i'm one of the few NoVA natives. The cost of living is pretty high here, but not like NYC/San Fran. Overall, I guess I like it, as I have lived here all my life and had the opportunity to relocate many times but have declined. There's a LOT to do here, and being next to DC it's kinda cool as it's kinda the 'power seat' of the planet. Anyway, plenty to do, plenty of girls around, lots of outdoor and indoor activities, lots of museums, the 'mountains' and the ocean are an easy drive away. The negatives are the traffic can suck (be VERY strategic about where you live related to where you work), the cost of living, and we are at 'ground zero'...