It’s really strange that so many people can run the numbers and conclude that they are better off in the Bay Area. It makes sense that the VC industry and tech founders have to be there and make zillions of dollars for doing so, but for run-of-the-mill software engineers, is the benefit really that large? It’s not like tech companies can’t have engineers work in different cities (and they do!). I assume that people know what they’re talking about, but I just can’t understand how some “middle-class” dude making 250k in the Bay Area is better off than someone making 150k in a non-housing-crisis city, especially after you account for California taxes.
1 Like
FAANG engineers make $300-400k (maybe more?) assuming the stock doesn’t tank.
I friend of mine worked for Google and they were pretty insistent about him not only being there, but being in the Google office (actually worked out of Yahoo building, but for Google proper) for at least 8hrs. I guess that was partly because of his level and he asked to be demoted to a lower level because he wanted to be home with his family sometimes. He ended up quitting and moving to rural Wisconsin.
There are plenty of us who know it’s not worth living here but because it’s where we’re from we’re sort of trapped. Splitting an apartment with another couple in our early 30’s so our rent is “only” $1100 a month is pretty shitty.
But isn’t it more useful to try to get money for them? Or to donate them to Goodwill or something, so that somebody who is more in need can benefit from them? Seems like either of these options is the way to go.
That said, I’m basically like you - I have boxes full of stuff that in theory I could use someday but 99% of it will never be used. The proof is that, if I let them sit in storage at my parents’ place for months, I never use any of it. I’m trying to make myself go through it and donate/sell/trash as much as possible before this move. I know I’m happier and more peaceful when my place isn’t cluttered, so this is an investment of time in creating a clutter-free home that will make me more happy and peaceful, and maybe I pick up a few bucks or donate some stuff to charity in the process.
That’s crazy. I was paying $2400 for a 1 br in new building in Santa Monica at the time, about 5 blocks from the shore, and commuting to downtown. Pretty nice pad, with a great balcony, but I couldn’t see the ocean. I was kind of a fish apartment hunter at the time and the online options were still poor. I got tired of being in traffic, so I moved to a 2br highrise apt complex across the street from work. That was a pretty dumb move. It was easy to get to work, but I didn’t have much else going on. I spent most of my free time playing online poker. This time I looked for around 2 months. I didn’t think I’d get the place on the sand (only one available for under $4500, and one of the few that are available at all) and was touring other places as well.
A friend of mine was living with his teacher wife in 2003 in a cheap apt near the 405 in Santa Monica. They barely managed to buy in Sherman Oaks in like 2003 for around $400k. Now that place is worth 900k and he rents it out. He paid $1.2M in 2014 for a secluded ranch home in Tarzana, and that place is now worth $1.5M. He plans to retire early. However, he’s a personable CPA/MBA and has been pulling down $300+k in senior jobs are big companies. Another friend bought a rebuild in Redondo in like 2005 for $800k, which is probably worth 1.2 now. I’ve moved around so much that this is the first time I’m really thinking of buying, but the market is high and I ain’t gonna be able to buy on the beach, so I figure I’ll get the experience for a year or two, hope the market tanks, and maybe I’ll be able to grift an old widow out of her land. :)
Everyone needs to cull their box of cables. Get it down to like 4 spare cables. They sell em for $5-10 on amazon if you ever need them, which you won’t.
1 Like
1 Like
LOCK HIM UP! LOCK HIM UP! LOCK HIM UP!
1 Like
I have to say, according to this picture and all the damage he’s caused, Hurricane Dorian seems like a real dick.
These guys can help
That’s genuinely surprising. I would think a company like Google would be all about telecommuting. I work for a very old school type company and they are all about remote work. Probably because it saves them money but my Monday mornings are a lot nicer when I just roll out of bed to start work instead of going through the grind.
I totally get it, I kept the first tiny condiment jars I ever got from room service for a long time before downsizing when I lost my job in Colorado a few years back. The trick is finding the right amount of stuff to hang onto and letting go of useless sentimentality. As a rule “we” probably hold on to too much stuff which is fortunate because of capitalism and all…
My experience has been it all depends on how much management trusts the employees and that’s pretty much the only thing preventing people from working from home.
just happened upon another PBS Frontline documentary. It was made by the cats that did Hoop Dreams.
It’s called ‘The Interrupters.’ Amazing stuff. Heartbreaking. Early on there’s a fantastic woman with 3 sons caught up. The youngest is in prison, and the remaining 2 are of rival gangs, literally bringing the warring to that family.
1 Like
$2 for PC power cord, RGB or ethernet cable at Goodwill. $1 for a USB data/charging cable at a dollar store.
I have 3 clear boxes about 2.5’x2.5’x7" that stack on top of each other in my utility closet. One has electrical cords, one has stereo/tv stuff, one has computer cables/cords.
3 Likes
Yes but it’s 2am and I want to look at pron now!