Xath makes a good point about the roads in B'more. They are intersecting one-way streets, not true roads. So, parking is also a nightmare, if you want to go somewhere, you may have to find it, find a parking space and then back track on foot to get there. If you plan on being in the city, you just want to invest in a transit pass. The lightrail and busses aren;t as good as the ones in Europe, but they are better than some cities I've visited.
As for the outlying communities, Columbia is nice and Catonsville is top notch. If you have the extra money Ellicott City is a good investment, too. If you want urban but not live in the city Dundalk, Glen Burnie or parts of Severn are the way to go, of course you'll need a car if you live in any of these places. I live on Pioneer Drive in Severn, it has a pretty nasty reputation, but it isn't really that bad, just keep your head down and you won't get shot. The bright side is I pay $800 a month in rent for a three-bedroom townhouse. Marylander's are notorious for the "optional turn signal package" on their vehicles. And when you go to get your license, the MVA is about a 4 hour trip on most days (weekdays in the morning are the best time to go). If you have patience, you'll do fine, if not, take a sedative...
As rude and obnoxious as most people make it sound, for the most part, the people are pretty good eggs for city folk. B'more has a lot in common with St. Louis (a city way too close to my old hometown) and is actually kind of nice to be around,once you get used to it. It isn't heaven, but then no place is, but I've been to much, much worse. Keep us up to date, we'll leave the harbor lights on for ya'.
