I guess I’d describe SJ as a kind of monoculture. Everyone I knew was a fellow tech person, and escaping the programmer scene was impossible. When I lived in Revere Beach, my neighbours were chemists, doctors, geologists, professors… a brainy but varied bunch.

I earned more money in SJ but had a better work life balance in Boston. Companies in the former were more expecting of the grind, raising and deploying capital as early and often as possible; in the latter, more self-pacing of the growth curve and interested in sustainable, organic numbers.

Not sure if I answered your Q, but feel free to ask just about anything and I’ll follow up mañana.