Washington DC or Springfield, IL??

[MrFun]

Well, I got TENTATIVELY good news from a director of a potential employer. I don't want to disclose too much information, but I would be working as a research specialist for an important project. It could be the beginning of a career for me -- FINALLY but I'm not over the hurdles yet.

In the e-mail I received from the director, he said they are seriously considering my application and then he provided more detailed information about the nature of the work in Springfield and the nature of work in Washington DC. The one in Washington DC would involve working in the Library of Congress for this project. And he asked me which location I am willing to locate to, or if I would be fine with either city.

Before I make a final decision and before I send my official reply, I want to hear from people who are intimately familiar with Washington DC. What are things I need to consider in deciding to live there? Cost of living? Crime rate? Cultural anemities and entertainment quality? What is gay community there like/level of general acceptance of gays? Quality of public transportation and level of congestion with cars? And anything else you can think of for someone considering relocating to Washington DC.

Thanks for all the help in advance.

[Kuciwalker]

I think time in DC might do you a lot of good...

[KrazyHorse]

You mean time away from the ****holes that are minor cities in the midwest?

[SlowwHand]

Springfield is still a ****hole minor city in the midwest.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
You mean time away from the ****holes that are minor cities in the midwest?

That too, but I was thinking more generally.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
You mean time away from the ****holes that are minor cities in the midwest?

Did the guy who lives in Baltimore make fun of where someone else lives?

[-Jrabbit]

I can't imagine DC being less hospitable to gays than Springfield.

[MRT144]

yes, yes he did. Although Baltimore is a a much bigger ****hole than Springfield and thus has more things to do.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Springfield is still a ****hole minor city in the midwest.

Errr....that's why I was agreeing with Kuci

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Oerdin


Did the guy who lives in Baltimore make fun of where someone else lives?

Baltimore is a whole other type of ****ty. I can take Baltimore. Podunk hick towns drive me nuts, on the other hand.

[Perfection]

There are lots of black people in DC so if you don't want to go there you're probably racist.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Against DC:
1) Costs a freaking fortune to live there.
2) Colleagues your age are all hyper-ambitous, soulless drones who would kill their own mothers for slightly more access to power, and who think their jobs as staffers for a corrupt two-term Congressman from Bumfu*k Falls give them the right to look down on staffers for a corrupt one-term Congressman from Bumfu*k Heights. And it is, apparently, illegal to hunt these people for sport.

For DC:
1) Way easier to be gay there.
2) It's intersting. Not New York-interesting, or eve Chicago- or Boston- or San Francisco-interesting, but its interesting.
3) You decribe your job as a project. Projects end. DC is a way better place to network your next gig.

[notyoueither]

Re: Washington DC or Springfield, IL??

Originally posted by MrFun
Well, I got TENTATIVELY good news from a director of a potential employer. I don't want to disclose too much information, but I would be working as a research specialist for an important project. It could be the beginning of a career for me -- FINALLY but I'm not over the hurdles yet.

In the e-mail I received from the director, he said they are seriously considering my application and then he provided more detailed information about the nature of the work in Springfield and the nature of work in Washington DC. The one in Washington DC would involve working in the Library of Congress for this project. And he asked me which location I am willing to locate to, or if I would be fine with either city.

Before I make a final decision and before I send my official reply, I want to hear from people who are intimately familiar with Washington DC. What are things I need to consider in deciding to live there? Cost of living? Crime rate? Cultural anemities and entertainment quality? What is gay community there like/level of general acceptance of gays? Quality of public transportation and level of congestion with cars? And anything else you can think of for someone considering relocating to Washington DC.

Thanks for all the help in advance.

You are debating between Washington, the Library of Congress and smalltown Ill?

Are you a historian, or are you looking for a nice place to raise kids?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Re: Re: Washington DC or Springfield, IL??

Originally posted by notyoueither


You are debating between Washington, the Library of Congress and smalltown Ill?

Are you a historian, or are you looking for a nice place to raise kids?

If he's doing Lincoln scholarship, he might well have a better job in Springfield than in DC. But that's only one factor to consider, obviously.

[notyoueither]

I thought about Lincoln, but if he wants a career it's best to go where the riches are. He might switch focus and he can always go to smaller centres on his own time.

Being paid to work in a major centre with archives is a dream come true.

DC, without a doubt.