4 ms·

Living in Ireland amidst the housing crisis (rents shooting in the sky) I can only testify that we desperately need some kind of democratization and lower barri

by FuNe 10y ago

Living in Ireland amidst the housing crisis (rents shooting in the sky) I can only testify that we desperately need some kind of democratization and lower barrier to home owning. Not sure if that is a matter of outlook and politics as much as innovation but surely this seem to be looking in the right direction.

mikekchar 10y ago
I live in rural Japan where at least half my neighbours are over 60 and retired. I work from home and often go for walks. It's amazing how nice it is to simply stroll around and chat with people. Often my neighbours will show up at my door with vegetables that they grew in their garden. We'll invite them over for dinner or drinks. The thing that I have to remind myself is that on top of beautiful weather, gorgeous scenery and pleasant people around me, I pay next to nothing for rent. There are a lot of places in the world like this. I think the main thing we need to work on is making telecommuting a reality for as many people as possible. Living where you work and choosing where you live is incredibly powerful. The problem is that this mode of working is difficult and there are many things to do to make it possible for most people. One day I think it will be the norm, but it might still be a way off.
- bane 10y ago
  After learning about a few aspects of Japanese real estate (depreciating houses, near abandoned properties in the countryside), I wonder what it would take for a foreign hacker commune to basically buy up an empty village in a remote part of Japan (cheap!) and get going there?
  - mikekchar 10y ago
    There apparently is one: http://www.hackerfarm.jp/about-us/ http://www.hackerfarm.jp/about-us/ I don't know anything about it. Someone mentioned it to me a while ago. I'm hoping to wander down there and chat to them sometime. They seem interesting.
  - crispyambulance 10y ago
    Already done, sort of. See http://www.hackerfarm.jp/ http://www.hackerfarm.jp/ these are "hackers" who bought a farm in rural Japan. Probably not for everyone, though, there's a lot more to relocating than "cheap real-estate".
- FuNe 10y ago
  Well said. Lots of us chasing after few apartments is a recipe for crisis (paid dearly by the financial weakest). Sadly enough I don't see telecommuting catching on in the big companies. Too few ads for 100% remote jobs (i.e. crazy competition) and almost always from small start ups. Telecommuting once per week does not cut it (you still need to live close to work).

by FuNe 10y ago

mikekchar 10y ago

I live in rural Japan where at least half my neighbours are over 60 and retired. I work from home and often go for walks. It's amazing how nice it is to simply stroll around and chat with people. Often my neighbours will show up at my door with vegetables that they grew in their garden. We'll invite them over for dinner or drinks. The thing that I have to remind myself is that on top of beautiful weather, gorgeous scenery and pleasant people around me, I pay next to nothing for rent. There are a lot of places in the world like this. I think the main thing we need to work on is making telecommuting a reality for as many people as possible. Living where you work and choosing where you live is incredibly powerful. The problem is that this mode of working is difficult and there are many things to do to make it possible for most people. One day I think it will be the norm, but it might still be a way off.

bane 10y ago
After learning about a few aspects of Japanese real estate (depreciating houses, near abandoned properties in the countryside), I wonder what it would take for a foreign hacker commune to basically buy up an empty village in a remote part of Japan (cheap!) and get going there?
- mikekchar 10y ago
  There apparently is one: http://www.hackerfarm.jp/about-us/ http://www.hackerfarm.jp/about-us/ I don't know anything about it. Someone mentioned it to me a while ago. I'm hoping to wander down there and chat to them sometime. They seem interesting.
- crispyambulance 10y ago
  Already done, sort of. See http://www.hackerfarm.jp/ http://www.hackerfarm.jp/ these are "hackers" who bought a farm in rural Japan. Probably not for everyone, though, there's a lot more to relocating than "cheap real-estate".
FuNe 10y ago
Well said. Lots of us chasing after few apartments is a recipe for crisis (paid dearly by the financial weakest). Sadly enough I don't see telecommuting catching on in the big companies. Too few ads for 100% remote jobs (i.e. crazy competition) and almost always from small start ups. Telecommuting once per week does not cut it (you still need to live close to work).