Will do- thanks again!

Yeah, he mentioned something called the 'slug line'. ?? Apparently people driving w/out enough other people in the car to use the HOV lanes drive through the madding crowd shouting out where they are going and other people 'hop in'. Apparently this is not without some difficulties though- the driver falling asleep, drunk driving and some other tales, tall or otherwise. I do have to say though that calling it the 'slug line' does not set it up for good expectations. 

Brian

Tell hime welcome to VA!  Shoot me a PM with the address or community and I can give you some local info if you want it.  That's actually a pretty nice area.  Easy access to I-95 and HOV (or HOT lanes).

[VirginiaJim]

Be that as it may...it does seem to work for quite a few people down here.  My son-in-law's mother uses it and has been for years.