Northern Virginia is a very complex place to live. It is the Washington DC Metropolitan Area and invariably includes Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties, as well as multiple independent cities. Here are some generally accepted truths about living next door to our nation’s capital:
1. Traffic.
There will always be traffic. DC is a massive commuter city, so trying to get anywhere during rush hour isn’t going to happen. Also, if the speed limit sign says 45 and you actually go 45, you will be passed. Constantly.
2. You're more politically aware than most other places.
This might not ring true this past election cycle, but NoVa residents historically have a lot more to say about politics and political candidates than other places in the country. Maybe it’s because many of our residents hold politically-significant jobs, or we have politics living at our backdoor. Either way, we really care about politics.
3. You know at least one person who can’t tell what their job is.
I actually know about three. Many people who live in NoVa and commute to DC have sensitive or classified jobs, making small-talk at the neighborhood holiday party a little bit more challenging!
4. You complain about the constant construction.
Yes, there is construction. Everywhere. NoVa is one of the most rapidly expanding places in the country for development, particularly Loudoun County. You learn to live with the noise and construction vehicles on all of the roads, but, eventually, you begin to wonder if you’ll ever actually see the finished product.
5. Having all four seasons in one week.
NoVa weather is weird. It can be sunny and 75 on Monday with a chance of snow on Friday. Worst of all is when there’s a 40-degree temperature difference from morning to afternoon, making getting dressed require much more thought than anyone can reasonably be expected of early in the morning.
6. You come from one of the best, and most competitive, school systems in the country.
NoVa is known for its excellent school systems. I am a product of the public schools of NoVa and I can vouch for their quality. However, this means that NoVa is a factory for very competitive and ambitious young people. This is definitely a social benefit, but for the actual students, competition in anything, from the science fair to college admissions, is extremely high, as is the expectation of success. These unusually high standards turn high schools into pressure-cookers, resulting in very stressed-out and overworked students.
7. Differentiate yourself from RoVa.
There is a clear north/south divide between Northern Virginia and the Rest of Virginia (RoVa). With the exceptions of Richmond and the Newport News area, the rest of the commonwealth is relatively rural, with some suburban hubs here and there. Politically, economically, and socially, NoVa is very different from the rest of the state.
8. Act southern at country concerts.
Yes, a few times a year we dress in our plaid shirts and cowboy boots and trek out to Jiffy Lube Live to hear some great American country music, despite not being remotely country whatsoever. Maybe western Loudoun and Prince William residents are a bit more at home here, but for the rest of us, we’re just pretending for a night.
9. Take pictures of the sky.
This is a weird phenomenon, but NoVa does have some amazing celestial sights to see, from sunrises and sunsets to storms and their aftermath. My Snapchat is constantly filled with pictures of my home’s sky. It’s nostalgic, but also, really unnecessary.
10. Tell people you’re from DC (because it's faster than explaining the complex dynamics of NoVa).
No one outside of the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia; not your local Department of Motor Vehicles office) knows where Falls Church or Reston or Leesburg is. It’s close enough to DC that we just say that’s where we’re from, because in conversation, there really isn’t time to explain NoVa geography to those unfamiliar with it.
11. You judge everyone else by the stereotype of the area in NoVa they’re from.
Each county and city have a stereotype, and we all judge each other. Some areas are more pretentious or prestigious than others, some are more commercial, residential, very safe, less safe, and so on. Even though from the outside we all look pretty much the same, everyone in NoVa knows the reputation of the other areas, and yes, we do take where you’re from into account when we first meet you.
