Not even talking about buying a house necessarily. More just the overall balance of rent, career growth, social life, commute, etc.
I still think it's one of the best places in SoCal quality of life, but sometimes it feels like a lot of people in their 20's/30's are quietly trying to figure out how long they can realistically make it work here long term
Not in a full panic way, more like this constant low level anxiety that didn't really exist a few months ago. between layoffs, AI, restructures and just how expensive life here has gotten, it feels like even people with "good careers" are questioning how stable things actually are long term.
Maybe I'm overthinking it, but I've noticed way more conversations lately around career recalibration, burnout, and whether the path people built their lives around still makes sense.
Between the weird volatility in Sorrento Valley and the "job hugging" we're seeing in North County tech, there is a lot more weight in the air than usual ending
When you have kids, that instability lands differently. You stop thinking about career growth start obsessing over "enterprise security" and what a 6 month gap would actually do to the family. It feels like the "safe" path for senior roles has thinned out significantly.
I was looking at some local trends, and it seems like even with the "Great Turnover" companies are only moving forward with "Safe bet" candidates to de risk their 2026 budgets. If you aren't perfect 10/10 match, the process just..... stalls
As a parent, how are you handling that "third round ghosting" stress while staying grounded for your family? Are we all just collectively holding our breath until Q3