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.