[TheMagicHorsey]

I left the Bay Area in 2020 and started working remotely because I didn't want to enter the real estate market at the top, right before a crash.

I've never believed in doing something just because everyone else thinks its the default thing to do. Putting 1.5M to 2M into a small average house didn't make sense to me when that is enough money to retire in many different beautiful places in the world.

So I left. Switched jobs and started working remotely. I now live in a MCOL area and things are about 30% cheaper than the Bay Area. Better schools. Nicer environment. More diversity (including economic diversity). More access to activities (like gymnastics) for my kids at a reasonable price. More free time.

I make a little less money in cash. And a lot less money in equity. But all in all its a better life.

I hope more people open their eyes and realize these tech hotspots are actually hell.

[zeroonetwothree]

I think that critiques of the Bay Area are overstated (probably because of cognitive dissonance). Yes, it's extremely expensive, but it's also very nice. If you can afford it I don't think there's any inherent reason to expect to like anywhere else more. Of course if you can't afford it then, yes, you should probably leave, but that's not some crazy revelation.

[EVa5I7bHFq9mnYK]

I found Raleigh NC area nicer than Bay Area, more greenery, easier traffic. Yes, more boring, but you can experience real redneck rodeos ...

[rajup]

> I hope more people open their eyes and realize these tech hotspots are actually hell.

Wouldn’t that make the other currently nice places hell again :^)

[ianceicys]

It's a good thing that there SO many MORE nice places... See Montana\Idaho plenty of room, plenty of broadband (even FIBER).

[lazide]

You bet!

[0xffff2]

I'm curious where you live that you find more diversity? I also moved out of the bay in 2020, have lived a few places since and the diversity of the bay area is pretty much the only thing I miss.

[cudgy]

Diversity in the bay area? Isn’t it mostly non-religious liberal Democrats?

[0xffff2]

Yeah, but at least they aren't all white. Where I live now is also mostly non-religious liberal Democrats, but they all think ranch dressing is spicy.