Posted: 9/7/2016 11:30:52 AM EDT
In the next few weeks, I'm switching career paths, and it's unfortunately taking my job a lot closer to the beltway/Fairfax region than I would have otherwise liked. I'm already in the process of looking for housing and such, and have somewhat gotten used to the fact that everything is going to be an expensive nightmare. Are there any family and pet friendly locales within an hour's driving (not on 66, hellhole that it is) of the northeast region of Fairfax that are decent? An added bonus would be one that doesn't cost my whole salary each year  I know I'm asking a laughably impossibly question, and while I'm already doing a lot of research, I'm trying to get more inputs. A coworker at the job I"m leaving has said that he knew people who lived in Culpeper and had a 1 hour drive on backroads each day to get to the same area, but looking at it on a map that doesn't seem possible. I'm just hoping for someone with a better, more current appreciation of traffic to weigh in. Thanks in advance from the new blood ETA: job location looks to be in Merrifield, if it helps. GS9 plus kid/dogs/guns is really limiting my options  |
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Have you considered living in the South?
I live in Fredericksburg and take the commuter train (VRE.org) into Arlington every day. I don't have to worry about the stress or mayhem of DC traffic especially I-95. I usually nap in the morning and play games or browse ARFCOM on my way home. Train is almost always quiet and a smooth ride. |
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Quoted:
Have you considered living in the South? I live in Fredericksburg and take the commuter train (VRE.org) into Arlington every day. I don't have to worry about the stress or mayhem of DC traffic especially I-95. I usually nap in the morning and play games or browse ARFCOM on my way home. Train is almost always quiet and a smooth ride. I do this as well. |
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Quoted: I do this as well. Quoted: Quoted: Have you considered living in the South? I live in Fredericksburg and take the commuter train (VRE.org) into Arlington every day. I don't have to worry about the stress or mayhem of DC traffic especially I-95. I usually nap in the morning and play games or browse ARFCOM on my way home. Train is almost always quiet and a smooth ride. I do this as well. Where "south" is a good area to look? |
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Quoted: If you decide Stafford may be an option.A buddy of mine has a big 3 BR farmhouse on 12 acres for rent. He is looking for $1500.00/mth. may work a little on the $ for the right person.In south Stafford off White Oak rd/rt 218 Also, slight update in the OP |
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The good news is as a GS-9 you should get promoted relatively quickly for the first few. I can't imagine you will be a GS-9 more than the minimum one year time in grade. Even kids out of college grad school seem to get picked up for 12/13 positions with barely any experience.
-shooter |
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Quoted:
In the next few weeks, I'm switching career paths, and it's unfortunately taking my job a lot closer to the beltway/Fairfax region than I would have otherwise liked. I'm already in the process of looking for housing and such, and have somewhat gotten used to the fact that everything is going to be an expensive nightmare. Are there any family and pet friendly locales within an hour's driving (not on 66, hellhole that it is) of the northeast region of Fairfax that are decent? An added bonus would be one that doesn't cost my whole salary each year
I know I'm asking a laughably impossibly question, and while I'm already doing a lot of research, I'm trying to get more inputs. A coworker at the job I"m leaving has said that he knew people who lived in Culpeper and had a 1 hour drive on backroads each day to get to the same area, but looking at it on a map that doesn't seem possible. I'm just hoping for someone with a better, more current appreciation of traffic to weigh in. Thanks in advance from the new blood
ETA: job location looks to be in Merrifield, if it helps. GS9 plus kid/dogs/guns is really limiting my options
You been there yet? Get ready for a RUDE awakening from anywhere in KY (traffic + money). Hope you don't have kids to worry about/support, just you or you and a spouse that will work too. Have no idea where all that money comes from. |
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Quoted: The good news is as a GS-9 you should get promoted relatively quickly for the first few. I can't imagine you will be a GS-9 more than the minimum one year time in grade. Even kids out of college grad school seem to get picked up for 12/13 positions with barely any experience. -shooter |
