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The author works all the time, and thinks that by moving to New York, of all places, he will achieve a greater work-life balance. Having lived in both places an

The author works all the time, and thinks that by moving to New York, of all places, he will achieve a greater work-life balance. Having lived in both places and having struggles with the same issues: the work-life balance in both places is heavily skewed towards work, and in those places, that balance is heavily dependent on the person's ability to say "no" and to stand up for oneself. If the author had said "I am moving to a sleepy suburb in the midwest", then I'd say he's making a good choice that will require very few changes in his own ability to manage his life: the environment would impose. As is, he's just switching one high-pressure area for another. Edit: apparently work/life balance isn't the issue, as the essay and comments here clarified. Very well.

knowtheory 12y ago
Let me offer you an alternative hypothesis. Steve remains at work, rather than being pulled to other alluring things, because he he finds SF so draining and obnoxious. A change of scenery can definitely help with that sort of problem. Having talked to Steve over a range of diverse topics I can tell you, Steve has many interests outside of work and in many other contexts has obviously maintained a work/life balance that has allowed him to do many interesting things both professionally and personally.
- rhizome 12y ago
  Steve remains at work, rather than being pulled to other alluring things, because he he finds SF so draining and obnoxious. Maybe I'm self-centered, but I just can't imagine the macro outweighing the "alluring things" to their exclusion. Certainly, though, SF needs to deal with homelessness 3000% better than they have in decades, and options for the mentally ill remain a national shame and failure.
patrickyeon 12y ago
Except he says specifically that working too much is not the problem: I don’t go home late. I go home at five. It’s not work/life balance that’s the issue. I’m just not psyched for the ‘life’ part.
- steveklabnik 12y ago
  To be fair to your parent, I edited that in a few minutes ago because people read the previous sentence differently than I meant it. I didn't know people would assume I was burning the candle from both ends.
- knowtheory 12y ago
  Yep, i think that part was a clarification added after the bulletin was posted to HN.

knowtheory 12y ago

Let me offer you an alternative hypothesis. Steve remains at work, rather than being pulled to other alluring things, because he he finds SF so draining and obnoxious. A change of scenery can definitely help with that sort of problem. Having talked to Steve over a range of diverse topics I can tell you, Steve has many interests outside of work and in many other contexts has obviously maintained a work/life balance that has allowed him to do many interesting things both professionally and personally.

rhizome 12y ago
Steve remains at work, rather than being pulled to other alluring things, because he he finds SF so draining and obnoxious. Maybe I'm self-centered, but I just can't imagine the macro outweighing the "alluring things" to their exclusion. Certainly, though, SF needs to deal with homelessness 3000% better than they have in decades, and options for the mentally ill remain a national shame and failure.

patrickyeon 12y ago

Except he says specifically that working too much is not the problem: I don’t go home late. I go home at five. It’s not work/life balance that’s the issue. I’m just not psyched for the ‘life’ part.

steveklabnik 12y ago
To be fair to your parent, I edited that in a few minutes ago because people read the previous sentence differently than I meant it. I didn't know people would assume I was burning the candle from both ends.
knowtheory 12y ago
Yep, i think that part was a clarification added after the bulletin was posted to HN.