5 ms·

I've been living in the Bay Area since the dotcom days and they've been asking the same question since I've been around. Until people in tech stop making money,

I've been living in the Bay Area since the dotcom days and they've been asking the same question since I've been around. Until people in tech stop making money, I doubt SV will collapse, but it will go through boom and bust cycles. But the booms tend to be huge and the busts tend to be not as bad. I had the opportunity to get a job in Seattle at Amazon about 10 years ago. I would have taken a paycut, but with the 0% state income tax and with the generous signing bonus it would have more than made up the difference. (I'm pretty sure property taxes are higher though.) But then I had to contemplate exchanging 300 days of sunshine for 200 days of rain. At the time, I was playing rollerhockey outdoors at 8pm and came to the conclusion that I just couldn't do it because of the weather. And I grew up in Vancouver, BC so the rain didn't bother me as much, but I just got too spoiled by the amazing Bay Area weather. If you're not used to it, the rain in the Pacific Northwest truly is relentless, so it takes getting used to. Mind you that was during the time when rent prices were high but not as ludicrous like they are now. Even during the dotcom boom there were similar stories of people living in their vans, so it's not really a new story. But my friend was charged 5100/month for a 2 bedroom at mission bay, which doesn't make sense. If I had to make the same choice now, it would be a lot harder to make and Seattle is definitely compelling if you can get past the 200 days of rain.

Padding 12y ago
I'm curious why the weather argument comes up so often. Aren't we, as "software people", under a roof and in front of a screen most of the time anyways? Then again, I'm "deep inside" Europe, so I have no idea how bad the weather over there really is.
- enraged_camel 12y ago
  Even if you are indoors most of the day, the weather outside can make a huge difference on your mood. It also encourages getting up and taking walks every now and then, which has various benefits (both mental and physical). I lived in Seattle for six years. The environment is gorgeous. Lots of trails for hiking, ton of greenery... the thing is though, the weather made me not want to go out. And that can be horribly depressing.
- stevewepay 12y ago
  The weather in the Bay Area is essentially perfect. The scenery is beautiful, and you can see the ocean, the desert, magnificent forests and the mountains all in the same day. It doesn't get too hot, it doesn't get too cold, it rains only for a few months out of the year, and it never gets very humid. Living in the Bay Area makes you spoiled and lazy because it is too comfortable. As the piece [1] by Mary Schmich (and again by Baz Luhrmann) says, "Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft." [1] http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-schmich-sunscreen-column-column.html http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-schmich-su...
  - kylestlb 12y ago
    It's strange. I grew up in the Bay Area (Santa Cruz and South San Jose) and am weather-neutral. I've had stints in Sweden, Portland and Arizona (all pretty extreme) and none of the climates really affected my life too much. Most of my friends are the same way. Anecdotal, but maybe the weather effect is more pronounced on transplants who don't take it for granted? The reason I chose to move back has more to do with the sheer amount of stuff to do. And the good food :)
    - perrylaj 12y ago
      I wish I had your weather neutrality. I grew up in the bay (Los Gatos, Santa Clara, Tri-Valley) and spent a couple years in Portland, OR. I liked the city a lot and tried to get used to the weather but just couldn't. The rain wasn't the problem, the constant darkness was. I like the rain and loved how green everything was up there, but even when it wasn't raining, it was dark. Came back to CA and will put up with its faults in exchange for the climate and activities.
  - vonmoltke 12y ago
    For your definition of perfect, at least. I love rain and humidity. I miss the 60+ inches a year in South Florida. Plus, your ocean is too damn cold. :P
    - Padding 12y ago
- azernik 12y ago
  Yeah, we're in front of a screen... when we're at work. The Bay Area has a big culture of outdoor sports, though, including for tech workers. Lots of bikers, lots of hikers, lots of lots of plain old hanging out in public parks. And many of those "indoor" work spaces try as hard as possible to have natural light.
- michaelchisari 12y ago
  > Aren't we, as "software people", under a roof and in front of a screen most of the time anyways? I would hope not, if we want to stay healthy.
squidbot 12y ago
Global warming (maybe?) could be changing this. It's been depressingly hot this year in Seattle. I moved here from the Bay Area (well, Pleasant Hill) to get away from the heat. Ugh. http://www.komonews.com/weather/blogs/scott/Seattle-Home-of-10000-minutes-of-summer-warmth-almost-272987631.html http://www.komonews.com/weather/blogs/scott/Seattle-Home-of-...

Padding 12y ago

I'm curious why the weather argument comes up so often. Aren't we, as "software people", under a roof and in front of a screen most of the time anyways? Then again, I'm "deep inside" Europe, so I have no idea how bad the weather over there really is.

enraged_camel 12y ago
Even if you are indoors most of the day, the weather outside can make a huge difference on your mood. It also encourages getting up and taking walks every now and then, which has various benefits (both mental and physical). I lived in Seattle for six years. The environment is gorgeous. Lots of trails for hiking, ton of greenery... the thing is though, the weather made me not want to go out. And that can be horribly depressing.
stevewepay 12y ago
The weather in the Bay Area is essentially perfect. The scenery is beautiful, and you can see the ocean, the desert, magnificent forests and the mountains all in the same day. It doesn't get too hot, it doesn't get too cold, it rains only for a few months out of the year, and it never gets very humid. Living in the Bay Area makes you spoiled and lazy because it is too comfortable. As the piece [1] by Mary Schmich (and again by Baz Luhrmann) says, "Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft." [1] http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-schmich-sunscreen-column-column.html http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-schmich-su...
- kylestlb 12y ago
  It's strange. I grew up in the Bay Area (Santa Cruz and South San Jose) and am weather-neutral. I've had stints in Sweden, Portland and Arizona (all pretty extreme) and none of the climates really affected my life too much. Most of my friends are the same way. Anecdotal, but maybe the weather effect is more pronounced on transplants who don't take it for granted? The reason I chose to move back has more to do with the sheer amount of stuff to do. And the good food :)
  - perrylaj 12y ago
    I wish I had your weather neutrality. I grew up in the bay (Los Gatos, Santa Clara, Tri-Valley) and spent a couple years in Portland, OR. I liked the city a lot and tried to get used to the weather but just couldn't. The rain wasn't the problem, the constant darkness was. I like the rain and loved how green everything was up there, but even when it wasn't raining, it was dark. Came back to CA and will put up with its faults in exchange for the climate and activities.
- vonmoltke 12y ago
  For your definition of perfect, at least. I love rain and humidity. I miss the 60+ inches a year in South Florida. Plus, your ocean is too damn cold. :P
  - Padding 12y ago
azernik 12y ago
Yeah, we're in front of a screen... when we're at work. The Bay Area has a big culture of outdoor sports, though, including for tech workers. Lots of bikers, lots of hikers, lots of lots of plain old hanging out in public parks. And many of those "indoor" work spaces try as hard as possible to have natural light.
michaelchisari 12y ago
> Aren't we, as "software people", under a roof and in front of a screen most of the time anyways? I would hope not, if we want to stay healthy.

squidbot 12y ago

Global warming (maybe?) could be changing this. It's been depressingly hot this year in Seattle. I moved here from the Bay Area (well, Pleasant Hill) to get away from the heat. Ugh. http://www.komonews.com/weather/blogs/scott/Seattle-Home-of-10000-minutes-of-summer-warmth-almost-272987631.html http://www.komonews.com/weather/blogs/scott/Seattle-Home-of-...