I think its odd that you keeping referring to an abstract "here" as a an alternative and standard of comparison to the Bay Area but won't say where that is. This whole discussion is about geography as it relates to career.
And you get better offers when you're poached by a VP you are acquainted with.
It shouldn't take long to confuse your salary in these circumstances with the salaries of people working for and around you. Your immediate reference is probably that VP who is also VP :D
And that you can make 2.7 times a Bay Area salary and own a 5,000 square foot home in a city with mass transit that is much more culturally rich than S.F. It really sounds magical.