sorry, I thought most people on this site trade from home? sure, if you have to commute, then move closer to your workplace, the traffic here is bad, most people that live here (alexandria, va) work for the us patent office and the dept of defense (both walking distance). does Baltimore have any nice areas?
I was stuck in a terrible traffic jam in Old Town about 26 years ago. Can't imagine what it would be like today. A friend of mine who commuted there from Fredericksburg told he that he didn't have any trouble getting to work as long as he left the house before 4:00 AM.
I lived in the Washington DC area in Maryland many years ago. I dont know what its like right now, but I can tell you about the climate and other general things about the area in which I observed. The winters are very mild when compared to the tri-state NY/NJ/CT areas. The temperature in MD tends to be 10-15 degrees warmer then the tri-state. You might see one or two snowfalls, but its all melted within days. Spring and Fall are great. The summers can be very hot and humid which tends to be somewhat uncomfortable at times. There is a youthful spirit around Washington DC because there are so many colleges. I believe there is about 7 colleges in the area which are very close together and at any given time many people in their teens and twenties are out and about. The night-life and bar scene isnt as good as NYC, but its much better then many other places I have been. The cost of living is better when compared to the tri-state area. Obviously, things like food and gas will be at a better price then what you get up north. The people *seem*, in general, friendlier. The reason why I say "seem" is because I have learned in life that people may seem friendly at first, but talk a different story once you leave the room. Lets just say, in NYC, people are very forward and direct. In MD/DC, they are much friendlier and less direct. It depends upon which type of attitude you prefer, but in MD/DC you will get a much softer touch then in NYC. For a single guy, its a great place. Since there are so many colleges, there seems to be a sizable dating pool and its far easier to find women then in NYC. The attitudes seem looser among the women and dating doesnt seem like a huge issue. A Bachelor playing the scene would do well for himself there and far better then in NYC. The greatest problem with dating in NYC I have found is the attitudes. In MD/DC, those same attitudes dont seem to exist. For a family guy, its also just as great. I wouldnt mind raising a family in that area. I dont think you would be disappointed by moving to the DC area. Its one of the few places that I would live in if given the choice. (Those areas that I would only live in are DC, NYC, SF and Seattle.) One other thing to note is the progressive attitude that has always existed in the DC area. There are places I have experienced where people seem very conservative and seem stuck up. I didnt encounter that in the DC area. If you get a good offer, depending upon your situation now, I would say to go there. Its not a bad choice and I am confident you will have fun.
that's why you gotta stick to the nicer areas (old town alexandria, parts of arlington, mclean...etc) a little more expensive, but very nice
I wanted to thank everyone who posted comments or PMed me regarding the D.C. area. I haven't had a chance to respond to everyone or even read everything yet, but I will soon. Just from the comments and PMs I've read, I've probably gained a better sense of D.C. and the surrounding areas, the good and bad areas, the cultural things, the daily facets of life, etc., just from this site, in the last 30 hours, than I have from any other source of info.
One obervation I made is that in your profile it says you live in Michigan. My opinion is that DC will be an upgrade. You are going to have far more milder winters, things to do in general, culture, etc. There will be more people to meet and the attitude overall will be far more progressive. I dont want to put down Michigan, but if you asked what is there to do there...I dont know. You want your life to be full of good memories and I cant see many good times in the land of Michigan.
I suspect you will like the Northern Virgina area quite a bit. One thing the DC area that offers that you won't find elsewhere is a very rich assortment of cultural and educational opportunities for FREE. I have lived in Alexandria (Old Town area) since 1983. I can't tell you how many lectures, concerts, performances, etc. I have gone to offered through the Smithsonian, The Carnegie Institute, non-profits, etc., etc. for free. It is rather amazing. I was visiting my sister in San Francisco a few weeks ago and I went to the California Academy of Sciences Museum. The entry fee was $27 bucks. I said, " Holy cow, in DC this would be free!" Traffic can be a problem depending on where you live and work. Housing is more expensive that many parts of the country but there are some good deals to be had if you know where to look. I recommend you take time to get to know the different neighborhoods before you buy. But all in all it's not a bad place to be. There are worse places to live.
find where Harris Teeter store located then you can expore some area nearby. They are likely to locate near some upscale neighborhoods. http://www.harristeeter.com/other/store_locator/store_locator.aspx