[62951413]

Let's talk about you growing older. The closer you're to 50 the more difficult it gets to find a new job. You get laid off in a major downsizing round. Your COBRA healthcare plan is $2K+/month which incidentally is comparable to your 1-bedroom apartment rent. It could take you a few months to find the next job. Or longer, people discuss it on this very site every other week.

The FAANGs and the capital gains are real but for a minority of us. If you're single and under 30 the Bay Area is a top destination for sure. You won't be that person forever though.

[bradlys]

If you’ve followed the money train, you should practically be fatFIRE by 50 assuming you’re in SF. I can imagine it being difficult if you’re single income but dual income tech workers in SF should be easy FIRE territory for a 50 something.

It’s really hard to imagine a scenario where someone is reaching 50+, can’t find a job due to ageism, and has anyone but themselves to blame. I have friends who don’t own property in SF, rented their whole lives, and haven’t accumulated millions in NW. They only have themselves to blame because they kept trying to do their own startups. They had 7 figure comp when they were at established tech companies but would keep leaving to start their own thing. They could easily be close to retirement but they’re gonna be working past 65 at the pace they’re going now.

The only thing they regret is that none of their startups they founded have made them rich.