For the new resident of Potomac, Washington D.C. might seem like a giant maze of numbers and letters, a traffic gridlock defined only by the outer loop and the inner loop and a land of workaholics where 9-5 is unheard of – a day of work begins at 6 a.m. and ends at 8 or 9 p.m. However, when you compare the Village of Potomac to other metropolitan areas, there are lots of reasons to support why residents love living here.

Here are the “Top Ten Reasons Ya Gotta Love Livin’ Here in Potomac!” following the format from The Late Night Show With David Letterman.

Number 10: Potomac is a small community — but has wonderful restaurants and excellent shopping. If you can’t find it in Potomac Village, then Cabin John Mall and nearby Westfield’s Mall certainly fill the bill. Travel a little further and you can quickly arrive at Tyson’s Center, Costco, Sam’s Club — or outlet malls.

Number 9: The C & O Canal National Historic Park is a haven for enjoying the four seasons of the year. Visitors can enjoy walking, biking, hiking, rock-climbing, bird-watching, star-gazing, kayaking, canoeing and many other activities in this Potomac treasure. Children love meeting the park rangers and learning about the mules that pull the canal boats. Families enjoy spending the nights in the lock houses and sharing picnics at this beautiful spot. We are fortunate that this beautiful and one-of-a-kind National Park is in our back-yard.

Number 8: Potomac is loaded with recreational facilities, parks and playgrounds in every community. Many neighborhoods have community centers, pools and tennis courts. Cabin John Park offers ice skating, a nature center, a playground that children adore, a train that lives on in memories and lots of recreational facilities.

Number 7: Buses, trains and planes — you can easily travel near to or far from Potomac. We are close to Metro stations to zip down to D.C. and local Metro buses and the Ride-On Bus will take you locally wherever you need to go. Traveling domestically or internationally is easily accomplished with our wonderful access to three airports and trains from New Carrolton and Union Station. The Vamoose Bus and others will take you from Bethesda to New York City for $30 or less in just 4 hours — what a bargain!

Number 6: Culture — theater, symphonies, art galleries, jazz clubs, wonderful exhibitions, great speakers — you name it, we have it very close. Potomac hosts the Har Shalom Players, our schools offer terrific productions, and Adventure Theatre and The Puppet Company are right around the corner in Glen Echo. Strathmore, Potomac, Round House Theatre and the Olney Theatre are just minutes away as are many out-standing theaters and galleries in Virginia and D.C.

Number 5: Diversity among community members. Potomac is fortunate to have residents from almost every country in the world. This gives Potomac an atmosphere in which to gather insights into tolerance and understanding of other cultures that most Americans never get to experience. We have a wealth of religious centers in which to worship and become involved in a religious community.

Number 4: Proximity to museums, historical places, zoos, gardens, National Monuments and cities such as Baltimore, Philadelphia, Gettysburg, Alexandria, Harper’s Ferry and more. When guests come, you will never say, “There’s nothing to do here.” There so many wonderful sights to visit, that you have to make choices.

Number 3: Sports. We are fortunate that Potomac offers the opportunity to learn and participate in every type of sport for girls, boys, men and women. You can join a team, take lessons and engage in every sporting activity from ping-pong to football to lacrosse, tennis and golf. Potomac is home to excellent public and private golfing facilities, tennis clubs and swim clubs that produce Olympic champions. Potomac residents can also be heard cheering on their favorite high school, college and professional sports teams.

Number 2: Educational and volunteer opportunities for all ages. Montgomery County Public Schools are always among the top 10 in our nation and our private schools are also top-rated among the independent schools. Montgomery College, the Universities of Shady Grove and Johns Hopkins all provide residents with nearby lifetime educational opportunities. Classes, camps and senior learning are provided all over our county for anyone who wants knowledge about almost every topic. Volunteer activities also abound within our community.

And Number 1: Friends and families, neighbors and community make this area a meaningful and rewarding place to live. If one has no family in the immediate area, friends and neighbors will quickly become like family. Our community offers a wealth of activities and organizations that make it possible to meet people and form friendships.