‘Where ambition goes to die’: These tech workers flocked to Austin during the pandemic. Now they’re desperate to get out.::Drawn by the promise of an emerging tech hub, some tech workers who flocked to Austin found a middling tech scene, subpar culture, and scorching heat.

  • protist
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    10 months ago

    “Where ambition goes to die” has been an unofficial motto here in Austin for decades. We’re too busy enjoying our lives to be bothered overworking ourselves. Guys like this dude have been trying hard to ruin the vibe recently, and he’s welcome to return from whence he came so we can keep chilling

    • _wizard@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      Lived there for a decade. Moved to NC this past July. Getting out of the state was the best thing I could have done.

    • reddig33@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      He is right about it being scorching hot tho. It’s starting to feel like I’m living in Palm Springs.

        • RegularGoose@sh.itjust.works
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          10 months ago

          Maybe, but it’s only ever going to get worse. All of Texas and most of the west as a whole are going to be unlivable soon.

          The smart people are leaving now. Anyone who isn’t is going to be fucked when it becomes a genuine refugee crisis.

          • jumperalex@lemmy.world
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            10 months ago

            Yup. I had a rental condo in Vegas I sold after 20 years because I read the writing on the wall. And Vegas is doing an amazing job of preparing for water issues.

          • protist
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            10 months ago

            This is a severe exaggeration. I’d still rather live somewhere where it hits 105 every day for 6 weeks than where it snows for 6 months. Austin’s fall, winter, and spring are great

            • AlphaOmega@lemmy.world
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              10 months ago

              When I lived in Austin in the 90s, I would leave the windows open about 9 months out of the year. Since the early 2000s, that’s become less and less.

              • AA5B@lemmy.world
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                10 months ago

                Hopefully this year is an outlier (although I’m not ignoring Climate Change) … even up here near Boston, I’ve had windows closed and AC on most of the summer. We’ve had way above typical heat but also way above typical humidity and rain. Even when the temperature is comfortable, the humidity is not.

                So far so good today: last night was perfect for sleeping with windows open and this morning is nice

              • protist
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                10 months ago

                Depends on the year. 2020 e.g. was pretty mild here, we had beautiful days all summer. In the 90s, there were still very cold days and rainy days and windy days, so I think saying you could have your windows open for 9 months of the year back then is also an exaggeration