Sayonara: East Coast vs West Coast Smackdown Vol 2rd

[GaijinPunch]

Disclaimer: I don't want advice... I just want to yap and hear some "represents" from the two locales.

As a lot of you guys know, I'm turning in my weabo card after an accumulative 15 years of residence. I have been planning to move to the west coast (SF Bay Area specifically) for over a year now, as my cumpany had been begging me for as long as I can remember. Caveat: The cumpany closed. Doh. But, I'm still going for a few reasons... First and foremost is my son is already in close to there and is doing well, despite having me as a father. The second one being for my field*, it's best to spread my ([Ageha-like] butterfly) wings elsewhere.

My eyes are still set on the SF area, but NYC has always been a very close 2nd place, and keeping in mind my financial background, would have always been easier at picking and choosing jobs. On the flip side, all reports of the SF Bay Area are that it's "on fire" with tech jobs. I started actively putting my resume out there as of about 10 days ago. I also have contacted three recruiters in California specifically, one of which placed people for my last company, two others that are friends of friends. To date I've talked to one of them twice via email, and am supposed to talk more when he's back from vacation. I've heard nothing from the other two after passing off my resume. I did talk to one very large startup directly, which was a good talk but probably not a worthwhile fit. I basically ticked an NYC checkbox that said I'd be willing to relocate there, and have been contacted by very professional recruiters.

It's very early in the game (I'd like to be working in mid to late September), but my two yen so far is that San Fran can happen but it will be arduous. The base salary will probably be similar, but the upper echelon in finance (the bonus) will be much larger. The recruiters in general seem to be less tenacious (or maybe they just don't like my resume).

*I work in what is known in the west as the spawn of Satan: High Frequency Trading. I'm on the tech side... mainly development, but it was more of a full stack job due to our lean and mean mantra. I've focused on Japanese products (Nikkei 225 mainly) for the duration of my 15 year carrier. As dumb as this sounds, our biggest competitors are not in Japan. A lot in Hong Kong and Singapore, and even some in Oz, with a handful that don't mind the time zone issues in the US. The former are not in the cards though.

[quash]

SF isn't the worst place in the world, but I really don't see the appeal of living there. For the price of renting a century old apartment in SF, you could be renting/paying off a house in the South Bay or Peninsula.

I may end up moving back to the San Jose area in a few years time, but I doubt I'll stay there for the long haul. Seattle looks promising, Austin isn't bad, and if all else fails I can still JET it up over here.

[GaijinPunch]

I wouldn't live in SF proper. It's basically Manhattan prices, and similar build quality. Even if I worked in the city I would live in a neighboring city (San Mateo or similar). If I worked in San Jose, then who knows, but probably not right in San Jose. I have to pay two rents right now, so I gotta keep a relatively humble life style. I don't have a huge preference, since I know there are jobs all along that stretch of land. That's actually the downside of the bay area. Spread out -- like Texas.

Austin is a great city (and always an option for me) but my kid is doing well in Cali, and I doubt his mom would do Texas. I can't give financial support to a California home with a Texas salary.

[Skykid]

I'm turning in my weabo card after an accumulative 15 years of residence.

This is the end of Japan as we know it.

[GaijinPunch]

The true victims are the followers of my Facebook News Feed.

[alamone]

Come to the south bay, I'm here and dave is here!
Haven't been to the east coast so i can't comment. but you can't beat the weather that's for sure.

[ZacharyB]

As a New York resident on the outskirts of the city, I have to say that at least we don't have the crippling drought that California is going through right now. Also... earthquake free.

But even a studio apartment is around $750 - $950 here. Diverse. Where I live specifically is called the melting pot of the nation... you wouldn't be left wanting for racial diversity, that's for sure.

[GaijinPunch]

California? Earthquakes? Puh-leeeze. I can shit a bigger Earthquake than that.

San Fran proper has basically Manhattan housing prices. Yikes.
The weather in Cali is hands down better. Best in the continental US, for sure. Tokyo is probably a bit milder than New York, but most likely offset by the lack of insulation so I can probably live with it. I mean... most residents of the whole fucking cuntry can see their breath when they wake up in the morning. World's 3rd largest economy, ladies and gentlemen.

