Tell me about NOVA.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Charlotte is VERY high on Julianne and I's places to visit and possibly live. Just the idea of it sounds like paradise for us.

[Senor_Taylor]

Charlotte is VERY high on Julianne and I's places to visit and possibly live. Just the idea of it sounds like paradise for us.

But how is the offroading? Is that close to Urari?

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[V1GiLaNtE]

Charlotte is VERY high on Julianne and I's places to visit and possibly live. Just the idea of it sounds like paradise for us.

But how is the offroading? Is that close to Urari?

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Hour and a half MAX. You're surrounded by mountains and national forest which has miles of Fire Roads for exploring. Not to mention Lake Norman and the US Olympics whitewater facility.

[ScottyB]

Charlotte is VERY high on Julianne and I's places to visit and possibly live. Just the idea of it sounds like paradise for us.

But how is the offroading? Is that close to Urari?

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Hour and a half MAX. You're surrounded by mountains and national forest which has miles of Fire Roads for exploring. Not to mention Lake Norman and the US Olympics whitewater facility.

you also have the Uwharrie Nat'l Forest to your east which has some solid trails to wheel...although you'll be chipping red clay off the chassis for months after every outing.

if you find Charlotte a bit too "big city", keep Greenville, 2 hrs. south, in mind. great, but still quiet town that is quickly becoming a larger commerce center and is very close to the mountains. i lived in Spartanburg (smaller town just outside Gville) for a few months as an intern and liked it alot, although that was....11 years ago? hock:

[Senor_Taylor]

if you find Charlotte a bit too "big city", keep Greenville, 2 hrs. south, in mind. great, but still quiet town that is quickly becoming a larger commerce center and is very close to the mountains. i lived in Spartanburg (smaller town just outside Gville) for a few months as an intern and liked it alot, although that was....11 years ago? hock:

Uwharrie is what I was talking about. I had no clue how to spell it since I've only ever heard people talk about it, never type it.

[.RJ]

NOVA is hit or miss, you really hate it or you love it and I think a lot of this has to do with who you are, and where you decide to "experience NOVA".

it's a trap.

These are pretty accurate descriptions of the place. There's alot of negatives to the area - the traffic, congestion, the costs - but if you make some conscious choices about how you live your life here there's also a lot of upsides - the job market is always good (federal gov't insulates the whole area with a blanked of money), the housing market never really tanked and is moving up (my house is up 20% since I bought it 5 years ago), there's great diversity of culture/restaurants compared to a lot of places in the country, tons of outdoors shit to do, close to the mountains. I've made some choices to alleviate the problems - I live in Reston and refuse to have a commute any further than about 5 miles. It took me 4 months to switch jobs last year, so that's the tradeoff. I'd still like to move elsewhere at some point (shut up, Mikey) but at the moment things are pretty good here. Like anything, its what you make of it, and dont discount having friends/family nearby.

[Apoc]

I personally think friends and family are the reasons people don't seek a change when they really want to. It kept us on the east coast when we were miserable. Moving away from a life isn't easy, but there are always other people out there and it teaches you a lot about yourself. I never saw my friends living in Ashburn and my family and I aren't particularly close, so YMMV.

Also, we sold our house in Ashburn for 28% less than what we paid. I agree that area is highly insulated and it wasn't nearly as bad as elsewhere, but it definitely tanked. You bought right around the bottom, I think.

My recommendation for nova is live somewhere you don't have to drive. Pay a premium and get a small space. I took me moving to Seattle to learn that lesson.

[WRXtranceformed]

I personally think friends and family are the reasons people don't seek a change when they really want to. It kept us on the east coast when we were miserable.

This times a million. I've seen it with a lot of folks who stick it out living in places that suck, or are super expensive because they fear the change or worry about being too far from current friends and family. Your life does indeed go on when you can detach the umbilical cord and improve your quality of life. And the friends and family that matter will still stay in your life even if you move. In fact, sometimes you can make them see the light and they end up moving with you.

[D_Eclipse9916]

We are super close with both our family. Luckily both of our parents will move wherever we want to move so that is not a determining factor (for us). Unfortunately once we go visit those places we are always disappointed.

Hate traffic? Instead of moving jobs and requesting promotions for more money, ask for more WFH and PTO. (First question to recruiters right now is PTO and Family Leave since the next 3 years we plan on starting a family).

Live far out? Do you really need 3000+ square feet? I really want a 3 car-garage, and could easily afford something farther out, but choose to live in the area we live in because of accessibility and the neighborhood. This is the big detractor I am finding down south.

Jobs (and this might be your key here Taylor) - Get your first job: that degree, GPA, "afterschool activities" means dick after that. You also will find that your first job is 99% not going to be your last. Get a job, move to NOVA, find what you like doing as a job, and then transfer either within that company or to another company. Many of these places have positions outside the NOVA area that are EASY to move once you are within the company. Rent, so you can leave at any time, enjoy the fun nightlife of Arlington, and the ease of which to move between jobs.

