[EdwardMSmith]

Sounds like you've got a "grass-is-greener" thing going on. Everything is good where you're at, but you feel you're missing something. I've felt that way.

Go take a few interviews, and spend a few days in the Valley. Be sure to drive...at rush hour... price a few houses/apartments...

If you're anything like me - who is also in a medium-large (well, a college town just outside of) midwestern city that's highly rated for being a great place to live, with kids, wife with amazing job, etc. - interviewing and spending a little time there quickly clears up the grass-is-greener syndrome.

[mackraken]

Definitely - great advice. I've been out, had a good experience interviewing, but declined offers for those reasons. But still, I'm feeling like doing a few years for some big names might give me more options and flexibility in the long run.