You are funny as he II! Good info. I took the 13 seconds to sign up just to rate you! Thinking hard on moving to RVA. I'm a Microblading & permanent makeup tattoo artist, my boyfriend is a truck driver, and we need to get out of Cali before it damages my complexion!! I do NOT like humidity, though... WHY!?!? So onward and upward - does your local beach have waves? I mean above the knee... I surf (because I can't do drugs, jk, buy really) and I've heard about the Atlantic Coast... Be as honest as an East Coaster can be on the subject. I figure I'll, at least, I'll be able to eat seafood, again. Im not ignorantly ignoring the fact that nuclear receptors are still leaking radioactive energy radioactive waste aka Cesium 31 causing internal melt down like all life in the Pacific is, had, will. Your also a sister bicyclist, but I ride a beach cruiser so are the roads flat or hilly? I suspect my boyfriend is a closet hipster so tell me, do the RVA Hipsters wear rompers "for him" because I'm not ok with that... We aren't racist bigots, listen to Punk music, and work hard and we want a hip/cool place to live where we'll fit in, at least, a little bit - an artsy fartsy district if you will. We have one here, the Tower District and it's fabulous! So... how do you think we'd fare? We don't really care all that much but kinda a little. BTW it's not easy making new friends on the West Coast so we'll be fine. I've found, as I have a bit of a dry/honest sense of humor (I'm an arse O if you are a fake fraud or idiot), that it's easier when you aren't trying. Of course I want friends, but a solid loyal few and I have those already being 40.. But, tell me, why do you think it's hard to fit right in? Lastly, my 18 yr old daughter just started college so what is the median age? And, lastly for reals, do you know if I can buy a nice condo for around $220k (like with granite, tile, insulation, open floor plans, and a small yard for my German Shepherd child), not a cracker jack box with 3 closet-sized bedrooms? Oh man, lastly x 3, we don't drink/do drugs and as horrifying as that sounds to a craft beer conessuer do you want to be my friend? Jk, but seriously. I'm open to an interview... Really though how bad is it? Are we talking epidemic like here in Cali?
Lindsay Brooke | Clovis, CA | Report Abuse

I thought I would comment on RVA since I am from the area, lived all over the world AND have a love and hate for it, so fair view point, imo. I'm born, raised, moved to and from the area several times. It's changed a lot the past 15 years in a good way mostly. It's getting better and better, and yes, you do reach a certain level of happy and then(for me) you get bored and move and hate where you moved and might move back). There is a airport nearby, DC, mtns, beach, but the OBX not Virginia Beach(stay the heck away from Virginia Beach though -angry redneck riviera...I am currently living in this horrid area). RVA has sketchy areas that we ALL know to stay away from. The city overall is safe and I am a SWF and I can say as a native, I have no issues with feeling safe here unless I go into the historically bad areas. Ask around for areas to live in. Richmonders know their stuff about the areas too and aren't shy about telling you on which side of the river to live! The west end and much of the southside are solid choices. Traffic? HAHA! Please. Not even. Yes, there is traffic and drivers that just need to calm down, but nothing like the Dallas, Houston, LA, Atlanta, Hampton Roads, DC hot messes. Not even close. I have a love/hate relationship with the area that seems to wax and wan based on when the city once again changes. Solid farmers markets (Pole Green in Hanover has some killer Hanover tomoatoes) A foodies dream here with lots of diff and appealing places to eat. DID SOMEONE SAY CRAFT BEER? Mekong is a huge favorite (voted best beer bar in 'Murica) and most places in the Fan area of RVA have a decent craft beer draught selection. Also, we have Hardywood which produces the award winning Gingerbread Stout and we fight each other off to get some each year- sells out FAST) and Strangeways and Center of the Universe. Lots of solid beer stores too with good stuff. Vegans you will be happy here with food choices. Progressives and liberals are growing in population...also lots of hipsters, gay/lesbians, some hippies, LOTS of VCU artsy farsty students, Indian population is increasing and with it brings great Indian restaurants. VCU is an awesome university and a magnet school for lots of majors . Diversity is growing too! I like that, you may not. The stuffy old conservatives and rebel flag flyers are a dying breed here, so if you are of that ilk, you might not like it here. Good place to raise a fam-damily. I am a huge mtn biker and there are miles upon miles of trails. Buttermilk by the James was voted a top trail on the East Coast has a 14+ mile loop. Pocahontas just added tons of new trails too and upwards of some techy and non techy trails of 20 miles or more. Poor farm, Forest Hill(near Buttermilk) are also respectable. all within 20 mins drive or less from downtown. We have an outstand trail maintenace group that volunteers their time to build and maintain the trails. If you get bored of RVA trails, tons of biking in Cville just an hr or so away. Big road cycling and hiking, triathlete, kayaking communities here. Check out the meetup groups - always something happening and nice people. Folk Festival in Ocotober, Food festivals all over all times of the year. The National has decent venues. Maymont is awesome. Shopping is good. WF, TJ's, new Wegmans on the way, Short Pump mall is good and has decent stores. I just hope that RVA doesn't turn into little Nova w traffic and population. It's slowly getting there in the burbs. And yes, 3rd in nation for tattoo shops. ha ha Big Cons? Can be hard as he 11 to make new, close friends. Richmond is very weird about new people and fickle in some ways . Cliques all over and getting into them requires an act of Congress It seems like you have to hang out with a group many times before they really see you as their own. Not sure why it's like this. It's a friendly city overall though. Weather in Jan and Feb sucks and is that damp cold and dreary/depressing. Summers can be hot, but have recently been a lot milder and there is usually a long warm season from about the end of April to the end of September. Mostly sunny. Winters can be snowy and Richmonders do NOT know how to drive in snow, ice or rain for that matter. Allergies- I have no prob with this but A LOT of people do. Humidity-I myself love the humidity here, but most people hate it a lot and it is a hot and lovely humidity Drivers overall do not respect cyclists. I am not sure if they ever will. I see a comment that said there is hatred towards whites? Eh? Nope. RVA can still improve in a lot of areas (Richmond City Gov't, I am looking at you)...but the the tri-cities area is getting there
S | Virginia Beach, VA | Report Abuse