Are you from the US originally? Where is the job offer in Europe? I feel like having a job in a different country might make you slightly more appealing when/if you come back and would be a great life experience. I’m sure Europe has its problems, but the US has quite a lot. Also, It’s not every day someone gets an offer for a job in another country, I do think it’s every day that people in Arlington get new jobs. And, if you don’t have a solid friend group here, then what are you sad about leaving (maybe family??) Also, it’s so easy to travel within Europe, you could visit all sorts or different areas of nature, in different countries so easily; one weekend go to the Swiss alps, next check out a waterfall in Croatia. You could say the same thing about the US, but we are much larger so weekend trips aren’t quite as easy/quick plus the public transportation and cheap/quick flights and trains between European cities are very appealing. I’m team Europe!! Wishing you the best in your choice!

Living in Arlington is cool if you like the urban life. There is access to nature but traffic makes it annoying to get there. It’s really easy to make friends and there’s plenty of things to do. The only downside is that it isn’t cheap. I am unhappy living here simply because I don’t think there is enough nature here. I’m packing my bags and moving to Denver.

Depends on where you live and if you’ll bring your car…the southern part of Arlington is very urban, and though there’s lots of nice trails and parks it’s in the context of a large (and growing) city. Northern Arlington is a bit more suburban and is close to nice parks and trails, but comes with a notable price bump and longer commutes to work. Also parking is more expensive (ie at least $100 per month) the closer you are to a major urban area. If you’re looking for nature, go closer to Falls Church or Fairfax county.

There should be enough farmers markets to satisfy you in the entire Metro DC area…at least during the right seasons.

As for making friends, the good news is that, aside from perhaps Clarendon, Arlington is a hub for introverts that would be more interested in hobbies and other nerdy passions. The bad news…is that Arlington is full of introverts, so it may seem hard at first to find people who are quick to make friends. My suggestion (for Arlington and in general) is to look up groups on meetup or other sites for your interests and see if DC, Arlington, or NoVA come up. In my personal experience, all my friends are outside Arlington.

Arlington is very liberal on social issues, but is more moderate-left fiscally and militarily (lots of defense contractors live here thanks to the Pentagon). In general, people are very tolerant of differing viewpoints as long as you demonstrate a willingness to listen and respond respectfully. If your job involves working in the federal government (as a civilian OR contractor), you are likely to be discouraged (and possibly forbidden) from being overtly political.

I think Arlington right now is good, but not great, in terms of livability. Public transit and diversity of things to do can hardly be rivaled, and you have DC across the river in case you want something more culturally enriching. However, it is expensive, and people living here are very transient, moving due to better jobs or the desire to own a bigger home. I think Arlington and NoVA in general is a good starting point for living an urban lifestyle if you can afford it.

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I grew up in the area, moved away to Europe in my late 20s, stayed for almost 13 years where I met my partner and we had a kid. We eventually decided to move back to the US - the Pacific NW to be more specific for 4 years… then then back to DC area (Arlington) and have been here since.

I love the area and have a good group of friends - new and old. But it is expensive here. Good hiking and trails are easily accessible. And some better mountain hiking 45 min drive away at minimum. It’s diverse here and access to so many things to do including great museums and beach only 2.5 hours or so away by car.

Where in Europe can your work take you?

I will say, the best thing I did was move to another country to experience another culture. And have easy access to so many other countries to travel to and explore. I learned so much about myself and other people and cultures. If you are up for the adventure, I’d say go… if after a year or so it isn’t for you, at least you gave it a go! I told myself I’d give it 2 years in the country I landed in. I stayed for 13 and it’s my second home with amazing memories and where I learned so much about myself. Sometimes my partner and I dream about moving back one day. But we also have strong roots here and our son has family close by. This area has a lot to offer but so does the world. It’s your oyster, good luck on your decision! Whatever you choose will be the right one.

Feel free to DM me if you’d like to chat more. Best of luck!

Arlington is one of the best places to live in the country IMO (plenty of other good ones, but Arlington is just top tier). The biggest concern is how urban it is and how expensive it is if that's not something you are prepared for. Expect to pay 2000-2400 for a one-bedroom apartment. I can just tell you aren't prepared for how dense and urban it may be.

Not for nothing, but I'd absolutely pick Europe over Arlington.

More walking paths than hiking in the immediate vicinity, but they’re nice. Check out custis trail, Potomac heritage river trail, river bend park (especially for the blue bells) and the billy goat trail.

Within a two and a half hour drive there are lots of state parks and national parks, the Shenandoah being probably the most impressive.

Politics depends on your social circle. None of my friends worked in politics.

The best farmers market around here is the one in DuPont (NW DC), but the Arlington ones are also pretty good.

Forget the garden, it ain’t happening.

It’s great but it ain’t gonna be cheap. Plenty of outdoors space, neighborhoods, and also city living.

I love living in Arlington, but I’m mid-thirties, married, and have a good group of local friends. Not sure I would have loved it at 22. But: there’s a lot to love.

It sounds like you’re hoping for a more spacious, nature-friendly life here, and that’s really only possible if you’re rich or willing to move an hour out of the city. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck in the urban sprawl junk of Fairfax/Falls Church, with stupid traffic, crowded parking lots, and crowded everything. (No offense to anyone who loves their neighborhood in those areas, there are cute ones!)

