4 ms·

> but I still don't own a home even after 7 years working (and some of that for FAANG). Even at the inflated SV salary values, very few colleagues I know went

> but I still don't own a home even after 7 years working (and some of that for FAANG). Even at the inflated SV salary values, very few colleagues I know went to buy a house there. Buying usually means leaving the valley. > quality of life is just lower (less car ownership, much smaller homes without swimming pools or air conditioning, tiny kitchens without garbage disposal, American fridge-freezers or dishwashers, etc.) I don't see why half of those necessarily mean "lower quality of life" A car in the US is a necessity. Same for the fridge-freezer where you keep your big perishable purchases (whereas in European cities you can just walk to the grocery store?). And of course, none of these are exclusive to the US I totally agree with the air-conditioners, though it seems to be changing. Swimming pools are a money pit and to be fair only in few countries it's worth having one at your house.

Flow 5y ago
I would prefer a sauna to a swimming pool any day. :)
maccard 5y ago
I live in Scotland, it peaks at 20c/68f here, but with >70% humidity, and even at that it's not often it gets that hot. AC is a nice to have on occasion, but definitely not life changing. London on the other hand, sounds liky it's almost a requirement there at this point
- tiagod 5y ago
  > London on the other hand, sounds liky it's almost a requirement there at this point I live in Lisbon. Most people don't have AC at home, we survive.
  - maccard 5y ago
    There's elements of what the housing is designed for too. I'm not sure what the common building materials are there but many houses in the UK are built of brick and not designed for airflow at all. Parts of London hit 38 degrees at one point last year.
  - tasuki 5y ago
    Lisbon is right at the Atlantic coast. Do the summers get that hot there? Inland places get more extreme weather, both cold and hot. Fun fact, according to Windy[0], Lisbon has 21°C right now, while eg Murmansk has 29°C. [0]: https://www.windy.com/-Temperature-temp https://www.windy.com/-Temperature-temp
- secondcoming 5y ago
  You need a bedside fan for a few days a year, that's about it.
csmiller 5y ago
There are definitely places in the US where a car is not necessary. Lived on the east coast my whole life without learning to drive.

Flow 5y ago

I would prefer a sauna to a swimming pool any day. :)

maccard 5y ago

I live in Scotland, it peaks at 20c/68f here, but with >70% humidity, and even at that it's not often it gets that hot. AC is a nice to have on occasion, but definitely not life changing. London on the other hand, sounds liky it's almost a requirement there at this point

tiagod 5y ago
> London on the other hand, sounds liky it's almost a requirement there at this point I live in Lisbon. Most people don't have AC at home, we survive.
- maccard 5y ago
  There's elements of what the housing is designed for too. I'm not sure what the common building materials are there but many houses in the UK are built of brick and not designed for airflow at all. Parts of London hit 38 degrees at one point last year.
- tasuki 5y ago
  Lisbon is right at the Atlantic coast. Do the summers get that hot there? Inland places get more extreme weather, both cold and hot. Fun fact, according to Windy[0], Lisbon has 21°C right now, while eg Murmansk has 29°C. [0]: https://www.windy.com/-Temperature-temp https://www.windy.com/-Temperature-temp
secondcoming 5y ago
You need a bedside fan for a few days a year, that's about it.

csmiller 5y ago

There are definitely places in the US where a car is not necessary. Lived on the east coast my whole life without learning to drive.