corranhorn6565

corranhorn6565 t1_izsncpf wrote

One other note Annapolis is expensive. I'm new to Columbia so I don't know everything, but a lot of people love it and we chose to buy here. Howard and Montgomery counties are really diverse. Painting with a broad brush, its less diverse the closer to Annapolis you get and headig further south or east. I've heard good things about odenton and Crofton. Laurel seems more hit or miss in terms of safety. Prince Georges county has some hit more miss locales too. South of Anne Arundel county and you get rural quickly. Same with north and west of Ellicott city.

Come visit! We have crab cakes and old bay! Direct flights from LAX to BWI are a thing.

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corranhorn6565 t1_izsdx04 wrote

I would highly suggest living as close to work as you can find an affordable safe place to live. I have not done Annapolis/Columbia commute. As long as there isn't an accident on 97/32 you should be about 40-60 minutes. Personally I'd try and live closer to Annapolis.

Do you have kids, S/O tagging along?

What characteristics are you looking for in a community?

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corranhorn6565 t1_izscs8t wrote

Ok great! Also, if you are living within a few miles of your work you should be able to get their without too much hassle. I would not work at a hospital in downtown Baltimore or DC and expect to have a fun time getting there from Columbia. The major traffic roads are 95, bw parkway (295), 32, 197 then both DC beltway (495) and Baltimore beltway.

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corranhorn6565 t1_izsbian wrote

Yea I don't know how effective it would be. I've been walking 3 or 4 times and had dogs pull towards me in a non friendly way. Depending on the owner it seems like they don't exactly have control. Occasionally, children holding leashes for dogs larger than them.

I've been bit by a dog before so I'm probably just not trusting. Everyone's dog is the most friendly loving playful thing. Until it isn't. That being said on the flip side there are a good number of really well trained dogs walking around.

P.s. I have owned and intend to own dogs again. Just saying people in general don't necessarily have well trained, adjusted, non reactive dogs.

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corranhorn6565 t1_izs2svf wrote

Recently bought a single family home in Columbia. Walking around the trails everyone is super friendly. I do carry pepper spray just because some peoples dogs don't give me the most super friendly or in control vibe. Not sure what the apartments/townhome situations are like.

Depending on where your friends live in MD and VA it could be difficult to go to their places. Check Google maps and us the set or arrive feature at a time/date to get a good idea on traffic. DC has lots of great activities. Baltimore the same. Also Annapolis, Frederick, Ellicott city. As others have said close enough for a weekend trip to some small/medium ski resorts or state parks in the mountains. Same for ocean city, Rehoboth, assateague or Chincoteague for beaches (traffic to the beaches is miserable in the summer, take advantage of your nursing schedule to travel at off peak times).

I've lived in MD my whole life, all over the state and there are great places to live with varying advantages and disadvantages everywhere. Traffic, neighborhood safety, cost of living, work options vary greatly. We really are a u.s. in miniature.

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corranhorn6565 t1_iuyf963 wrote

It never fails that the leaf blowers and zero turn mowers show up right before a big meeting. It certainly seems like an inefficient way to move leaves around.

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