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A few weeks ago I posted here about moving to San Diego vs Seattle. The job in Seattle paid significantly more (170k vs 110k post tax), but I thought I would like San Diego more. After visiting both places, I decided to move to San Diego. Here's why:
- Weather: This is super obvious. Seattle is grey and rainy most of the year, and San Diego is sunny everyday. I really could see myself getting depressed by how cloudy it is all the time in Seattle. I remember doing work in a coffee shop, saw the sun coming out, and literally ran outside to get some sunlight because I missed it so much after spending four days in Seattle. To be fair, after visiting Seattle the clouds can be quite wispy and beautiful in their own right, but c’mon. Me and most people like to see the sun.
- People: Everyone looked way happier and were way friendlier in San Diego. Lots of extremely smiley extroverted people in San Diego, and that did not seem to be true in Seattle. Additionally, I really apologize for being rude, but people were way more attractive in San Diego. San Diego was one of the most attractive cities I’ve ever been to, and Seattle was one of the least attractive. Some major caveats: this is coming from a straight guy in his mid 20s who isn’t super into the more alternative look lots of people go for in Seattle. And I’m not claiming to be the most handsome guy in the universe. But it was truly night and day.
- Nature: the nature near Seattle is unbelievable. I hiked rattlesnake ridge and Lake Serene, both were absolutely beautiful. I don’t think it’s controversial to say that the nature around Seattle is significantly better than the nature around San Diego. However, The weather is usually not good enough to actually get out into nature! I will take nice (although kinda brown) nature in San Diego that I can enjoy year round, over incredible nature that you can appreciate for four months. Sure, some people ski, and some people are OK with hiking when its 40 degrees and raining, but I am not super into either of those.
- Job: The job in Seattle paid more, and it would be more interesting and more prestigious. However, it would be for an intense and kind of unstable project, and I’m scared I would be laid off. The job in San Diego is the same job I am currently doing, just in a different office, and I really like my job. Lots of people hate their job, and I’m not sure I’d want to give up this job that I like.
- Life changeup: I wanted a different scenery than Cambridge, and Seattle seems fairly similar to Cambridge. Both are walkable cities with bad weather and a pretty nerdy, introverted culture. San Diego seems really different, and that’s appealing to me right now.
Overall a big factor here for me is risk minimization. In Seattle I could see myself having no friends, hating my job, and hating the city, whereas in San Diego I am pretty confident I would like the city and I’d like my job. I must admit I may be making a bad career move, but I think I want to prioritize living somewhere fun in my mid 20s.
u/HelloIamTedward — 17 days ago