Need Advice on Relocating Away from SOMD

T

terp03

New Member
I currently live in Wildewood and work near Gate 1. I love my job, but I am not happy living here (due to lack of night life and distance from friends and girlfriend). I believe it would be better for me to move closer to DC and commute to Lexington park. I am looking for an area that will be close to a metro stop, shopping and restaurants. I currently live in Wildewood, and I would want to live somewhere that is just as nice and safe. I will be looking to rent and probably won't be living there for more than 3 years. I am 23 years old and single....so family oriented aspects like quality of schools aren't important to me.

I am considering the following areas:
Bowie
Upper Marlboro
Dunkirk
Prince Frederick
Waldorf

I am also open to hearing other suggestions. Does anyone have experience commuting from these areas? What are the approximate commute times? How is the quality of living in those places? I have no experience with a long commute...what are everyone's feelings on an hour, or hour and a half commute. Is it crazy, or do-able?
 
yardsalequeen

yardsalequeen

Member
well moving to PF, Waldorf and Dunkirk would still be within SOMD. You have seen the traffic backup that occurs at the Thomas Johnson bridge, right??? And there isn't a metro stop right around the corner in PF or Dunkirk. I don't think there are a lot of rentals in Dunkirk and if there are, I'm sure they are probably single family homes and I would bet rental fees are higher than what you are paying now.

Why not try to find a room (or cheap hotel) to rent in DC or thereabouts and then just spend every Fri, Sat and Sun night up there?
 
K

Katie

Guest
Originally posted by yardsalequeen
well moving to PF, Waldorf and Dunkirk would still be within SOMD. You have seen the traffic backup that occurs at the Thomas Johnson bridge, right??? And there isn't a metro stop right around the corner in PF or Dunkirk. I don't think there are a lot of rentals in Dunkirk and if there are, I'm sure they are probably single family homes and I would bet rental fees are higher than what you are paying now.

Why not try to find a room (or cheap hotel) to rent in DC or thereabouts and then just spend every Fri, Sat and Sun night up there?
Click to expand...

:yeahthat:

Even if you are Bowie or Upper Marlboro, there is still no Metro stops in either of those areas either.
 
T

terp03

New Member
Originally posted by Katie

Even if you are Bowie or Upper Marlboro, there is still no Metro stops in either of those areas either. [/B]
Click to expand...

I would be satisfied if I was within a 20 minute drive of a Metro. I assume this would be the case with Bowie, but I don't know about Upper Marlboro.
 
K

Katie

Guest
Originally posted by terp03
I would be satisfied if I was within a 20 minute drive of a Metro. I assume this would be the case with Bowie, but I don't know about Upper Marlboro.
Click to expand...

Upper Marlboro is, but that is PG County, which has a serious high crime rate.

If you are having problems meeting people, get out there. There is lots to do around here volunteer wise that helps you meet people. You sometimes needs to look beyond the obvious to meet people.
 
T

terp03

New Member
Originally posted by yardsalequeen
well moving to PF, Waldorf and Dunkirk would still be within SOMD. You have seen the traffic backup that occurs at the Thomas Johnson bridge, right???
Click to expand...
That is a concern of mine. Living in Bowie or Upper Marlboro would let me avoid the bridge. How bad, on average, is the bridge during rush hour? How much time would you say it adds to the commute?


And there isn't a metro stop right around the corner in PF or Dunkirk.
Click to expand...
I know that. I see them as being more desireable than where I am now, but not completely what I want.


I don't think there are a lot of rentals in Dunkirk and if there are, I'm sure they are probably single family homes and I would bet rental fees are higher than what you are paying now.
Click to expand...
I haven't seen rentals their either.

Why not try to find a room (or cheap hotel) to rent in DC or thereabouts and then just spend every Fri, Sat and Sun night up there?
Click to expand...

This is something I have considered, but cheap and rent in DC don't exactly go together :biggrin: ......at least in a good area. One of my issues with being here is I feel stuck during the week. I live too far to just see my girlfriend during the week, or go watch a game with my friends.

Finding a cheap place here and another place near DC is something I haven't considered though.
 
CMC122

CMC122

Go Braves!
Your drive from Bowie to LP would be an hour and a half. That's crazy.

I lived in Bowie my entire life and it has gone entirely down hill. You can't find a house to rent and if you do it'll cost ya about $1800.00 a month.

You are crazy for wanting to leave a 15 minute commute. There is lots to do down here you just have to get out and find it.:wink:
 
T

terp03

New Member
Originally posted by CMC122
Your drive from Bowie to LP would be an hour and a half. That's crazy.
Click to expand...

I figured it would take that long. There is the possibility that I could work from home part of the time, which would help a lot. Its definitely long, but if it means I'll be happy then it might just be worth it




I lived in Bowie my entire life and it has gone entirely down hill. You can't find a house to rent and if you do it'll cost ya about $1800.00 a month.
Click to expand...

I've been hearing this. Where in Bowie would you absolutely avoid? What parts are still good? I've been to Bowie Town Centre, which I perceive as being very nice. There are also some apartments right around there, which run about $900 for a one bedroom.




You are crazy for wanting to leave a 15 minute commute. There is lots to do down here you just have to get out and find it.:wink: [/B]
Click to expand...

