Doesn’t Matter Who Wins the K Race; We’re All the Same

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

I should have moved there. That would allow me to be utterly consistent. I pretty much lived there for two years in the late 90s. Why didn't I stay? The district is crushing it now. Property values are flying, the local economy is doing well (even with a GOP president) and expanding. I'm a fuck up. I had job prospects there. But then I'd never have met my wife. Trade offs...

It's a zero-sum place and a one-industry town. Everyone's status turns on their power vis-a-vis government. There's only so much of that, so no one gains unless someone else loses. Loved where we lived there, but I don't regret leaving.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

It's a zero-sum place and a one-industry town. Everyone's status turns on their power vis-a-vis government. There's only so much of that, so no one gains unless someone else loses. Loved where we lived there, but I don't regret leaving.

I love where you lived. I visit family there frequently. I spent most of my time there in the late 90s in Foxhall. Walk down Exorcist steps, bar hop through Georgetown. It was really great back in the day when it was less pricey. More charming.

Now it's NY/SF prices, and a different vibe, but still great. Loads of different cultures blending, lots of great food (albeit $$$$ rather than $$ and $$$). Better conversation than most towns (if you avoid the lobbyists and career govt types who can be a bit narrow in terms of conversation topics).

But unlike the rest of the expanse between DC and NY, DC has a future. It's growing generally and has a vibrant tech sector running north toward Baltimore (unfortunately for Baltimore, not reaching anywhere near Baltimore). True, the reliance on govt narrows the focus, and everybody still talks about the beltway as an ozone layer outside of which nothing matters, but is that much worse than everybody talking about finance, or the most boring of all things - pharma? I'm as bored by lobbyists as the next guy, but they beat the "meds and eds" industry crowd you get in Philly and Baltimore. Please, tell me more about how the university is expanding, or about the grant financing for your hospital's new annex... riveting stuff.

Where you are now is of course better, but it's also the extreme outlier. You can't compare that area to any East Coast city (or any other city anywhere, really). You're very lucky, or very smart, or both. And yes, I'm jealous.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

I love where you lived. I visit family there frequently. I spent most of my time there in the late 90s in Foxhall. Walk down Exorcist steps, bar hop through Georgetown. It was really great back in the day when it was less pricey. More charming.

Now it's NY/SF prices, and a different vibe, but still great. Loads of different cultures blending, lots of great food (albeit $$$$ rather than $$ and $$$). Better conversation than most towns (if you avoid the lobbyists and career govt types who can be a bit narrow in terms of conversation topics).

I really thought of Georgetown as a different world, one I didn't visit often. Our 'hood was like a small town in the city. Very diverse -- lots of embassy and World Bank workers. And the food? $$$$ was good, but we didn't do that much and the $ and $$ options were not great. Much better to drive to Fairfax and Rockville and find interesting places in the strip malls.

But unlike the rest of the expanse between DC and NY, DC has a future. It's growing generally and has a vibrant tech sector running north toward Baltimore (unfortunately for Baltimore, not reaching anywhere near Baltimore). True, the reliance on govt narrows the focus, and everybody still talks about the beltway as an ozone layer outside of which nothing matters, but is that much worse than everybody talking about finance, or the most boring of all things - pharma? I'm as bored by lobbyists as the next guy, but they beat the "meds and eds" industry crowd you get in Philly and Baltimore. Please, tell me more about how the university is expanding, or about the grant financing for your hospital's new annex... riveting stuff.

DC has a bright future, but it's a government future. Tech? I keep hearing that from people who talk about DC, but I don't see it working in tech.

Where you are now is of course better, but it's also the extreme outlier. You can't compare that area to any East Coast city (or any other city anywhere, really). You're very lucky, or very smart, or both. And yes, I'm jealous.

Not long ago you were saying I don't live in a city....

[sebastian_dangerfield]

I really thought of Georgetown as a different world, one I didn't visit often. Our 'hood was like a small town in the city. Very diverse -- lots of embassy and World Bank workers.

Your old hood is still filled with Wolrd Bankers. Why is that? Is the WB HQ nearby? I love your hood. Manageable, unlike Gtown, which is a traffic disaster.

DC has a bright future, but it's a government future. Tech? I keep hearing that from people who talk about DC, but I don't see it working in tech.

Going South: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...?noredirect=on

North: https://www.ggchamber.org/wp-content...ech-Report.pdf

Not long ago you were saying I don't live in a city....

I think I might be confused about your location.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

Your old hood is still filled with Wolrd Bankers. Why is that? Is the WB HQ nearby? I love your hood. Manageable, unlike Gtown, which is a traffic disaster.

People who work for governments or like-paying NGOs can afford to live there, unlike Georgetown or much of the rest of NW.

Going South: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...?noredirect=on

North: https://www.ggchamber.org/wp-content...ech-Report.pdf

No one is so impressed by the Dulles Tech Corridor that they forget Silicon Valley.

I think I might be confused about your location.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

No one is so impressed by the Dulles Tech Corridor that they forget Silicon Valley.

Of course not. That'd be absurd. But DC does have growth that MD, NJ, and Eastern PA most decidedly Do Not. DC and NY prop up the MidAtlantic. What goes on between them? Meds, Eds, a bit of Pharma. No serious growth industry wants to do anything in Baltimore or Philly. They're unfriendly to business.

SF is the "city." I guess one can consider the Valley an extension of it. But yes, I remain married to the idea of cities as dense collections of people and large buildings. But when I was talking about a county presenting itself as a city, incorrectly IMO, I was referring to LA. Downtown is a city. But anywhere in which I can drive for over and hour and a half in one direction without leaving is not really a city. Call me old fashioned.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

SF is the "city." I guess one can consider the Valley an extension of it. But yes, I remain married to the idea of cities as dense collections of people and large buildings. But when I was talking about a county presenting itself as a city, incorrectly IMO, I was referring to LA. Downtown is a city. But anywhere in which I can drive for over and hour and a half in one direction without leaving is not really a city. Call me old fashioned.

I like density as much as the next guy, probably more, but you need to expand your horizons. LA is one of the great cities of the world.