If you are mobile and work in tech, the US is definitely the place to be, in terms of how much disposable income you will have and what that income will buy you. Bar none.

Is there anyway to find out the average NI salary for a slightly more concentrated employment area? (say Greater Belfast, or those employed in Greater Belfast, the average NI salary is bound to include a lot of agri salaries, not sure that Cupertino would include such numbers)

Don’t get me wrong, the point is valid, we pay higher taxes, get paid less and get much less sunshine! (and we have the usual dour NI attitude to anything risky or different, taking many of us the 10 years to realise we should have just gone for it out of school or Uni).

I will have to agree though, the price of everything in the UK (it seems) is very expensive. I’m told milk, bread and butter are cheaper than in the US, but I prefer a very mixed and balanced diet. I think almost everyone does.

I’ve always wanted to live in the UK or Ireland (I think quite a few Americans like myself have an idealized view of that part of the world) but after visiting and knowing/reading more information – from people who came from there/live there, the news – I don’t know that I would want to move there given the cost of living and the salary for top tech jobs.

In comparing Cupertino with Redmond/Seattle, I’m not sure what the average salary here is, but let’s just say it’s $100-$110K. Housing here costs less than the $800K average than Cupertino, and as far as I know we aren’t bankrupt. It’s a good place to live and work once a Southern CA person gets used to all the damned trees, fresh air, and cleanliness . Still, I love CA and love visiting.

I like NI too and will happily visit as many times as I can. I just don’t think I can afford to live there and maintain the same standard of living as I have now. Hope the situation improves…

Saying that, I would choose a bankrupt CA everyday of the week

It’s a wonder how parents manage. Mine certainly taught us how to make the most of everything, which fooled many outwardly; but the word ‘subsistence’ isn’t far away. It was always ‘making do’ and ‘getting on with it’, there was rarely talk of opportunity.

People almost cottoned on to the possibility of getting their ass in gear when things were good there a few years ago, but it was buoyed by the disillusionment of credit and promptly withered when that dried up. To use a strange metaphor, we didn’t know what a carrot was so had to taste it first before we could strive for the one on the end of the stick…but that one was withdrawn, and we’re back to being a donkey.

I wish I had the mindset I have now when I left school 10 years ago, but it took 10 years of following the usual dead ends and eventually meeting the right people to make initiative seem plausible. I’ve thought about moving away, but apart from lacking anything desired by better places, part of me would rather we made this country better than for all the triers to leave. Saying that, I’m glad I have no dependents or committments right now…

On a related note, those come to California adverts with Arnie that are always on the TV. Do they want people to come there for a holiday or to work?

Clearly I’m getting older and thus right-wing and grumpy, but more and more I think people get the society they deserve.