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Would there be any wisdom to living further inside the beltway than my office location, so that I would theoretically be traveling away from the DC hellhole in the morning, and towards it at night? In general yes, reverse commute can be faster, it depends on time of day, for instance 66 reverse commute does bottleneck at a few locations. Rent will be more, but time on the road should be less. More urban environment, spend time exploring parks outside the city. |
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Quoted:
Would there be any wisdom to living further inside the beltway than my office location, so that I would theoretically be traveling away from the DC hellhole in the morning, and towards it at night? It also depends on which way you are heading. 66 inside the beltway is a cluster no matter the direction at rush hour. If you can avoid 66 it helps having a reverse commute. For example, when I lived in Shrilington (Alexandria/Arlington border) and worked in Reston, there was not a decent route that didn't involve at least a few miles on 66. In the mornings the few miles on 66 typically took 10-15 minutes. In the evening heading into town against rush hour the few miles on 66 typically took 20-30 minutes. I could avoid the traffic but it took just as long if not longer to go around. On the other hand, When I lived in DC and worked at Ft. Belvoir many moons ago my commute was cake. 20-25 mintutes each way. Same for commuting from Shirlington to Springfield. Merryfield will be a crap shoot depending on where you're coming from. |
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Quoted: It also depends on which way you are heading. 66 inside the beltway is a cluster no matter the direction at rush hour. If you can avoid 66 it helps having a reverse commute. For example, when I lived in Shrilington (Alexandria/Arlington border) and worked in Reston, there was not a decent route that didn't involve at least a few miles on 66. In the mornings the few miles on 66 typically took 10-15 minutes. In the evening heading into town against rush hour the few miles on 66 typically took 20-30 minutes. I could avoid the traffic but it took just as long if not longer to go around. On the other hand, When I lived in DC and worked at Ft. Belvoir many moons ago my commute was cake. 20-25 mintutes each way. Same for commuting from Shirlington to Springfield. Merryfield will be a crap shoot depending on where you're coming from. Quoted: Quoted: Would there be any wisdom to living further inside the beltway than my office location, so that I would theoretically be traveling away from the DC hellhole in the morning, and towards it at night? It also depends on which way you are heading. 66 inside the beltway is a cluster no matter the direction at rush hour. If you can avoid 66 it helps having a reverse commute. For example, when I lived in Shrilington (Alexandria/Arlington border) and worked in Reston, there was not a decent route that didn't involve at least a few miles on 66. In the mornings the few miles on 66 typically took 10-15 minutes. In the evening heading into town against rush hour the few miles on 66 typically took 20-30 minutes. I could avoid the traffic but it took just as long if not longer to go around. On the other hand, When I lived in DC and worked at Ft. Belvoir many moons ago my commute was cake. 20-25 mintutes each way. Same for commuting from Shirlington to Springfield. Merryfield will be a crap shoot depending on where you're coming from.  That's what I was worried about. Trying to figure out if it's worth my wife and I keeping both cars (parking spot provided for me at the office), or trying to use the Orange line to Dunn-Loring from further in town (and getting reimbursed). Though the other thread in the VA HTF about how VA seems to hose people on property taxes for vehicles seems to make the Orange line route a better option. If I drove, I'd be trying to do whatever's possible to stay away from 66 or the beltway, but many of the options seem to be more to the east or west (below 66), out Arlington or down Gallows/Annandale. My superior said she used to live in the Chantilly area to commute to the office, and that it was either a 20-40 minute drive, or 2 hours.  |
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Quoted:
Would there be any wisdom to living further inside the beltway than my office location, so that I would theoretically be traveling away from the DC hellhole in the morning, and towards it at night? Can you survive in a 2-bedroom apartment (many will take pets). If so, check out Annandale. There will be 2br apartments for $1,500-$1,600. |
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How flexible is the work schedule? That can make a big difference.
Normally I leave at 5am and can get where I'm going in 35 min. Back home in about 45 min leaving by 1430. But like today when my phone battery died overnight and my alarm didn't go off. 
Left at 7am and it became an hour and 10 minutes to work, hour and 15 home.
And I'm on a motorcycle hauling ass any time the road isn't jammed up. |