> My rent started at around 40% of my take home You were paying ~$3,000 per month for rent 20 years ago? I remember renting a place 22 years ago for $250 per m

> My rent started at around 40% of my take home You were paying ~$3,000 per month for rent 20 years ago? I remember renting a place 22 years ago for $250 per month. Maybe you were in some super insane cost of living area, but if that's the case, why would you accept just an average developer salary? Average salaries are for average places.