These are the two edges that one has over the other.

California: Weather
New York: No need for a fucking car

Both of those are huge.

[dcharlie]

I'm turning in my weabo card after an accumulative 15 years of residence.

the party is over!

(i'm still here... :/ )

[GaijinPunch]

You're the drunk friend that just won't get his ass off the sofa, long after everyone's gone.

[Skykid]

I'm turning in my weabo card after an accumulative 15 years of residence.

the party is over!

(i'm still here... :/ )

You're not allowed to come back until you've saved Japan from JAPJAC. Need to up your game, agent.

[Aliquantic]

The peninsula/South Bay is pretty archetypal rich American suburb with smallish downtowns, cars needed everywhere, and I wouldn't go any further south than Mountain View... San Jose is just pretty dull and prices still aren't THAT cheap compared to other places. Have you looked at Marine County just north of SF? It's pretty popular with finance types, and somewhat more sheltered from the techie invasion.

I've never lived in NYC but it was my other main choice for living in the US too, and I'd be curious to hear from locales... does it live up to the hype? (I hated actually living in SF pretty thoroughly, it's a great photoset but...)

Oh and recruiting in SF seems very different from anywhere else I've experienced, with multiple rounds to get anywhere and pretty long drawn processes, and a fair amount of decisions based just on guts (and the company fit wildcard excuse). I've seen a lot of companies complain about not being able to find employees while being pretty worthless at advertising for positions and getting back to candidates in a sensible way, and the most useless recruiters this side of India. Hopefully NYC is closer to sensible places...

[GaijinPunch]

I have two guys in NYC that seem very interested to place me from just posting my resume online. SF I have one (I think, maybe, whom I'm supposedly talking to tomorrow for the first time other than some ball jostling in email) after contacting them through either friends, or an intro through my last cumpanies office manager, as they placed a few people for us. So yeah, the recruiting sector of SF is not really dazzling me at the moment.

My last place of biness was located in Los Gatos. It's about as far away from reality is as Japan, but it's not a bad place. Lots of fake tits to look at. Alas, I have no intention of living or working there if I can help it.

Hopefully I'll get some stuff sorted out. If I decided now, there's no question that I'm making a lop-sided decision, but what the fuck am I supposed to do? The NYC guys are way more on the ball.

On that note, I love the city. I have no problem living there. But, I understand that it's not for everyone. After 15 years in Tokyo I'm pretty I can handle anything it can dish out.

[Frenetic]

Totally understand about which people want to recruit you for now. If you get a job out in NY, there's nothing really stopping you from redoing your resume and sending it out if you do decide to move out to California.

Just a question for you GaijinPunch, how important is it to have fellow people who play/own shmups? It's easier to get a candy cab on the west coast. alamone and I we have meets out here (NorCal and SoCal). Speaking of which if you do get out here it would be awesome to meet up (I live in Southern California) if you take your son to Disneyland or something.

Cheers,
F

[GaijinPunch]

I've actually been to one of Dave_K's meets, which of course rocked.

I'm not playing too many shmups these days, so it's not a huge deal to be outside of a community. I rarely even go to Shou's place, and he literally has about any PCB I'd ever want to play. Okay, he doesn't have Distopia yet, but let's be realistic.

I talked to a recruiter today and he confirmed that most other recruiters are probably not going to grasp what the hell I did based on my resume. He also admitted that sometimes he gets clients requesting things that are way over his head, so it's mutual. He at least took the time to talk to me and ask about my job and wanted to hear what I"m looking for. Then again, he's been doing this for decades, and isn't one of these fly by night sales bitches, which is reassuring.

[CMoon]

Like Frentic, I'm in SoCal. We have a nice little shmup/brewing community going on.

I've lived on both coasts and they both have their charms. Also way too easy to generalize about them. Outside of SF, cost of living isn't that bad (though still higher than the midwest.) Both have tons of food, culture, diversity. If for some reason I had to move back to the east coast I definitely wouldn't cry about it.

