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Re:Leaving Google by raverbashing on Tuesday July 06, 2021 @04:12AM (#27745425)
> but I still don't own a home even after 7 years working (and some of that for FAANG).

Even at the inflated SV salary values, very few colleagues I know went to buy a house there. Buying usually means leaving the valley.

> quality of life is just lower (less car ownership, much smaller homes without swimming pools or air conditioning, tiny kitchens without garbage disposal, American fridge-freezers or dishwashers, etc.)

I don't see why half of those necessarily mean "lower quality of life"

A car in the US is a necessity. Same for the fridge-freezer where you keep your big perishable purchases (whereas in European cities you can just walk to the grocery store?). And of course, none of these are exclusive to the US

I totally agree with the air-conditioners, though it seems to be changing. Swimming pools are a money pit and to be fair only in few countries it's worth having one at your house.

Re:Leaving Google by maccard on Tuesday July 06, 2021 @05:02AM (#27745768)
I live in Scotland, it peaks at 20c/68f here, but with >70% humidity, and even at that it's not often it gets that hot. AC is a nice to have on occasion, but definitely not life changing. London on the other hand, sounds liky it's almost a requirement there at this point
Re:Leaving Google by tiagod on Tuesday July 06, 2021 @05:13AM (#27745849)
> London on the other hand, sounds liky it's almost a requirement there at this point

I live in Lisbon. Most people don't have AC at home, we survive.

Re:Leaving Google by maccard on Tuesday July 06, 2021 @05:41AM (#27746052)
There's elements of what the housing is designed for too. I'm not sure what the common building materials are there but many houses in the UK are built of brick and not designed for airflow at all. Parts of London hit 38 degrees at one point last year.
Re:Leaving Google by tasuki on Tuesday July 06, 2021 @10:02AM (#27748691)
Lisbon is right at the Atlantic coast. Do the summers get that hot there? Inland places get more extreme weather, both cold and hot.

Fun fact, according to Windy[0], Lisbon has 21°C right now, while eg Murmansk has 29°C.

[0]: https://www.windy.com/-Temperature-temp

Re:Leaving Google by secondcoming on Tuesday July 06, 2021 @09:07AM (#27747992)
You need a bedside fan for a few days a year, that's about it.
Re:Leaving Google by Flow on Tuesday July 06, 2021 @04:22AM (#27745495)
I would prefer a sauna to a swimming pool any day. :)
Re:Leaving Google by csmiller on Tuesday July 06, 2021 @10:55AM (#27749454)
There are definitely places in the US where a car is not necessary. Lived on the east coast my whole life without learning to drive.