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Why I Chose New York

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Re: Why I Chose New York

#21

Post by tstegart »

untog wrote: post #15
tstegart wrote: post #12

This is great, I left NYC for many of the same reasons the OP cites as wanting to move there. Really, I should write a post on "Why I'm choosing the Midwest" NYC has so many women. Beautiful women. But if you're looking to have kids, settle down and move away to where your kid has his own lawn to play on, your odds drop close to zero. So many people date in NYC, so few commit for the rest of their lives. I was so nai…

I think this gets to the point of why these debates are useless when talking on a personal level- everyone is different. I'm 28, and I still don't want to get married. I have no problem with buildings dotting the horizon (when I want to leave the city, I fly away somewhere far, far away. Or go to Prospect Park). So, I probably wouldn't care too much for the Midwest. Everyone is different.

You're right. Funnily enough, Prospect Park was where I realized I didn't like it there. I was enjoying a good run in the park with my roommate and telling her how great it was. Then I realized the only reason I was happy was that the park was completely empty: it was 10 o'clock at night and a downpour had just happened.

Re: Why I Chose New York

#22

Post by vaksel »

It seems like NYC just seems like a hub, because people are already there and don't want to move.

Very few people who decide to uproot to start their startup elsewhere actually choose NYC over SV.

Frankly, I don't see what the big deal is, lets face it, most programmers are more or less geeks, so all this talk about the better night life and clubs, dating/mingling opportunities etc probably doesn't even apply.

It's all about the person really.

Someone outgoing, will find all of those even in the middle of nowhere in Kansas. And someone with social anxiety will have problems no matter where they are.

Re: Why I Chose New York

#23

Post by utopkara »

People have a huge capacity to adapt. For single people the flexibility is even more. I'd say, even if you go to Cicely, Alaska you'll get used to it and like it.

Now, if you would like to innovate, and be part of something big, your chances of realizing those are very slim if you live outside the big magnets. SV, New York, Boston are fine but the opportunities diminish very fast as the density of tech companies gets smaller. There are interesting exceptions though. For instance the Raleigh-Durham area has a good combination of schools (fresh talent), and tech companies. If you are at that point in your life that you need to choose where you will pick a home, think carefully, and do your research.

Re: Why I Chose New York

#24

Post by bengl3rt »

1h 30m commute is only if you insist on busing down to Apple or Google every day. There are plenty of companies you can work for in SF that you can reach in much less time.

And if you think it's going to be affordable to live five minutes walk from your office in NYC, think again.

(disclaimer: lived in both)

Re: Why I Chose New York

#25

Post by benihana »

This article reads like a rationalization by a college student who is basing all of his knowledge of these places on second-hand accounts and stereotypes. Does this guy really think that San Francisco isn't diverse? Does he really not understand that he's going to be around engineers (the vast majority of whom are white dudes) all day anyway and that the diversity of the area has little to do with that? Does he really believe that all anyone talks about in SF is social media and daily deals?

How about come back in 6 months after you've moved and list the preconceived notions you had that were wrong, and the ones you had that were right and how you like living in NYC? Because this kind of reads like it's going to be this way because this is how I expect it to be.

Disclaimer: I'm moving to New York City in less than two weeks

Re: Why I Chose New York

#26

Post by michael_miller »

bengl3rt wrote: post #24

1h 30m commute is only if you insist on busing down to Apple or Google every day. There are plenty of companies you can work for in SF that you can reach in much less time. And if you think it's going to be affordable to live five minutes walk from your office in NYC, think again. (disclaimer: lived in both)

I agree with you on SF. There are certainly a bunch of great companies to work for there. However, at the risk of angering a lot of people, the majority of promising startups are in the South Bay.

NYC is expensive, but not unbelievably so, especially when put next to SF. To live within a 5-10m walk of Palantir's office in the West Village is roughly $4k for a 2BR(so I'll be paying $2k/month). Certainly not low rent by any stretch of the imagination, but it is definitely affordable with an engineer's salary. Also, the difference in salary compensates for this cost.

Re: Why I Chose New York

#27

Post by ericabiz »

lightcatcher wrote: post #9
driverdan wrote: post #7

It's only Bay vs NYC? Why not stay in Austin? Every startup here is hiring. Why not Boston, Boulder, Seattle, or Portland? Not mentioning other cities seems shortsighted. Online startups can exist anywhere. If you're not interested in groupthink considering other cities seems very reasonable. I also don't buy your SF commute argument. There are tons of startups in downtown SF. You don't have to live in the bay area a…

What startups are in Austin? I did a quick google search and found this list: http://www.austinemerging100.com/list.php as well as this blog: http://austinstartup.com/ Previously, I thought Gowalla was the only somewhat known startup in Austin, but they sold to Facebook. Are there any other somewhat known startups in Austin?

I work in an office with WP Engine and Other Inbox (recently acquired by Return Path.) There are plenty of startups here; the Capital Factory folks probably know many of them.

I moved here from the Bay Area (with a 2-year stay in San Diego in the middle) and I'm really happy with the quality of life and the tech community here in Austin. I can buy a house and live comfortably here, and the taxes are far cheaper--important when you really start earning money!

Re: Why I Chose New York

#28

Post by simonsarris »

I have a feeling my own "Why I Chose New Hampshire" would not have the same traction on HN, though it would bear some similarity to this post. Maybe I should write it anyway.

I live in an 1840's house that I love. I walk seven minutes to main street (and work) every day. I live a mere hour from the mountains, the ocean, boston, minutes from country. I don't have any wants, I just like programming and reading and making things. I live a simple life, I like to think.

Yet I get an email from a recruiter once a week (or a little less often, some more personal invitation) who are thrilled to talk to me until the point that they find that I have no intention of leaving New Hampshire.

Willingness to uproot one's entire life and move (to Silicon Valley), it seems, is a foregone conclusion to them and I never cease to astonish my correspondents by not wanting to go there.

I don't begrudge them. But I don't understand why in the grand game of chess I would exchange 23 years of life for a single job.

(At last one correspondent signed, "let me know if you ever decide to head west, young man :-)")

Re: Why I Chose New York

#29

Post by michael_miller »

benihana wrote: post #25

This article reads like a rationalization by a college student who is basing all of his knowledge of these places on second-hand accounts and stereotypes. Does this guy really think that San Francisco isn't diverse? Does he really not understand that he's going to be around engineers (the vast majority of whom are white dudes) all day anyway and that the diversity of the area has little to do with that? Does he reall…

Thanks for the feedback! To be clear, I'm not critiquing SF. When I refer to Silicon Valley, I am talking about the south bay. My experiences are based on my anecdotal experience over the past 3 summers living in the south bay. Admittedly, I haven't lived in SF(only gone up for day trips), so I have no place to critique it.

I will absolutely write up another blog post after 6 months of being in NYC, and let HN know how it went.

Re: Why I Chose New York

#30

Post by SatvikBeri »

Having lived in both San Francisco and New York (and a dozen other places), I can attest that all the OP's points sound factually correct-dating is much easier for straight men, commutes are shorter, and there is a lot more diversity when it comes to careers.
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