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Ask HN: Potentially Moving to SF / SV with a Family

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Re: Ask HN: Potentially Moving to SF / SV with a Family

#51

Post by ryandvm »

I interviewed with Facebook a few years ago. Even before going I had already done the math and decided that based on everything I knew about their compensation, there was no way I could move my family out there without a severe reduction in quality of life.

No matter how I sliced it, I was looking at least a few of the following:

   * Quadrupling our mortgage
   * Picking up a 30-60 minute commute
   * Sending my kids to either expensive private schools or terrible public ones
In the end, we ended up moving from the Midwest to Charleston, SC. It's obviously not SV, but it has a pretty vibrant tech scene. But more importantly, it's just a great place to raise a family. Reasonable cost of living, excellent career opportunities, and the recreational opportunities are endless.

Good luck, pal! I hope you make the right choice.

Re: Ask HN: Potentially Moving to SF / SV with a Family

#52

Post by randycupertino »

Only do it if your wife will work and you guys can be dual income. Also, realize a lot of apartments will actively discriminate against renting to couples with kids, mainly because the buildings here are built terribly with just wood frames, so if you get downstairs neighbors they will complain about your kids running around. They won't tell you they're not renting to you because of your kids, you just won't get selected to rent any units.

Re: Ask HN: Potentially Moving to SF / SV with a Family

#53

Post by randycupertino »

tannhauser23 wrote: post #27
pesfandiar wrote: post #25

I also have an infant daughter, and don't even imagine moving to SV. Other comments have talked enough about the finances, but the main factor for me would be the work-life balance. From what I hear in online communities, SV sounds extremely anti-family. Companies that can hire new grads that will conveniently work overtime for pizza and beer will not really value a 9-5 family man like yourself. Add to that the stres…

It depends on the company. Mine is very family friendly. Don't believe everything you read online (including me, haha) - remember that people who are unhappy with their situation is more likely to post stuff online than people who are content. That said, commute is a killer.

I've been in interviews were afterwards the group consensus was to actively not hire the newly engaged woman because people were nervous she'd get pregnant and then take maternity leave. Blatantly illegal, but nobody wrote it down, just said it out loud. She was well qualified and smart, but didn't get an offer. "Culture fit."

Re: Ask HN: Potentially Moving to SF / SV with a Family

#54

Post by randycupertino »

x0x0 wrote: post #22

Holy crap you're gonna be broke. Don't do it. Expect to pay $3k-ish in the cheapest areas in the peninsula for an older 2 bedroom apartment. Now take all your expenses (eating out, gym, etc) and multiply by 2-3. Oh, and food is at least twice as expensive as in the Midwest (reference: when I fly home to see parents, I occasionally grocery shop for them.) My grocery bill is $700-$800/mo for 2 adults, plus $300/mo of m…

That sounds cool, how did you get into managing apartments on the side?
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