Have you thought about developing an "exit plan"? Face it, while Silicon Valley is an excellent place for software engineers to work on cutting-edge projects t

Have you thought about developing an "exit plan"? Face it, while Silicon Valley is an excellent place for software engineers to work on cutting-edge projects that would be difficult to find elsewhere, the high cost of living (especially housing), the lopsided gender ratio, and the sheer competitiveness of the area is stressful and depressing. It's a modern gold rush boomtown. My personal feeling is that Silicon Valley is a great place for people in their 20s just starting their careers, but it's difficult for men who want to date, and it's also very expensive to raise a family in Silicon Valley. For these reasons I plan to exit Silicon Valley within the next five years unless I strike it rich. However, leaving Silicon Valley has its tradeoffs. It might be difficult finding a fulfilling job in your domain outside Silicon Valley or a similar tech hub. If your work situation is flexible and well-paying enough, one idea that I recommend is spending time in other cities to learn more about them and to see which ones mesh well with your personality and interests. If you find a spot that you like, then see if there is some way that you could divide your time between Silicon Valley and that location. My "happy place" is the Tokyo metro area, and I'm fortunate enough to be able to travel there a few times a year. My dream is to own two places: one in California and one in/near Tokyo. I'd also look into career opportunities that make it possible for you to build a life outside Silicon Valley, such as remote work, certain types of hybrid work, or even possibly starting your own business.