As far as not having to own a car. There are places in California this is possible (especially SF, but through parts of SoCal as well), but there are lots of obvious commuter routes that just aren't an option.

[GaijinPunch]

I think I've spent more time on the West Coast but I know enough about both I think to make an informed decision. I think everywhere is more expensive than the midwest. Salaries are higher as well though... not sure if they're equally high, but at some point you have to realize you're paying a fee to not be in the bible belt.

Nothing too solid yet, but the days are approaching. I will have to up my game and make a decision in a couple of weeks. Oh, fun.

[brentsg]

I think I've spent more time on the West Coast but I know enough about both I think to make an informed decision. I think everywhere is more expensive than the midwest. Salaries are higher as well though... not sure if they're equally high, but at some point you have to realize you're paying a fee to not be in the bible belt.

I have been pocketing my unpaid bible belt fees since 1996.

[GaijinPunch]

How do you monetize the extra judgmentalism?

[antron]

How do you monetize the extra judgmentalism?

It's very easy to put them in their place, as few of them have any experience defending their ridicules positions. Just don't do it to coworkers. Not worth it. But you will probably find at least one that appreciates fisting jokes. (what am I saying, you're from Texas lol)

I'm actually thinking about reentering the mid US trenches, for the cheese. Or should I say lack of cheese devouring cost of living.

[brentsg]

Midwest isn't bad as long as you place yourself appropriately. I've no real problem with bible thumping in my stomping grounds.

[Joe T.]

How do you monetize the extra judgmentalism?

Over the past year, I've found that moving from the white trash bible belt to a large "progressive" city only brought me in contact with MORE judgmental, shitty, racist people. They all live closer together and pay much more to live that way. Everyone's experience will vary obviously, mine just hasn't been overwhelmingly positive.

[CMoon]

How do you monetize the extra judgmentalism?

Over the past year, I've found that moving from the white trash bible belt to a large "progressive" city only brought me in contact with MORE judgmental, shitty, racist people. They all live closer together and pay much more to live that way. Everyone's experience will vary obviously, mine just hasn't been overwhelmingly positive.

Yeah, there are shitty people wherever you go. CA is a blue state, so you'd think living in LA everyone would be progressive, but I know my fairshare of right wing douchebag, climate change deniers, etc. That said, I think there's more atheists per capita, but clearly there's no correlation between your religious views and being an asshole. I've also been attacked for being an atheist, so toss all your generalizations out the window!

[GaijinPunch]

I've found it's hard these days to go to a party and talk about anything but movies and music, and even that can get heated sometimes. Just think if Skykid was there.

[rapoon]

I've found it's hard these days to go to a party and talk about anything but movies and music, and even that can get heated sometimes. Just think if Skykid was there.

he'd have half a dozen blown aneurysms before the night was over.

OT: Go to the bay area, Henderson is still affordable. personally, I'd love to move back to the bay area.

[CMoon]

I've found it's hard these days to go to a party and talk about anything but movies and music, and even that can get heated sometimes. Just think if Skykid was there.

Nah! I think IRL people would get he just wants to debate stuff, enjoys the discussion and likes to blow shit way out of proportion.

Yeah, I don't even know what to talk to people about anymore. Having done radio and run a tiny record label, I'm scared to talk to people about music.

[GaijinPunch]

OT: Go to the bay area, Henderson is still affordable. personally, I'd love to move back to the bay area.

Depends on jobs. I found a total of 4 companies that did what I used to do in San Fran. New York probably has 40 that are actively hiring and tons more that might be later.

[Joe T.]

I didn't mean to sound so argumentative in my previous comment. I just meant to say that larger cities may not have a higher percentage of shitty people, but there's likely more of them anyway. Working with mostly young, overprivileged, arrogant, white suburbanites has probably tainted my view a bit as well.

[GaijinPunch]

Oh, I know I'm going to have to relearn the definition of biting ones tongue.
That'll be fun!