[hacknat]

I do think that you can get the same software experience in NYC, Boston, Seattle, and probably Austin too. I always tell people to start their careers in a big city or SV, but it really is an atrocious area to raise a family. California is nice and SF is a cool enough city, but SV is just sprawl, sprawl, sprawl. You’d expect more give the COL.

Anyways. I think this author has some serious rose colored glasses on, but I think the basic advice still stands. The earning power you can command for the rest of your career will be monumentally different if you start your career in a city.

I started a career on the West coast and made enough of a name for myself that I work remotely in the MidWest with an SV salary. There’s no way I could be doing what I’m doing now if I hadn’t started in a city.

[dmode]

Why is it an atrocious area to raise a family ? I have kids and I think it is an amazing area to raise children. Great diversity, getting to know people from all over the world, year round hiking and outdoors fun, endless nature, trails, parks, lakes, free concerts, movie nights, healthy food, fresh produce, great schools (some are very competitive though). Great museums, aquariums, oceans, bays etc. easy access to SoCal with all their theme parks.

[hacknat]

I was speaking from a monetary perspective. The affluenza in SV is downright toxic.