I left SF after the first Internet bubble burst - I needed a vacation from IT and went to film school. I finally ended up in London, which is a MILLION times better than the entire Bay Area. As expensive, but far more livable, interesting, and varied than a IT centric socio-ecosystem. Not that I hated SF, I'd probably still be there if I'd sold all that NSOL stock at the right time... The first bubble was something - it really felt like something new was being born. Now, it seems like everyone is just trying to get rich.<p>Based on everything I've read about this new bubble and how SF is changing even more, I doubt very much I'd want to live there. Any sort of 60s vibe that I did 'pick up' (that was one of the attractions for me) seems to have faded away. $250K for new grads at Google? God almighty. There is too much money sloshing about in the Bay Area now and money always changes things.<p>The fruits of IT are useful, at the top commenter points out, but I think some humility needs to be learned. Then more effort will be spent on useful stuff, and not making cold cut apps or figuring out how to manipulate users into clicking more ads. Man is a tool making animal, but happens when one's ego becomes tied up in those tools?