If your office is in DC or Arlington proper, I’d embrace the city life here instead. It’s actually a lot less stressful! You can rent a nice apartment on a 6-figure salary. Live along Wilson/Clarendon somewhere between Rosslyn and Ballston, and you won’t need a car. You can walk to lots of great cafes, restaurants, bakeries, and a cool farmer’s market in Courthouse. You can walk to some amazing parks, including the Iwo Jima memorial. You can walk (or bike/scooter) to Georgetown. The protected bike lanes are great. You can jump on the metro and be at all of the amazing DC parks, landmarks, museums, etc. in minutes. You can Uber in 15-20 minutes to some of the best theaters and music venues in the country. When you do want to get out into real nature, it’s easy to rent a zip car or rental for the day, and much cheaper than maintaining a car here. (I have a car here, and that’s also fine!)

You can find friends. In a post-Covid world it’s harder, as I understand it, but very possible. There are some cool Arlington meetup groups (I’m in a fun ladies’ book club through Meetup). There are lots of hiking groups, and a robust rock climbing community with some great gyms. Expand your search into DC, as a lot of young professionals start in the city proper. (Despite what DC citizens will tell you, it’s all basically the same city.) Dating is a fun way to explore the city — I always discovered the coolest local spots on mediocre Tinder dates, haha.

As someone else covered, it’s primarily a left-leaning, intellectual area. You’ll meet a ton of people who work in defense contracting, defense, the Pentagon, etc. Because of this, Arlington is a bit more politically mixed than the city or Maryland suburbs, which I think is a good thing. In DC, you’ll meet more Congressional staffers, NGO and non-profit workers, and government employees. My least favorite thing about the DC area is how often people talk about their BORING jobs that they think are interesting. My favorite thing about DC is how many people read books on the Metro. Lots of nerds here.

Hope that gives you a sense of life here. Feel free to DM me any questions!

Im in my early 20s and live in Arlington. Here is some info:

1. a lot actually. I have a few hiking places I frequent, there’s also a lot of trails and stuff like that closer. Typically to go hiking it’s a 30-60min drive for me depending on which place I want to to go. Ppl saying there’s no hiking nearby are clueless/have never looked, Shenandoah is about an hour out, sugarloaf is even closer.
2. yes if you’re willing to put yourself out there. If you’re a girl, there’s a group I can refer you to to make other female friends in the area. If you think you’ll make friends just by sitting home though, then probably not, but that’s true of everywhere.
3. yes and no. People can be, but not everyone is. I work in that sphere and am friends with people on both sides of the aisles. People talk about politics a lot, yes, but usually are also open to being friends with anyone.
4. yes. I miss my home but I am happy here too. It’s a great taste of city life without being as overwhelming as like New York.

I love Europe, been all over it, and it’s not a bad idea to spend some time there if you get the chance and you think that’s something you’re interested in. But it also depends on where in Europe and if the job there is something that you can transition into a long term successful job here. Do YOU want to live in Europe for a bit?

Overall- Arlington is a good place to live in your early 20s. It’s very walkable but safer/cheaper than DC. It’s cheaper to live further out in like Alexandria but the commute sucks and you’re further from the social life. Public transport is cheap and easy, or cars are definitely doable too (although expensive to park longterm if you live in DC). You also get the opportunity to thoroughly explore an incredible place most people only get to visit once or twice in their lifetimes.

Cost of living isn’t worth it in my opinion. It’s a really cool area for a lot of reasons, but cost was enough to make me move

If you can get hired in Arlington making 6 figures in your 20s, you can afford to go to Europe and come back to work in Arlington. It’s an opportunity that many want but never get. Sorry, this sounds pretty straightforward to me.

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1.2 hours to Shenandoah-fall leaf changes are pretty the first year if you've never been on the east coast during autumn. 2. Drinking and promiscuous living make it easier to make friends, but tech sector makes teetotaling easier than say State College. Lots of temp buddies to do things with for a day, but many transients that keep each other single until 29 out of hidden competition. 3. Politicos live in McLean and on Capitol Hill, not Arlington. Many careers in Law, Health, and IT, and being a US Citizen (cleared office work with a few espionage). 4. The car accidents in Falls Church and Arlington are bad, the judicial system is very orchestrated, there is a constant "hustle", and many perma-singles and DINKS vs deep connections and easy baby-making. Arlington has lots of money, but it is better for guys who want to marry a foreign national at 29 than women who want families. PS-Europe has a great rail pass if you are under 26.

I landed in South Arlington/Shirlington 15 years ago, still here, love it! A bit cheaper. Proximity to everything. What drew me to S Arlington was that the trees typically exceed the height of buildings, four mile run/W&OD bike path (and connections to other trails), parks up the four mile run watershed, quiet, etc. Feels like you aren't so close to the nation's capital but you could get there in a jiffy. I had a community garden plot for a couple of years, determined I did not have the time for it. The bus service to Pentagon from Shirlington is top-notch, or a bike ride is made simple to get into DC. You could get away with not having a car, even in S. Arlington, but not if you want escapes to the mountains on weekends.
Political? No way to escape it. Most workers are feds or contractors for feds. I'm not out enough to understand how Amazon's presence in Arlington has changed the scene, if any.
There are lots of meet-up groups to find your people if the party scene is not your vibe. You can easily pop-up to the Ballston corridor/DC for the 20-something gatherings/partying from Shirlington. Farmer's Markets abound in many Arlington neighborhoods. Your hikes are going to be short or on asphalt/concrete, but there is plenty of elevation to be had in Arlington.
I love it here because of my access to urban nature, trails, quiet, tree tops in the viewshed, and amenities. I'm moving into a different phase of life so I'm thinking about different things - excellent and diverse medical services, can walk to the grocery store and restaurants. Volunteering opportunities are plenty.

First of all, congrats on the offer! I used to live in Arlington a year ago, and I loved it. Just driving down the highway with the DC skyline and the monuments, it feels like history of right in your back yard!