I might as well just move right into a crack house and save the intermediate steps. You should never wear a plaid blouse with a plaid suit, even if it's the same exact pattern. Aside from my other objections to wearing fur, a fur hat just makes you look like somebody's weird, rich grandmother - even if you're only in your 40s. It's one thing if there are a few boarded up houses on the block. It's something else again if MOST of the houses on the block are boarded up.
People are sheep.
People want to move into the District all right, and the market is tight in some places, but for the majority of people, their definition of acceptable neighborhoods is so narrow that there are plenty of other houses for those of us who are a bit more bold to consider. If you want to live in Arlington, live in Arlington. If you've read my first blog, you know that I have an inveterate fear of the mall, which only increases during the holidays. Dad wants a paper shredder. No office stores in Georgetown.