The commute now is great, but whats the point if I'm not happy?

If there is lots to do, please do tell!! I was living in Fairfax last summer, and to me that is an area that has a lot to do. On the weekends I could hop on the metro and be in Adams Morgan or Georgetown in no time. Tons of restaurants were nearby, and Tysons Corner was 20 minutes away. Plus they have really nice rec centers all over the county.

My friends are split between DC and Baltimore, and my girlfriend is near DC. Thats one of the main reasons for me wanting to move close to there.
 
SmallTown

SmallTown

Football season!
Originally posted by CMC122
There is lots to do down here you just have to get out and find it.:wink:
Click to expand...

I heard this BS when I lived there. Hello McFly, life isn't about "digging deep" to find something to do. If you have to look that hard for it, it probably isn't worth it.
 
Otter

Otter

Nothing to see here
Sounds to me that you oughta job hunt for something in DC Metro area, then move up there.
 
T

terp03

New Member
Originally posted by otter
Sounds to me that you oughta job hunt for something in DC Metro area, then move up there.
Click to expand...

As I said earlier, I love my job. Thats why I am willing to do such a long commute back down here. In another year or so I should be able to transfer back to DC.
 
T

terp03

New Member
Originally posted by SmallTown
I heard this BS when I lived there. Hello McFly, life isn't about "digging deep" to find something to do. If you have to look that hard for it, it probably isn't worth it.
Click to expand...


Hahahaha....agreed.
 
yardsalequeen

yardsalequeen

Member
what I was suggesting in my previous post was to find a room to rent in the DC area - like where someone has an extra bedroom in their house and they want to make a little bit of money renting it out. I wasn't suggesting finding a regular sized apt in DC.

And about the bridge traffic - I meant leaving the base in the afternoons - not the morning traffic.

I think you should try the commute a few times and see how you like it. Get off work at your normal time and then drive up to Upper Marlboro or Bowie and see how stressed etc it makes you feel. Then think about how it would feel to make that drive every day.
 
T

terp03

New Member
Originally posted by yardsalequeen
what I was suggesting in my previous post was to find a room to rent in the DC area - like where someone has an extra bedroom in their house and they want to make a little bit of money renting it out. I wasn't suggesting finding a regular sized apt in DC.
Click to expand...


I understood what you were saying...I think reversing your idea would work better for me. I would rather rent something cheap here, and have the option of staying during the week.


And about the bridge traffic - I meant leaving the base in the afternoons - not the morning traffic.
Click to expand...

Is there mourning traffic over the bridge? I've never tried to drive over it in the mourning. It seems like some afternoons its not too bad, and others its way backed up. What is the traffic pattern?

I think you should try the commute a few times and see how you like it. Get off work at your normal time and then drive up to Upper Marlboro or Bowie and see how stressed etc it makes you feel. Then think about how it would feel to make that drive every day.
Click to expand...

I'm planning on getting a hotel room and trying the commute. I don't think I'll be stressed....I'm content driving as long as I've got something good on the radio. I'll have a bigger issue with having to leave soo early, get back late and then having to go to bed early. But thats why I'm trying to find people who have done this and see how bearable it is.
 
SamSpade

SamSpade

Well-Known Member
PREMO Member
I've done both - I commuted to DC from Lusby from 1995-2001. Then for two years, I had a job in Lexington Park. Now, I'm in Hollywood, taking the bus to DC.

I was unhappy, largely, in Lusby. Having to spend nearly three hours out of every day just DRIVING to work meant almost no social life. Doing things with people AFTER work, and keeping up with things in DC made it very difficult. I finally decided one of two things - move closer to work, or get another job.

I got another job and I did cross "that bridge" every day, and if you go at the right times, it's nothing. And while the workplace proved to be fruitless in making friends locally, I did have some success partly via these boards.

Well the job didn't work out, and I'm back to commuting. I have quite a few local friends that I think are just great, and I like my neighbors, now that I've gotten to know them.

If I had my choice, I'd still prefer a short commute to my job. It would mean being home by 4:30 and getting out and doing things. As it is, I get home quite a bit later, and weeknights aren't always the best time to get out, but if your friends are close by, it's not a problem.

It's just a question of where you choose to build your social life. Honestly, I still thought of myself as a transplanted soul, 50 miles from my life and my friends and in a sort of friendship 'exile'. I never really tried very hard to make friends down here. Yeah "I *tried*", but when I first came to Maryland, I didn't know a SOUL, and I busted my azz to make it happen.

It can work, but you've gotta find what works for you. I think if you continue to search for a social life closer to DC, you WILL miss out on making friends here. It's a perspective kind of thing.
 
Chasey_Lane

Chasey_Lane

Salt Life
Originally posted by terp03

Is there mourning traffic over the bridge? I've never tried to drive over it in the mourning. It seems like some afternoons its not too bad, and others its way backed up. What is the traffic pattern?
Click to expand...
If you're over the W.W. bridge by (the very latest) 6:15 a.m. it isn't bad. However, if you get stuck anytime after, be prepared for a loooong commute. The bridge starts backing up in the afternoons around Noon, and if you get stuck around 4 p.m. or later, you might as well stay at work until 8 p.m. or so. :ohwell:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top