RVA is the place to be
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10/25/2021
We love Richmond so much that when we talk about where we'd like to live if we could live anywhere in the US, we always come back to RVA.
We live in the city proper in a quiet, affordable, diverse, walkable neighborhood with almost zero crime. The climate is fine - we have 72 degree sunny, low-humidity days a lot when we enjoy dining outdoors with a few of the many craft beers made here in Richmond at wonderful local restaurants staffed by other amazing Richmonders who make incredible food. There are hot muggy days and cold dry days and days in between, but overall, it's very temperate. Richmond has accessible outdoor activities like Class I - IV whitewater on the James River and mountain biking trails within the city limits, beautiful parks and places like Maymont to enjoy birdwatching or have a picnic. Take a hike around Belle Isle to watch all these activities, and bring your dog because it's a very dog-friendly town with an amazing group of people running the "City Pound" (Richmond Animal Care and Control, check them on FB or Insta). Outdoor life is popular in RVA with many street bike routes, and running groups abound.
Increasing risk of fire or diminishing water resources like in the west aren't an issue here. Likewise, Richmond isn't at risk of losing shoreline due to rising sea levels. We do get the occasional hurricane which takes out power for a lot of people due to the above-ground electric lines for a day or two, but the power company is working to bury lines in areas where people are most affected.
There are some great public and private school options in RVA and the surrounding counties. Our now-grown kids live with their mom in another state (an ex) but visit occasionally and have loved Passages, an outdoor summer camp where they learned to climb/ride/kayak.
Proximity to the mountains, the Atlantic ocean, and Washington DC is great too - all are 1.5 hours away with many more options within a 4 hour drive.
Is it perfect? By no means, but in our little corner, it's pretty great - good enough for us to want to call it home forever.
about us:
~50 wm he/him/his, moved here in 2009
~55 wf she/her/hers, moved here in 1998
allies/anti-racists who understand our privilege and work to increase diversity and equity
Juli | Richmond, VA