Scenario 1. Move to Charlotte for certain job. Hate job (or love job) but want to make that first couple jumps to make more pay? Good luck, much tougher to find and you might have to move to find what you want.

Scenario 2. Move to NOVA. Hate area, well you most likely will work for a bigger firm that can transfer you to many places without having to find a job. Hate job? Easy to find lots of jobs in NOVA.

Of course this is an overarching generalization, but it's a perspective I wish I knew when I was graduating.

[Senor_Taylor]

That makes a lot of sense, DJ. We will see when I get some interviews / offers.

[WRXtranceformed]

Live far out? Do you really need 3000+ square feet? I really want a 3 car-garage, and could easily afford something farther out, but choose to live in the area we live in because of accessibility and the neighborhood. This is the big detractor I am finding down south.

How exactly is this a detractor for the south?

[D_Eclipse9916]

Live far out? Do you really need 3000+ square feet? I really want a 3 car-garage, and could easily afford something farther out, but choose to live in the area we live in because of accessibility and the neighborhood. This is the big detractor I am finding down south.

How exactly is this a detractor for the south?

Sorry, wasnt specific. The people and neighbors in the immediate vicinity haven't left us very happy. #NOVAsnobbery

[WRXtranceformed]

Live far out? Do you really need 3000+ square feet? I really want a 3 car-garage, and could easily afford something farther out, but choose to live in the area we live in because of accessibility and the neighborhood. This is the big detractor I am finding down south.

How exactly is this a detractor for the south?

Sorry, wasnt specific. The people and neighbors in the immediate vicinity haven't left us very happy. #NOVAsnobbery

Ah I see, yeah I mean there are neighborhoods anywhere you go where the people suck. We left our last neighborhood for the same reason but found AMAZING people in our current community. No matter where you go you just kind of have to experience the community before you pull the trigger and move there...fortunately nowadays it's a lot easier to do this through social media, community websites, etc. than it used to be. We scoped out our cul de sac before we signed an agreement on the new place....all of the neighbors came out and introduced themselves and were super awesome. I didn't particularly like our neighbors in NoVA either but if you love your neighborhood and your (future) kids will have kids to play with and everyone gets along / no drama, that's definitely an influencer to stick around.

One of my new neighbors has 4 wheelers that he gives the kids in the cul de sac a ride around on and another used to own a bounce house business, so he blows up a big bounce house every weekend and all the kids come and play in it while the parents hang out and chat. :thumbup:

[Apoc]

I realized, after moved, that everyone in Nova is really angry. Everyone is so aggressive/unhappy and every day is a competition. I interview candidates from that area quite a bit and the first thing I ask them is, "what's the first two questions people ask you when they meet you?" The answer is always the same - where do you work and where'd you go to school. I've also had the cops called on me by my next door neighbor because my stereo was too loud... versus, you know, knocking on my door. If you do move to Nova, take active steps to disconnect from the rat race. It will help preserve your sanity.

[WRXtranceformed]

The answer is always the same - where do you work and where'd you go to school.

Also true regarding the first questions asked in the dating scene in NoVA :lol: :lol:

Don't bother looking for love in Georgetown unless you're ivy league or rich

[.RJ]

I realized, after moved, that everyone up and down the east coast is really angry.

Fixed that for you.

[Jake]

I don't know if everyone is necessarily "angry" per se... but you do get a LOT of aggressive, passionate people up here. The NoVA/DC area is not a laid-back place unless you make it so on your own. Everyone is always very focused on pursuing their next career move or making the most of what they are doing at the present time. The downside is that there's this ever-present intensity... but the upside is that you can and will meet some great, driven people who can be both solid friends and solid networking connections for future work opportunities.

And everything DJ said about getting your first job up here is a very good point... great place to start and pad the resume, then GTFO after a few years.

[*insertusernamehere*]

and solid networking connections for future work opportunities..

This kills me sometimes. When people only talk to you if they see as useful to them.

[Jake]

and solid networking connections for future work opportunities..

This kills me sometimes. When people only talk to you if they see as useful to them.

Well yeah, that's kinda BS, but what I'm getting at is that 90% of the friends you make in this area will be equally motivated and connected as you are, which will lead to good things down the road.

[Apoc]

Disagree. I met a lot of people who spent their days trying to justify their existence/job. I got three "next jobs" in Nova because of a referral, but all of them turned out to be pretty terrible places to work. The people I work with now are highly motivated, but most everyone doesn't talk about work outside of work.

I think you'll find smart, motivated people in any metro area so don't overvalue what may come and instead make choices for happiness now. Even if this means making less money for a short commute and living near friends. Jobs are temporary; we're lucky in that sense these days. Get one that challenges you personally, then fuck out to the outside when you're not at work.