What part of Northern VA? Just curious. I was living in Alexandria for a bit and found so much of the region deeply unpleasant to navigate without a car, especially compared to what I was used to growing up in NJ.

I'm living in the Heights now, though close enough to Hoboken that I can easily walk to the light rail. I don't have a car, and I don't feel myself itching to get one. Things get dicey with NJ Transit on weekends, but I try to be patient and bring a book.