Ask HN: Remote workers in a non-tech city, what's your experience?

s/he probably isn't bedridden, just needs that position in order to be in front of a screen 8+ hours per day.

I've got neck problems and a similar situation. I can sit at a normal desk bolt-upright for a few hours, but not a whole day. For long coding stretches I don't lie down but rather use a weird custom chair I built myself that has my back at about a 45-degree angle to the ground. My leg-torso angle is still 90 degrees, but (important part) the angle between my torso and jaw is much much less than 90 degrees. It requires a somewhat elaborate monitor arrangement (I like huge 4k screens) based on a repurposed adjustable-height standing desk.

I can't imagine this setup working in one of those now-ubiquitous "open office plan" places.

Pros of remote..

generally less bench warming, you do a good job, make people happy, no one is going to miss you if you take a two hour walk in the middle of the day to enjoy the world around you. Or any number of other activities you may choose to do.

Depending on your meetings you could pretty much work from anywhere. Generally though it can be frustrating to work without a place set aside to do so after awhile.

In your shoes, post covid, I might stay in fun places for a month at a time and come back to the kids or take them with if you can.

Cons... It's easy to get stuck in what feels like the twilight zone. More so than the office. It's really important, especially if you are alone, to make time for social activities and exercise. Laughs and strength help avoid what could feel like a very isolated life otherwise.

In general you want to pick where you live based on property values, flood zone, average hurricane damage, proximity to work, and convenience to other things (like the beach you mention). But almost universally you will be driving everywhere, so don't worry too much about it. Florida is one giant concrete strip mall on top of a swamp. So in general, figure out where you will hang out the most or with whom, and be near there. But also plan to drive a lot. Do you want there to be sidewalks connecting you to the beach / grocery store / etc? Again you'll have to search for those, as it's weird not to drive everywhere. And people on bicycles are seen more as target practice than pedestrians.

Large metros like Tampa are full of crime and traffic. If you want a "nice" walk to the beach, or you don't want your car broken into, you are much better off in a less dense area like Sarasota, Fort Myers, etc. But if you want to hit a few bars/clubs, get a little drunk, and have a short cab ride home, you'll want to be closer to a metro area. Otherwise you may have a 50 minute drive home after hitting a bar with some friends.

Florida is famous for attracting just a few kinds of people, so if you aren't in a part of the state full of your kind of people, you may bump up against culture clash. Research neighborhoods in each area to see which one you might fit in with. But also remember that the "Florida Man" isn't just a meme, it's one of your neighbors.

I grew up in Florida, and I really hate it. I don't understand why anyone but a retiree would move there. There's nothing to do other than sit in your sterile air conditioned house, go to the beach, go to a bar, or get high. And the people are terrible. I still go back for vacation though. It's like a bad ex I keep texting just to remember why I left. Oh, right... you're dead inside.

I've been in the consulting / field service part of a major tech company for 10 years. I've been remote for 6 of them and remote with minimal travel for 4. I started remote because we wanted to move closer to family (and ended up closer to my wife’s family.) That part has been brilliant- I think it’s been very good for my kids to grow up close to at least one set of grandparents and I like my in laws*

Mostly is been really good - my team is fully remote, we are supportive of each other, and we take time to be human (chit-chat, complain, etc), which can be a problem remotely.

One thing I’ve learned is that you have to be more intentional in your communication. Yes, everyone is only an IM away, but not being able to see someone in there office brings communication changes. I’ve found it helpful to try to pull more communication out of people (“let’s screen share, it’ll be easier”).

On the work-life balance side is also been really good for the most part. I have a physically separate workspace (a converted garden shed) and little ones that make sure I’m done at 5p and stay done. I do miss in person coworker chats and hangouts at times, but I’ve been able to substitute other relationships over time.

One surprising “drawback” is the increased flexibility I have working remotely means I tend to get stuck with a lot more home chores than my wife. We do share some responsibility, especially during covid, but it’s both reasonable and expected that I get to deal with the majority of the childcare or dealing with workmen, etc.

Another problem, for me at least, is that I do feel trapped at times. My current job pays well above the market rate in my area and I have not heard of any remote alternatives with similar compensation for my skillset. This wouldn’t be as much of a problem in a tech hub.

Overall though, I wouldn’t want to go back to commuting. WFH means at least an extra hour a day or more, and I feel like it makes it much easier to engage with other things I love like my family and the outdoors.

* in the off chance my parents read this- I like you MORE, but you know why I ended up where I did. Retire and move here :)

new grad here. any city and seaside town recommendations?