The situation I describe above applies to plenty of software engineers in the Bay Area. I have a few friends that are struggling to cope with the ridiculously h

The situation I describe above applies to plenty of software engineers in the Bay Area. I have a few friends that are struggling to cope with the ridiculously high rents, while trying to balance and find a safe area to raise a family. It has nothing to do with "figuring your life out first" as you so condescendingly wrote. It's the realities of living in areas like the Bay Area. Not everyone is a millionaire with a house and a great job and great boss.