Living in Silicon Valley

What can you expect, the good, the bad, and the offbeat?

CHIC SAYS:

My favorite part of Silicon Valley is diversity! As someone who came here from a foreign country, it’s comforting to know that there are so many others in the same boat – but not literally! ;) Diversity also means amazing food and holiday affairs. There are many authentic foods festivals all year round, including Vietnamese, Cambodian, Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Indian, German, French, Italian, Russian... you get the idea. Here’s Metro’s list of some of the best Silicon Valley restaurants of 2019.

Among the things I’m not so fond of, the cost of living is number one. It is by far the most expensive place to live in the U.S., and goods and services are about 30% more expensive than the national average. That’s not to mention a median home price of about $1M.

And for the offbeat, I think of Silicon Valley fashion – company logo hoodies and t-shirts, jeans, and sneakers for both men and women. I’m not sure if this is a long-term trend, but it’s a little too casual for my taste.

GEEK SAYS:

Yes, Silicon Valley has a higher cost of living than just about anywhere else on the planet, but that also comes with more high paying jobs in engineering, high-tech, and emerging industries. It comes with sunshine and great weather all year. And it comes with good people, excellent schools, and a spirit of innovation.

As a wine lover and self-professed camping expert (I have every piece of gear you can imagine) I love how close we are to Wine Country AND the natural beauty of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Yosemite, and Lake Tahoe. Oh, I forgot about the beaches, just a short drive “over the hill”.

Just like everyone else, I get frustrated by a lack of public transportation, traffic nightmares, and long commutes. And the growing housing shortage is something that affects us all. There’s not much you and me can do about it until the folks in charge make some changes. But that’s another story altogether.