Bulls**t. Housing there IS insanely expensive even relative to pay. Fact: only 27.5% of Santa Clara County residents can afford the median-priced home, compared to 63% nationwide. Look at these affordability statistics for all of the other major metros, they're all at least 50%. Even New York City is 55%, for God's sake. (See this NAHB data.)
I used to live there and left, in large part because of the housing prices. The Valley has a lot going for it, which some might argue justifies the housing prices, but don't try to deny that they're high.
I already chimed in my "it's great" but a couple more notes:
It is possible to start cold... sort of. About 10 months ago I was recruited out of my cozy telecommuting arrangement with an industry leader (large behemoth-like company) by a pre-IPO startup. I wouldn't move to Silicon Valley (see #2), so what we ended up with was that I spent 6 months there and then returned to telecommuting.
Show of hands: how many telecommuters used to live in Silicon Valley and bailed out? (I see several of you so far.) I lived/worked in San Jose for a couple of years, then returned to Virginia and became a telecommuter (for that same behemoth). I now telecommute for that startup. No way you'll ever get me back in the Valley, though I'll admit I enjoy the week every 5 or 6 that I spend there. (Nice place to visit, but wouldn't want to live there...)
I've been telecommuting from my home in Virginia for two different companies in Silicon Valley for the last four years. It works great -- I wouldn't trade it for anything -- but it's certainly not for everyone. As has already been mentioned here, you need fairly self-contained work, you need to be very proactive and self-sufficient, and you definitely risk being marginalized career-wise. But these are all surmountable obstacles -- if it appeals to you, try it!
I might buy that explanation, for this reason: I type 120-140wpm for 8-10 hours a day. I've done so for 10 or 15 years. And never a lick of wrist trouble. My theory as to the reason is this: I never learned to type right. I don't keep my hands in home key position, and they fly all over the keyboard. I don't always hit the keys in the middle with the same hand. Then again, maybe I'm just lucky - who knows with these things?
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I used to live there and left, in large part because of the housing prices. The Valley has a lot going for it, which some might argue justifies the housing prices, but don't try to deny that they're high.
Joe Ganley
Joe Ganley
http://ganley.org/
Joe Ganley
http://ganley.org/
A little-known but excellent book that should fit well into the geek category is "Sewer, Gas, and Electric" by Matt Ruff.
I might buy that explanation, for this reason: I type 120-140wpm for 8-10 hours a day. I've done so for 10 or 15 years. And never a lick of wrist trouble. My theory as to the reason is this: I never learned to type right. I don't keep my hands in home key position, and they fly all over the keyboard. I don't always hit the keys in the middle with the same hand. Then again, maybe I'm just lucky - who knows with these things?