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

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

#161

Post by lostmsu »

0xbadcafebee wrote: post #95
lostmsu wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have recently started considering Florida (from Seattle). What is the advantage of Sarasota over larger metropolitan area like Tampa? We are in early 30ies, and would love to be able to walk to the ocean/gulf beach a few times a week, have a symmetric fiber Internet at home, and people to hang out with for music/games/geekery.

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 nea…

Are you saying Tampa has no descent concert venues? What about local bands?

Maybe I am misreading, but the only downsides in your comment are crime and hurricanes.

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

#162

Post by lostmsu »

ayyy wrote: post #69
lostmsu wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have recently started considering Florida (from Seattle). What is the advantage of Sarasota over larger metropolitan area like Tampa? We are in early 30ies, and would love to be able to walk to the ocean/gulf beach a few times a week, have a symmetric fiber Internet at home, and people to hang out with for music/games/geekery.

The problem with FL real estate is that flood zones and old construction are everywhere. You probably don't want to buy a house in a flood zone. Also, because hurricane codes were updated recently, you want to buy something recent-ish, definitely nothing older than 2002. The windows in my place are rated for a Category 5, and I'm at 50ft above sea level. In most of Florida, Sarasota included, if you go with a traditi…

Are waterfront houses not usually built to withstand flooding?

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

#163

Post by ashtonkem »

jleyank wrote: post #153
ashtonkem wrote: post #107

Just moved from CA to ID. I'd say that the experience has been great, but with some caveats that don't really apply to you. A lot of the celebration you'll see about remote work is going to come from those who couldn't afford space in places like SF & LA who are now thrilled that they can afford a house somewhere cheaper. I am personally included in this category, as houses in ID are much cheaper than CA. It's really…

One has to be comfortable with the social environment where one lives. ID, if you mean Idaho, is more idiosyncratic than other places and was an acquired taste not everybody developed. YMMV

Ok? That’s kind of obvious right? “Don’t work remote somewhere you hate”.

I’m not recommending they move to Idaho like I did.

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

#164

Post by ashtonkem »

wernercd wrote: post #121
ashtonkem wrote: post #107

Just moved from CA to ID. I'd say that the experience has been great, but with some caveats that don't really apply to you. A lot of the celebration you'll see about remote work is going to come from those who couldn't afford space in places like SF & LA who are now thrilled that they can afford a house somewhere cheaper. I am personally included in this category, as houses in ID are much cheaper than CA. It's really…

> Coming to enjoy remote over pandemic I enjoy remote but I miss the office. I think I'm part of the majority that would love 2 days in, 3 days out of the office (or some mix close to that). I can definitely see a single remote worker of a bunch is a recipe for a bad experience as you are just out of the loop and in a company that probably hasn't or won't adopt the things needed for it to be successful.

You do you, but I’ve never understood this. Semi-remote arrangements seem to me like the worst of both worlds; you have to live close enough to the office for a reasonable commute 1-2x a week, and you’ve got to pay for enough space to work from home. Since you’re staying within commuting range, you probably won’t be able to get the really cheap housing.

I’d rather live in a small apartment and close to the office, or full remote and leverage different housing prices.

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

#165

Post by ashtonkem »

triceratops wrote: post #120
ashtonkem wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a real morale breaker to be told that your labor is worth less because of where you live when everyone is remote anyways.

Imagine how people in other countries feel.

Certainly not great, I imagine.

That being said, there is a substantive difference between being hired at a salary and suddenly having your salary cut. The former is why companies try to hide what everyone is paid; to avoid the lower paid workers from feeling screwed and advocating for more money. But having corporate come in and say “your labor is now worth 70% what it was before” creates unavoidable feelings of being valued less by the company, because that’s exactly what’s happening.

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

#166

Post by mancerayder »

ashtonkem wrote: post #110
zuhayeer wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some companies have released salary percentiles (relative to HQ) for the adjustment to remote. For example, a company in the Bay Area published this for total comp. Most companies seem to be following similarly: Bay Area: 93% NY: 93% Seattle: 92% Los Angeles: 91% Boston: 91% San Diego: 88% Denver: 86% Chicago: 85% Portland: 83% Philadelphia: 83% Atlanta: 83% Minneapolis: 83% Austin: 82% Florida: 81% Salt Lake City: 8…

It's a real morale breaker to be told that your labor is worth less because of where you live when everyone is remote anyways.

It's morale breaking to be reminded you're just a line item on a spreadsheet first and foremost. Especially in a tech organization of a non tech company.

It sucks but at least we have high relative salaries.

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

#168

Post by geogra4 »

op00to wrote: post #136
geogra4 wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. Here in the Midwest it's perfectly within reach of even a modest tech salary to own a home in a nice suburb. The coasts are just so detached from reality

No, there isn’t a detachment from reality. It’s simply that fewer people want to live in the Midwest. Considering the environmental and social problems that come with living in far flung (cheap) suburbs, it’s a wonder real estate isn’t more expensive on the coasts.

I mean, I don't think that Minneapolis, Detroit or Chicago are missing in basic quality of life facilities but enough people disagree to make them a lot less expensive than NYC or sf and, imo, that's their loss not mine

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

#169

Post by ashtonkem »

anticapit wrote: post #129
mylons wrote: post #81

Being in a tech city sucks. I moved to San Francisco for a better job with better pay, and was overwhelmed with people with shitty politics and group think. Working in a community with people who do tangible things is much better.

I am a native San Franciscan, and an engineer looking forward to the tech exodus. Most startup prospectors really hate our culture. Once the financial incentive goes away, people are free to seek their fortunes and happiness elsewhere without impacting ours.

Maybe. San Francisco has been where dreamers go to make their fortune since the mid 1800s. It’s clear that the pandemic will reduce tech employment there, but it’s far from clear that it’ll end the boom mentality that created Silicon Valley in the first place.

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

#170

Post by anticapit »

ashtonkem wrote: post #169
anticapit wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am a native San Franciscan, and an engineer looking forward to the tech exodus. Most startup prospectors really hate our culture. Once the financial incentive goes away, people are free to seek their fortunes and happiness elsewhere without impacting ours.

Maybe. San Francisco has been where dreamers go to make their fortune since the mid 1800s. It’s clear that the pandemic will reduce tech employment there, but it’s far from clear that it’ll end the boom mentality that created Silicon Valley in the first place.

Agreed, the prospector mentality will never leave, but it is changing. You couldn’t mine gold from Utah, but you can certainly sell silicon snake oil from there.

The pandemic seems to be is helping legitmize / mainstream “remote-first”. It is already facilitating the exodus of those who view the bay as an inconvenience imposed upon them.

Read any article comments about the bay area here on HN and primarily there are two types of comments: those who hate it here but live elsewhere, and those who hate it here and desperately want to leave.

I know many people like that( and every time I see their location updates on LinkedIn showing they have left, I take a shot of Fernet. I’ve been drinking a lot lately!

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