4 ms·
This is super interesting and something I've been thinking of for some time. As an engineer who can clearly do my job just as well remotely as in person, why sh
by v_london 5y ago
This is super interesting and something I've been thinking of for some time. As an engineer who can clearly do my job just as well remotely as in person, why should I pay high rent and live in cramped flat when there are rural mansions with acres of land that cost less?
The big difference is community, of course. The city has my friends, living alone away from everyone else would be lonely. But new communities can be built. I've recently started to realise how strange it is that in the West, we don't build new cities or towns any more. What's stopping a small group of engineers (perhaps backed by VCs) from buying a big plot of land a few hours of drive away from London / NYC / SF and building a small village with large houses and a community centre? Water and electricity would be difficult for sure, but I'm sure its not an unsolvable problem.
Of course, new communities like this couldn't just house engineers and other wealthy folks, but you would need health services, plumbers, delivery workers and so on. But I think it's strange that nobody is even thinking of something like this as an option. Festivals like Burning Man and the ubiquity of hiking as a hobby show that there is a need of better connection to nature amongst people who live in big cities.
- SirZimzim 5y agoYes, with the failure of silicon valley producing a real city, like developing San Jose downtown into a world class place, I think it's clear that no matter how much money we have we won't convert these old places into something good. We are still suck with these ancient ranch houses, shitty Comcast internet, and "luxury" apartment mega complexes that are a joke and whose main purpose is clearly to be an investment rather than a quality experience. Time to start from the ground up with things like community and general quality of life as top concerns. Investors can shove it.
- jonfw 5y agoYou're more or less describing a country club