why i don't miss DC

after seeing mackensie's post, i just knew i was getting in on this action. DC, for many reasons, is a really great place. there's a lot of history there, the public transportation is reliable and clean (this is a big deal!), and there are plenty of things to do. but overall...

here's why:
living there is too damn expensive. my monthly rent for a small one-bedroom in a high-rise apartment full of college freshmen was $2000. no utilities or accommodations were included. there was no pool, no gym, no balcony. nothing. literally $2000 for a room. and the worst part is that i got a steal. the places down the street wanted nearly $3000.  now, don't get me wrong - lots of people in DC make BANK so at least it's not a situation of choosing between rent and food for many, but the issue arises when the pricing of housing doesn't decrease at the same rate as the income. you'll be pressed to find a one-bed that's not completely dilapidated for less than $1300, even in areas where the median income is at or below poverty-level. those people are paying a small fortune to live in the literal hood.
people that aren't from DC flock there. DC attracts a whole lot of the worst kinds of people. if you're into butt-kissing, self-important, came-from-a-small-town-where-i-was-the-best-thing-ever capitol hill yuppies, then DC is just for you. there's nothing worse than walking around and seeing plenty of visual diversity only to find out the city is actually a catch-all for political groupthink, where your job is much, much, much more important than your actual character. every native washingtonian can immediately pick out the interlopers - they're the ones struggling to walk with the 10-foot poles up their butts.
traffic. i have traffic in texas but nowhere near on the level of DC. the longest you'll have to drive is 30-45 minutes to get pretty much anywhere in the houston area. in DC, it took that long to drive a mile or two most mornings. and i really wish i was exaggerating.
and along the same vein, the drivers. ohmigod. DC attracts/produces literally has the WORST drivers on the face of this planet, and i cannot be convinced otherwise (although they aren't exactly driving miss daisy in houston either). you will never be in more near-accidents/accidents than what you'll face in a 5-minute drive in DC, particularly near any historic landmark. and if you don't develop road rage to deal with the drivers, you will surely end up headfirst in a storm drain somewhere praying for death.
the nightlife is a racket. full disclosure: the nightlife sucks in houston, too (in my opinion), but at least it's usually free. in DC, you will pay $20-$60 to get into a bar/lounge, $10-$20 to check your coat (which is required in many places), and $15-$20 per drink. this is usually after a one-hour wait in a line outside which deceitfully funnels you into a near-empty building. i don't go to lounges anymore, but when i was living there, i was all about it. and i was always poor. and pissed. ♥

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