Is Living on the East Coast Worth It?
I grew up on the East Coast, lived in an ultra affluent suburb, went to a prep school and now go to an East Coast Semi-Target/Target. I'm sure I just described half the people on this website. I will be interning in NYC this summer and most likely working for a bank in NYC when I get out of school. The whole time I've worked pretty hard and been put in a pool of relatively intelligent people where I've had to stand out to get the brass ring. All for what, so that I can make 70-120k my first year out of college but keep 60% of it and spend half the remainder on rent alone?
I know that's not the reason. There's a certain set of personality characteristics that I found common in people from the East Coast and rare in people from outside the area. One of them is cynicism. Another is materialism. Appearing intellectual. Rudeness to/fear of people to whom you haven't been explicitly introduced . I could go on but I think the most defining, driving characteristic is the idea that one should live one's entire life as if the only thing one care's about is what one's mother gets to tell her friends one does.
What's more, everything is expensive. http://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/country/united-states That makes sense when you consider something like a sixth of the country lives on the sliver of coast between Washington and Boston. But why do they live there? Some people have been there forever and are still living there because they grow up there, their family is there etc. But I think there are plenty of people who are drawn to the power that emanates from the political, economic and academic capitals of the US. And who are these people? People who have had it beaten into their heads since they were born, whether its because of the ethnicity of their parents (Chinese, Indians and Jewish I'm looking at you) or where they're from, that power, prestige, and wealth make you happy.
We all know glamour stocks are generally overvalued. Isn't the East Coast the biggest glamour stock of them all? Isn't the "ROE" depressed by the hordes of "investors" who irrationally choose to live here?
I honestly think after my twenties I'm going down South or to the Midwest. Does anyone think I'm crazy or might I be on to something?
As a Chinese-Indian Jew, I am offended.
OP, you should go see those Carolina girls. They will change your mind fast.
Sounds like you just need some perspective. Half the kids in the South/Midwest would kill to be in your position.
Half the guys in Boston would kill to be able to date southern or CA girls.
I'm from the south and I have no desire to live in a cramped, expensive area with horrible weather, rude people, unattractive women and where the govt rapes you in taxes. I'll take my 200k home that looks like what a 600k home would look like on your "elite" coast. If I leave Texas I'll be going to Cali, at least there the girls are hot and the weather is nice.
'Murica !
Wrong.
Once you leave, say, NYC, its darn near impossible to get back there at that level. Your feelings are legit but at 30 y/o and again 40 y/o you will be a different person with different needs. I was not money motivated at 25 but extremely money motivated at 45 facing 3 kid's headed towards college, retirement and old age. I can't cash in youthful explorations to pay these bills. It seems the best life is get great experience early and either cashout or take your world class skills and experience to a slower pace of life place and dominate the region and/or telecommute.
this might be the realist thing ever said on a forum for 18-25 year olds.
As a recent transplant from the sunny, comparatively cheaper metro areas (with hotter girls), to the northeast, I would agree with the sentiment. Will be looking to move back shortly myself.
Figure out where you want to live long term and get there by the time you are 30 (or asap).
I find there is a certain kill or be killed atmosphere in the northeast that other parts of the country don't have. The area is relentlessly intense and some people don't wanna live like that. Nothing wrong with it.
I will add that people not from the northeast seem to love the northeast "I will work harder and longer than you" attitude.
I have no desire to live in a flyover state. Doing so drains me emotionally.
For my entire life, I have always lived within 10 minutes of the Ocean. Once I had to live 5 hours away from the coastline, for about 6 months, and it really killed me. I think I have some sort of tie to the water. If I'm away from it for too long, I get irritable.
I would much rather be living on the West Coast personally..
Really just depends on the person. I prefer West/Midwest over east coast but to each his own
People who live on the East Coast (specifically between D.C. & Boston) have no idea how bad they have it relative to people who live on the West Coast or in the South. Personally, I'd prefer to keep it that way.
Judging from the influx of people into Texas (and I'm not talking about illegal immigrants) it seems they are slowly figuring it out.
I'm from seattle and its so much better than what i've experienced on the east coast. Lived in nyc last few years and now in stamford.
I think Seattle would be one of the best cities in America if it didn't rain every single morning. If they could plop Seattle in some nicer weather and get rid of the hobos it would be much better.
so like San Fran, but keeping the hobos?
This thread is nothing but a basket of false dichotomies.
I grew up badmouthing the north, and northerners in general.
But, there's plenty to be said for it; World class career opportunities, cultural and urban centers. Driving distance to plentiful nice 4-season vacation areas; beaches (crowded to remote), lakes, mountains. The country's (world's) best universities in density. Comparatively good public school systems for the kids (compared to what I experienced growing up in the rural deep south). Best public transit in US.
I grew up with hot southern girls who were largely empty headed dingbats with too much makeup. I married a really smart, athletic and feisty new england girl instead and couldn't be happier.
The rural south is a hell of a lot different that the urban/suburban south.
Lol the "rural south". Where u from bro, Alabama? Get that country bumpkin nonsense outta here. By south I mean Austin, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Charleston, Miami. Also, why would I care about world class unis that I do not attend?or public transit that I do not require? My last girl wasn't "feisty" but did complete engr with near a 4.0 and was southern as they come, I don't much care for "feisty" women.
What does "feisty" have to do with anything?
"Feisty" sounds like code word for Jewish.
this. would much rather live in the south than the NE. I've never really understood why anyone lives in the northeast- if I'm going to pay a premium for COL I'm going to move to CA where at least the weather is nice and I can play golf 360 days/year.
Grew up on the East coast, went to school in Boston, worked in NYC for 3 years, moved to San Francisco. Each of those was a step up from the last. West Coast/South are leaps and bounds better. Anyone who says otherwise is legitimately out of their mind. Only downside is programming clowns at tech startups that you have to deal with.
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