I've noticed in the past, the economies of norcal and socal often move tangential. When commercial tech is hot, non-tech isn't and vice versus. In the last major recession here in socal, mainly due to defense spending cutbacks, then spilling over int services such as RE, that same period, bay area was just fine.
During the dotcom bust, socal economy was doing fine (hence the migration from nor cal to so cal). I have a feeling tha we'll start to se a migration back from so cal to nor cal.
Honestly, I contemplated this myself. There aren't that many great opportunities natively in SoCal for what I do. And while I'm really well compensated at my current position and responsibilities, all good things must end at some point- one bad quarter, one bad relationship, anything random..poof. it's over.
So anticipating plan B is necessary, my options are really to start a company, work remotely for NorCal company, or move back to norCal in case something should happen to my current employment.
What I don't get is why people/companies here in SD have such a hard time understanding that there is nothing wrong with switching positions every 2-3 years. You sort of have to in order to stay current if your employer pigeon hole's you into a menial task. Employers want what is current. At the same time, i see it ironic that several down here frown on folks that move around or don't let people grow into that new role. In the bay area, you had no choice, because companies/positions come and go, the only thing constant was your skills, knowledge, and your relationships you build with people. So part of working in the bay area for me was just being use to moving around. Down here, layoffs are a big deal, because the markets not as fluid.
Oh well. Fortunately, having a place in both areas will make realization of plan B (if needed) more possible..which is why I tell people never to sell a primary home in the bay area. It was and always will be tech capital, irrespective of what happens in the rest of the world. If some ideas move overseas, some new idea will start up in the bay area. Has been that way, always will be.
The only real reason why i even moved back here was I lost a coin toss with the significant other. But the significant other is thinking about plan B these days too, as it seems like one of the major employer's growth is starting to stagnant.
