Good luck... you're going to need it. remember, the gun laws aren't the only thing insanely stupid in that state.

 

Is it bad that as I read your post it was to the melody of taps playing in my head?

Good luck and congrats on the opportunity!

 

Where are you moving to in California?

 

Moving to the worst of the worst area - South San Francisco bay area. Real Estate is freakishly high - will rent for 2 years. Traffic is a nightmare....but the $$$ was too good to pass-up. I can push thru it for a few years.

 

Thats actually not that bad of an area (discounting the liberals of course).

San Jose is about 45 min south and the Sharks are a decent team. Monterrey is another 45 min south of San Jose. Very cool area. If you make it there let me know if Segovias bar is still standing.

Most of the people around SF are just silly but theres some decent folks and the restaurants are great.

Its all in how you look at things. Take some road trips on the weekends. The coastal highway going North and South are beautiful. Go hike Big Sur.

Just don't fall asleep on a park bench with your mouth open and you'll be fine.

 

I'm not what you would call "marketable," so I will probably always work for a wage, but I have to ask (because I really don't know), is the money that good that it would beat the spread in cost of living? Again, I have no real data but had always heard those areas were high pay/high cost.

Did my question make sense?

 

no amount of money is worth my freedom

 

Absolutely this. There are things not worth 30 pieces of silver.

 

It did, fortunately I'm in Senior Management within the biotech industry. A new 'start-up' is looking for senior level managers willing to work in a relatively risky environment (start-ups are higher risk in the early years). Company has great patentable technology, a good pipeline, and IMHO, will be successful in the area they want to enter. As far as the salary, they offered ~30% above what I was making, excluding bonus and stock.

Excellent opportunity, both professionally (assuming it works) and financially.

 

I really do wish you the best of luck in your endeavor. However, if you haven't yet, you should evaluate the cost of living between the areas. You say you're getting about 30% more in salary, but the first comparison calculator I saw said that San Fran is shout 180% more expensive than Raleigh in which case a 30% raise could leave you really short.

 

Just bought a Harley Street Glide. My son (and his girlfriend) live in San Mateo and has a Street Glide. Me and my boy are going to take trips up and down the coast.

 

I envy you in a twisted sort of way. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't move to CA, but the fact that you're able to move is a good thing. The Mrs. told me if I ever wanted to leave this area that I am free to go, conditional on the fact that she won't be going with me, or that I'm in a pine box.

 

Stupid high cost of living too.

 

Having done a lot of recruiting in the biotech arena over the past decade I guess you really have three choices once you are in the upper echelons of life science management. The greater RTP area, the Bay area, or Bean Town. Way better weather and scenery where you are going than Bean Town , IMHO.

 

For those looking for photos, here is one (I take delivery next week) of it one the showroom floor and my sons.

No comments about where they stopped for lunch......

 

Good luck to you! Hope you have a positive experience and make it back safely in a couple of years

 

Well, one thing is for sure: the motorcycle riding is second to none. You will really enjoy that!


Good luck. I am from East Bay so PM with any questions you may have, if you have any!

 

Where is Bean Town??

No way I'd move there for a 30% increase. Real estate difference alone would eat up most of that. And if you're renting, you're just throwing money away. Plus rent will be crazy expensive too (obviously renting awhile with a new job is a good choice though). Hopefully the bonus and stock options are good. Sounds like you want to be out there with your son though, regardless of the job.

 

Where is Bean Town??

Boston.

 

 

jb2sea, the ~30% really depends on your your base salary - in my case, fortunately, it is quite substantial. Realistically, renting is not ideal, but for the sort term there, I don't want to commit to the purchase of a house, especially knowing I'll only be there for a few years. Trust me, I went back and forth on this but the potential for good financial gain (with the inherent risk) is worth it.

 

Yes, of course it depends on the base salary. And I know biotech pays well. My best buddy has worked as a manager for one of the large companies in RTP for many years. But it would have to be pretty good base salary just to cover the difference in real estate costs. I assume you've researched that recently. What is the difference you've seen in costs?

 

best of luck!

 

To duplicate what I have in Chapel Hill, I would need 7-8X the current cost of my house The problem with the South Bay is they are adding more commercial real estate versus housing real estate - which is driving housing prices through the roof. To rent, I would be looking at 3X the cost of a comparable apt in RTP area. Again, the bump in salary more than off-sets the rise in real estate value.

 

That gives me some idea of the base salary then. Not bad. I can see why you would be tempted. Still, you have to compare it to there, not to here. One thing I would say... buy real estate once you're more comfortable with the new job. Investing in property instead of throwing it away on rent is a wise move. Especially with the amount you'll be spending on rent. If the home market is going up like you're saying it is, seems you couldn't lose. And will be easy to sell when that time comes. I can understand someone moving to a high cost, high stress area of the country to live for a few years, so long as they're able to move back and be much better off financially by doing so.

 

I add about 20% to my base salary every year with OT (salaried non-exempt), but it is definitely not enough to cover a 3X bump in housing costs. So, color me impressed (or jealous...lol).

Because I've never lived there, I can't say I would not live there if the financial circumstances were favorable to move. I will say because of my mindset and the negatives I hear and read about it, I'm not motivated to move. I have read positive things about it, but that's why I said "mindset."

 

More like 5+X bump in housing cost, or going completely claustrophobic. 3 to 4X electric/utility costs, 3 to 4x cost to own a car, highest gas cost in the country too.

 

Good Luck! I went to Jr High & High School in southern CA; would never go back to live, but still have family there, so I go to visit when I can.

I admire your "make-the-best-of-it" approach. I hope you can educate some of the denizens about reality and how far away from it their State is...

 

Good for you man, good luck. Im envious of the awesome sand dunes down south by the border

 

As you should be! Some of the best dunes in the US. I basically grew up desert racing and off-roading there...

 

My daughter moved to San Francisco a couple of years ago and she loves it there. But, she loved living in Manhattan, too.

 

You might want to look at keeping your "residence" out of CA. I work all over the world and keep my residence in NC. You still have to pay taxes in CA, but since you will not be a California resident you are not subject to some of the stupidity, but you might be subject ot other.