thoughts

How The Wheel Turns

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When I first moved to California, I found myself explaining to people back in Ohio that California was not as they thought. It’s a complex state, in many ways as complex as a small nation, and the stereotypes and assumptions about it are terribly wrong. In fact, as it is so large, even when true, the stereotypes and assumptions may apply to only a limited geographic area.

Now with the acrobatics of the 112th congress and John Boehner, with the watching of the state of Ohio in the election, I get the vague impression when I tell people in California I’m from Ohio, they’ll want me to explain my home state. I remember when Ohio was just another state, and now it’s in the news again and again.

Meanwhile in the ever-expanding internet age, in an age of social change, California seems rather quaint. We’re in an age of multimedia, Silicon Valley technology, gay marriage, and fusion cuisine.

How things change.

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.fantopro.com/, nerd and geek culture at http://www.nerdcaliber.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.

 

The Passing Of Neil Armstrong

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Neil Armstrong 1930-2012

Neil Armstrong was my childhood hero.  I wanted to be an astronaut as a child (who didn’t), but it was serious for me, and that led me into science and computers, which has been my calling to this day.  Neil was one of my inspirations because he walked on the Moon.

He was the first person to set foot on another world in human history.  He and two other brave, hearty, souls strapped into a giant pillar of fuel designed by intelligent men who had never done anything like this, and got shot into the void of space.  Then they managed to land on the surface of the Moon and walk on it.  Then, they came back.  He was the hero we remember the most out of a great deal of heroes, geniuses, planners, thinkers, and doers.

In today’s high-tech world of iPads and streaming video, of 3D printers and artificial joints, you also have to remember this was done in the 60’s.

He’s gone now.  He’s also immortal.

Next time you look up at the night sky you remember he made it up there.  Remember all the people with him, all the people who made the rocket and the lander and the suits, all of that effort and fear and inspiration and courage.

And because of that Neil Armstrong walked on the moon.

The, with the moon shining down on you, go back to your life.  Go on to do great things.  Go on and remember the hero we remember and the many heroes with him and behind him.

Find your own moon and your own walk upon it and never, ever quit.  Shoot yourself into the void between hope and result and face it with bravery.

Neil Armstrong was my first hero.  I think I made a pretty damn good choice of first heroes.

– Steven Savage

Thoughts On Relocation

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So lately I’ve been planning my relocation.  My roommate is moving out, I’ve got no current roommates (and that may change), and I want to take full advantage of being in Silicon Valley.

So since relocation is important to we progeeks (since too many of us need to for work), I wanted to share some insights I found in relocating.  It’ll be useful to you progeeks because my goal was essentially “how do I get further into geeky silicon valley, but still find a place that fits my job and career needs.”  That . . .  was informative.

Apartments Are The New Houses:

In several places in Silicon Valley, and I imagine elsewhere in the world, I was finding a surprising amount of apartment construction.  It was enough that locals remarked on how ridiculous it was.  So my guess is that this is the new “houses” in searches for quick living-related cash.

What it means is that some areas are going to have downward pressure on living prices in some locations here – and you should check your relocation targets for the same thing.

Public Transport Isn’t Always Obvious:

This is a big one.  I quickly discovered that “obvious” public transport benefits weren’t often the case.  There may be issues with timing, distance of stations, exchanges, and more.  Don’t take for granted that something is “near enough to take a bus to” until you check.

I found this was easy to test these by taking target locations and seeing:

  • How I could find my way to and from them from any target apartment via Google maps.
  • How they were served by public transport.
  • What the times of this transport was.

Any Reasonably Big Megaregion is not “Sensibile”:

Ever try and figure out all the small towns around Boston?  Navigate the “good” and “bad” areas of Silicon Valley?  Figured out the best places to live in Toronto?  Yeah then you know – regions that are the big boisterous geeky areas are not “reasonable” in many cases.

These areas in general have build up over the years, decades, and centuries.  You’ll find good areas next to bad, odd businesses sandwiched between apartment complex (really, I found a costume store), and more.  No it doesn’t make sense, and that’s OK.  You just have to figure out what it all means.

If things are confusing, looked for planned communities, they may add some sanity.

Work All The Costs:

I found a nice but expensive apartment complex at one point that didn’t seem to have the best public transportation, but when I realized it’s big advantages was buses that could reach anywhere (even with one or two exchanges) I realized its value.  The savings were disturbingly high.

People Want Amenities:

A lot of people renting apartments out noted that washer, dryer, and central air were becoming bigger deals.  The difference in prices got pretty substantial.

Plus, if you’re going cheap, and don’t mind hauling to the laundry room, you have a way to save some scratch.

Some Apartment Communities are Communities:

It depends on your region, but I’ve been to apartment complexes that were fully active communities.  Parties, events, parks, etc.   Some have stores on property (one had a Starbucks).  These may give you the community you seek (others may just seem overdone.

Also?  These communities have their own feel.  If you need one with the right “sense,” make sure you look.

Think Career:

Could your company move?  Do you plan to change jobs?  Can you access all the offices?  Can you reach your clients from your new location?  Think about the financial/career choices of where you go.

 

I hope these observations help.  The quest for the right area to live is hard, but worth it.

– Steven Savage