Ask A D.C. Native: How long does someone have to live in D.C. before they aren’t a transient?

In Washington, D.C., a government town that runs on a four-year cycle, I’d say at least five years of living in the city gets you over the hump from transient to legit resident. 

But using time as the only benchmark is simplistic and shortsighted. It’s not just how long you’ve been in the city, but how acquainted you’ve become with it. How well do you understand its culture, norms, and people? Are you plugged into your immediate community? How well do you know other parts of town? 

That said, in addition to the five-year minimum criteria, I brainstormed a list of additional boxes to check to move you from transient to well-adjusted resident.  

You can get around on public transit. 

While WMATA has no shortage of issues, the Washington region does have one of the largest public transit systems in the country. Even if you have a car, chances are you’ve caught the Metro at some point to avoid sitting in traffic, searching for parking, or paying a meter. If you’ve lived in the city for at least five years, you should have a good grasp on how to navigate its public transportation. This means I don’t expect you to spend more than a minute glaring at a Metro map like a skittish tourist during Cherry Blossom season. You should also know such basics as which lines converge at major transfer points like Gallery Place. At the very least, know which buses traverse your neighborhood and where they end up. 

You’ve visited all 8 wards. 

D.C. is a city of communities, each with its own identity. Spending all or the majority of your time on one side of town limits your understanding of how diverse the city is—in its residents, experiences, and landscapes. While I don’t expect you to visit all 131 neighborhoods, after five years I imagine you’ve ended up in every ward at some point for work, socializing, dating, or volunteering. If not, you have more exploring to do before you can shed your transient identity. 

You’ve tried wings and mambo sauce from a carryout. 

If you’ve been here long enough, you know that carryouts are integral to the city’s food scene. D.C. natives like myself consider a plate of wings and fries drenched in mambo sauce a culinary delight. While you don’t have to visit my personal favorite carryout (though I highly recommend it), you should have at least tried wings and mambo sauce from a reputable carryout in your neighborhood. This is essential to getting a literal taste of D.C.

You’re active in your community. 

If you’re serious about planting roots in the city, you should have interacted with your fellow neighbors in some capacity. Being a resident in isolation is contrary to the spirit of fellowship, organizing, and activism that keeps the city connected. You can choose to be as involved as running for your neighborhood ANC, or as casual as frequenting the nearest farmer’s market. At the very least, you should know the first names of at least three folks on your block. 

You have a go-to spot. 

It could be a neighborhood cafe, barber shop, nail salon, or corner store. But you should have at least one place where your loyalty earns you discounts, rewards, or a custom greeting from staff. Maybe they know how you like your latte, take your eggs, or if you prefer gel, acrylic, or regular polish. Supporting local businesses should be a core value for District residents – and it’s also part of your initiation to become one. 

You own D.C. sports paraphernalia. 

You’re not from here—you have your home teams and that’s fine. But as they told us in college, “It ain’t where you’re from, it’s where you’re at.” To truly engross yourself in D.C. culture means not only attending the occasional sporting event but also snagging some team merchandise. Doing so will help you foster a sense of belonging, blend in at games, and spark conversations with fellow fans and residents. If you want to build community, prove you’re in it to win it and get some gear. 

You can confidently host friends and family for a weekend. 

The ultimate test of whether you’re no longer a transient is if you can give out-of-towners an authentic D.C. experience. Do you take them to the National Mall, White House, and Smithsonian museums? Sure. But don’t forget to stop by your neighborhood cafe or farmer’s market and introduce them to other locals. Escort them on the train to a game at Nats Park, while donning your Zimmerman jersey. Get them the best wings and mambo sauce from a carryout, even if it’s on the other side of town. 

Got a burning question about D.C. life and culture you’d like me to answer? Shoot me an email at christinasturdivantsani@51st.news.