Everyday of my life

[Deetso]

The reason Im on this site so much.

http://tinyurl.com/yp6fjx

 

[ladelfina]

HA! I remember after graduating a great number of my friends went out to Silicon Valley. They raved about how great the weather and ameneties were. After more than a minute's conversation, you come to find out: they live in a box; they commute in a box (car); they work in a box -- completely artificial environment from when they wake up to when they go to bed. They barely ever see the sun or the orange or avocado trees in the yard that their 60-80-100 hour work-weeks purchased; if they want the house or garden looked after they hire others; a lot of them opted for the no-maintenance condo anyway.

They had zero contact with anyone outside this restricted circuit.

Nobody walks in LA (or San Jose). Nobody has time to go to the park, and if they do they feel, rightly or wrongly, depending, they have to contend with homeless and drug addicts. If one wants to see friends or catch a movie, a 45-minute commute was "normal".
Nobody eats outside (or at least no more so than in the chilly NE- this was my experience).

The allure of it all evaded me.

 

[lazygood4nothinbum]

i'd consider working again if only i could find a job where i didn't have to shave, could work from my house and work all day in my underwear. oh, wait, that was my last job.

 

[SamHouston]

I printed out that Dilbert strip this morning and plan to keep it someplace that I can easily see it...just in case I'm ever strongly tempted to jump back in with all those rats still racing around out there.

 

[CyclingInvestor]

HA! I remember after graduating a great number of my friends went out to Silicon Valley. They raved about how great the weather and ameneties were. After more than a minute's conversation, you come to find out: they live in a box; they commute in a box (car); they work in a box -- completely artificial environment from when they wake up to when they go to bed. They barely ever see the sun or the orange or avocado trees in the yard that their 60-80-100 hour work-weeks purchased; if they want the house or garden looked after they hire others; a lot of them opted for the no-maintenance condo anyway.
The allure of it all evaded me.

I chose a programming job in Los Angeles over those in Sunnyvale in 1979
after interviewing here in December, and walking along the strand in 80 degree
weather seeing the sights.My experience here was much different than your friends.

I did work in a box, but only 40 hours/week (except those rare periods when paid
overtime was authorized). I have almost always commuted by bicycle, worn
shorts / tshirts / sandals at work, and worked the hours I like. My retirement
7 months ago was precipitated by the imposition of an awful new work
environment by top management.

I realize that many professions have more limitations, but I think programmers live
the life that they choose. Many of my ex-coworkers submitted to demands for
tons of unpaid overtime, excess travel, etc., and never seemed to realize that they
could resist / ignore these demands, going to new positions if possible.

 

[haha]

Nobody walks in LA (or San Jose).

Not true in the beach communities.

Nobody eats outside (or at least no more so than in the chilly NE- this was my experience).

Again, in Hollywood, west along Sunset, Malibu plenty of people eating outside.

Ha

 

[Donzo]

My first job w/ my megacorp was N. Los Angeles north to Santa Barbara - 1983--wish I had invested in property! While my job in pharma ... visiting/selling to Drs all up the coast is alot different than a cube - I had some of the best years of my life living in Manhatten beach. My car rarely moved after my 8 calls on Friday...till Monday. I biked,walked and crawled every where else I needed to go. But, I wanted to own/invest in a house as soon as I had the cash for a downpayment....so I moved inland to the edge of my territory.....20/20....I should have saved and bought a fixer cracker box, because my home in Rancho Cucamunga never really felt like home - I would spend time in my old haunts as often as possible.

 

[ladelfina]

I think programmers live the life that they choose. Many of my ex-coworkers submitted to demands for tons of unpaid overtime, excess travel, etc., and never seemed to realize that they could resist / ignore these demands, going to new positions if possible.

You are so right--I shouldn't have generalized. What I reported were just the lifestyles of the 6-8 people I kept in limited contact with. Good for you for recognizing the need for balance!

As far as the LA area goes, you can keep it. Ocean swimming seemed discouraged for various reasons (pollution? -maybe it is cleaner now), and while I did eat outside near the beaches, in town it was an iffy proposition.. my eyes were burning and the air was yellow.

 

[johnlw]

Deetso,

Couldn't agree more.

I'm fortunate in that I telecommute fulltime, so I don't have to drive where I don't want to and can work in my boxers, but the day is still filled with corporate B.S.

John

 

[CyclingInvestor]

As far as the LA area goes, you can keep it. Ocean swimming seemed discouraged for various reasons (pollution? -maybe it is cleaner now), and while I did eat outside near the beaches, in town it was an iffy proposition.. my eyes were burning and the air was yellow.

I think appreciation of the LA area is tied to what your hobbies are. It is much
better for cyclists than for swimmers. The air is much better than it used to be. I
remember one day in 1986, I was descending into Riverside from the eastern
mountains, and there was a layer of brown smog so thick it looked like dirt. I
kept thinking "that'll be fun to breathe for the next 3 hours" (until I got closer to
the coast).

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Dont trust any air you cant see!

I violated all of ladelfinas rules when I lived in the bay area. I enjoyed the heck out of the great weather, nice parks and took lots of walks while constantly feeling thrilled that I was no longer freezing my butt off in new england.

But it IS stupid expensive, and it IS stupid crowded, and commutes DO stink. But dang...the job opportunities are really good, and theres a heck of a lot to do.

 

[ladelfina]

I didn't make any rules! I'm glad for you that you got to enjoy yourself-I just got the vibe of excessive striving and little enjoyment. I like the sound of "beach communities", though. Maybe when I hit the lottery or come up on my 5th million.

Forgot to mention my BIL got stopped by the cops in LA..
..because of his suspicious behavior -> walking. ;-)

--
Any time I ever moaned to her about my job / clients, my Protestant mom gave me a steely look and said "that's why they call it WORK." Anyway, Deetso, buck up.. there IS a light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[HFWR]

One of my favorite "sayings" is "If it was fun, they wouldn't call it work"...

 

[OKLibrarian]

I realize that many professions have more limitations, but I think programmers live
the life that they choose. Many of my ex-coworkers submitted to demands for
tons of unpaid overtime, excess travel, etc., and never seemed to realize that they
could resist / ignore these demands, going to new positions if possible.

Agreed. About a month ago DH had enough of his micromanaging boss, 60+ hour weeks, the inane decisions that were being made without his input (though he was ostensibly the "project manager"), and the repeated promises that life would get better "in a few months". After a particularly insane week where a disaster he predicted (and was ignored) came to pass, resulting in two 30 hour shifts in 5 days, he called a headhunter that has been checking up on him. 2 weeks ago he accepted a new coding gig for fewer hours, a shorter commute and more money. It's been entertaining to watch current boss grovel and make even more promises of impending improvements. The creme de la creme is when I came by to take DH to lunch last friday and he started sucking up to me! Ahhh, Schadenfreude...

 

[mh]

I think appreciation of the LA area is tied to what your hobbies are. It is much
better for cyclists than for swimmers. The air is much better than it used to be. I
remember one day in 1986, I was descending into Riverside from the eastern
mountains, and there was a layer of brown smog so thick it looked like dirt. I
kept thinking "that'll be fun to breathe for the next 3 hours" (until I got closer to
the coast).

thankfully the air in LA is quite a bit better than it was in 86.

 

[Khan]

thankfully the air in LA is quite a bit better than it was in 86.

"Stage three smog alert: that's when you're dead but you're still coughing."
-Johnny Carson