[ComputerGuru]

I don't get why most everyone on HN assumes all hackers are < 30, have no family, and would give their left nut to live in a big city or The Valley.

I know plenty of middle-aged experts in the computer industries with wives and kids who love it out "in the country" and wouldn't trade it for anything else.

While there's a lot to be said for the bling and bang of living in somewhere like NYC, Seattle, SF, Chicago (my hometown! :D), or the valley; there's a whole 'nother side to the coin that involves a quite family life away from the city and the people.

[dcurtis]

The majority of "the valley" is suburban and there is absolutely no glamour to living in San Jose. An hour from Palo Alto, and you're in Gilroy, a rural community in the middle of nowhere.

In a lot of ways Silicon Valley is rural/very suburban and far removed from big city life.

[davidw]

I think 'rural' is going a bit far, but it would be fair to characterize the valley as "All the drawbacks of a big city with non of the benefits".

[rms]

+ venture capitalists and SF