Comment by speedgoose | Hacker News Reader

Comment by speedgoose | Hacker News Reader

What matters is the quality of life for you, and the people you care about (kids, parents, friends, etc...).

I sometimes think about immigrating to California, being paid a lot more, buying a few fancy cars as toys and a big house.

But I already live well in Europe. The food is good, I have a good place to live in, I have more than enough toys, I get many holidays, I have everything I need, and I'm simply happy where I am.

I also enjoy the work culture. Just an example, when I became a dad, I took 7 months of paid parental leave. The mom took 5 months. Our work places congratulated us for the birth and they were truly happy for us.

Moreover, I'm not sure whether my children and future grandchildren would have a great life everywhere. They will probably not all work in IT. Once I die and my money is gone, will they afford education or healthcare? I like that most of Europe is a good place to live, even for people who are not very successful or lucky with work.

>when I became a dad, I took 7 months of paid parental leave. The mom took 5 months.

That is pretty nice. I get the sense that EU programmers though are living the life of a peasant, small apartments, driving old clunkers, not being able to take lavish vacations.

All the opposite is true for most senior SWEs in america, even those of us (like myself) who never worked at a FAANG or had stock options pay out. I'm talking large luxury houses, able to afford housekeepers/nannies, money to take luxury vacations. Is that really true of EU SWEs too? Or comparable?

What you described sounds like a pretty good situation.

I think I’m highly paid, in terms of US compensation. I also have a lot of stress and feelings of existential anxiety at times. The folks applying that onto me are simply propagating on the stress they’re feeling.

My last vacation - 2 weeks - was over a year ago. But again, on paper I’m building wealth. I just don’t have any opportunity to really enjoy it.

In my opinion, it’s not sustainable. In the role I’m in, I imagine I can do this for another few years - best case maybe 5 years? Once I hit my financial goals towards financial independence, I’ll probably drop out from doing this.

Money can buy you financial freedom, more holidays than you'd know what to do with, good place to live almost anywhere in the world, trust fund for your heirs and all that other stuff you mention. Good money - the kind you can reasonably fast and predictably accumulate in California today, say ~decade at FAANG, but have near 0% shot at reaching in Europe. To me being able to retire in 30s and have a lifetime to yourself, own pursuits and family is much more enticing than a lifetime of neverending 9 to 5 grind no matter how chill it is and how much parental leave they give (it can't beat ∞). But indeed generally Europe is a better place for the less successful/lucky. Not everyone is ambitious and lucky enough to make it in the US, especially outside tech. Good thing capital is mobile, you/your kids don't have to stay in the US forever once you've reached your target.

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