Life in San Diego?
Jul 22nd 2008, 12:26 pm
#31
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Oz -> UK -> San Diego
Posts: 9,912
Re: Life in San Diego?
Yeah I'm spoilt with my commute. Being car less I've always lived near the ocean because i work in Solana Beach and I have the public transport to rely on if I get tired of riding! Plus the areas I've lived in are more dense so getting to the shops etc., is easier on bike.
Here's a 360 degree view standing in the same spot. Torrey Pines. I laugh sometimes when I compare this to my old train commute into London
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/...29f8d1d9_o.jpg
Here's a 360 degree view standing in the same spot. Torrey Pines. I laugh sometimes when I compare this to my old train commute into London
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/...29f8d1d9_o.jpg
Jul 22nd 2008, 1:09 pm
#33
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Oz -> UK -> San Diego
Posts: 9,912
Jul 23rd 2008, 4:45 pm
#34
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 13,258
Re: Life in San Diego?
Steerpike: You are correct about the dress code. Fortunately when it comes to the hours that games developers work things have changed for the better recently. EA (who published the Simms games) were actually sued by a few employee's a couple of years back for being worked to the bone and it caused a bit of a stir in the whole games industry.
Most companies now realise that they need to schedule games properly so that they don't resort to working developers into the ground. You simply get better games if the team is happy and has a life outside of computer games.
For the 5 years that I worked at one company in the midlands for example I was very rarely in a situation where I had to do a lot of overtime. We also had flexitime and could go and take breaks whenever we fancied (quick trips to the canteen for a cuppa etc). As long as we got the job done on time, they didn't mind. At first I actually became a voluntary workaholic because I used to go home and carry on working; I really enjoyed creating artwork but in the end it just burnt me out and now I try and get out as much as possible. Life is too short!
Most companies now realise that they need to schedule games properly so that they don't resort to working developers into the ground. You simply get better games if the team is happy and has a life outside of computer games.
For the 5 years that I worked at one company in the midlands for example I was very rarely in a situation where I had to do a lot of overtime. We also had flexitime and could go and take breaks whenever we fancied (quick trips to the canteen for a cuppa etc). As long as we got the job done on time, they didn't mind. At first I actually became a voluntary workaholic because I used to go home and carry on working; I really enjoyed creating artwork but in the end it just burnt me out and now I try and get out as much as possible. Life is too short!
My experience with software companies here is that a) you get flex time and b) you are expected to be the one to be 'flexible'
These days, I go in around noon most days to avoid traffic (and also to have a peaceful work period at home ahead of the frantic pace in the office). I then typically stay till 7 or 8pm, partly to avoid traffic, and I always check email and follow up on issues around 10pm or so. No one has ever questioned the number of hours I work, and once in a while I take an easy day at home, just making sure there are no crises. I can say that I've only had one or two completely work-free days this year (that includes weekends). BUT - the work I do is wonderful, and I'm given complete freedom to execute my work in the manner I see fit - which is very rewarding. I'm also paid a comfortable sum of money. Hopefully, you find a job you enjoy so much that you really don't need to think about 'how many hours am I working'.
Jul 23rd 2008, 11:43 pm
#35
Unmitigated Gall
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: it's still too dark to tell
Posts: 16,162
Re: Life in San Diego?
I did 15 years of Flexi hours and loved it
On a bad day, I'd get there at 10am, lunch 12-2pm and then leave at 4pm and it was on the honor system, what you wrote down they told as being the truth.
Then on a good day, I'd be there at 7am, 1/2 an hour for lunch and stay until 6pm.
Any hours over and above, then you could take a day off !
4 weeks holiday, plus you could carry over holiday from the previous year.
Here in USA, you'd probably have to be CEO of a Company to do anything like that !
On a bad day, I'd get there at 10am, lunch 12-2pm and then leave at 4pm and it was on the honor system, what you wrote down they told as being the truth.
Then on a good day, I'd be there at 7am, 1/2 an hour for lunch and stay until 6pm.
Any hours over and above, then you could take a day off !
4 weeks holiday, plus you could carry over holiday from the previous year.
Here in USA, you'd probably have to be CEO of a Company to do anything like that !
Disclaimer: I'm no CEO and it took 15 years to get the four weeks!
(Two weeks at start, three at ten, four at fifteen and five at twenty. ) I generally work 0615-2:30 pm or so, but when I work longer I can take comp time and leave early or take off some other day depending on how many hours over I am.
Jul 24th 2008, 8:54 am
#36
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 19
Re: Life in San Diego?
Sdbritguy: cheers for the new pic
NicDC: Thanks; you are making me feel even better about giving it a try. Sounds great over there!
ukelaine: Oh yes, flexitime can be too tempting sometimes... I was going in at 10am and leaving at 4pm for a couple of days a week then I had to make up the hours later on :S So the yard sale is the equivalent to the carboot's we have in the UK?
Steerpike: Yes that’s a good point, I know what work I would be doing and I generally enjoy it, so I think I’ll be fine. I’ll defiantly try and haggle some extra holidays - there is no harm in asking and they can just tell me to sod off if they don't want to play ball.
My friend knows an animator at the company and the report I’m getting is that they are pretty easy going and don’t get over worked. Either way, I’ll go for it and see how it pans out.
another bloody yank: Wow, sounds like you got the good holiday allowance, even if it did take you all those years! I really like the idea of getting up really early and then leaving early from work... but getting up in the mornings is not one of my strengths 
NicDC: Thanks; you are making me feel even better about giving it a try. Sounds great over there!
ukelaine: Oh yes, flexitime can be too tempting sometimes... I was going in at 10am and leaving at 4pm for a couple of days a week then I had to make up the hours later on :S So the yard sale is the equivalent to the carboot's we have in the UK?
Steerpike: Yes that’s a good point, I know what work I would be doing and I generally enjoy it, so I think I’ll be fine. I’ll defiantly try and haggle some extra holidays - there is no harm in asking and they can just tell me to sod off if they don't want to play ball.
My friend knows an animator at the company and the report I’m getting is that they are pretty easy going and don’t get over worked. Either way, I’ll go for it and see how it pans out.
another bloody yank: Wow, sounds like you got the good holiday allowance, even if it did take you all those years!
I really like the idea of getting up really early and then leaving early from work... but getting up in the mornings is not one of my strengths
Last edited by Mongo; Jul 24th 2008 at 8:56 am.
Jul 25th 2008, 9:41 am
#37
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Chula Vista, California
Posts: 216
Re: Life in San Diego?
San Diego is a town of EARLY risers !!! So Be Warned !! LOL
Even the poor school kids, some schools start as early as 7AM !!!!!
And I thought 9am or 9.30am for UK schools was a PITA
As long as you have flexi hours you're be ok, just many of the outdoor activities may start before you've even gone to bed
Even the yard sales/Boot Sales many start at 6am ! and you can have people there as early as 5am waiting for you to open up.
So, the few times I had a yard sale I just stayed up all night, as I'm a night person.
Even the poor school kids, some schools start as early as 7AM !!!!!
And I thought 9am or 9.30am for UK schools was a PITA
As long as you have flexi hours you're be ok, just many of the outdoor activities may start before you've even gone to bed
Even the yard sales/Boot Sales many start at 6am ! and you can have people there as early as 5am waiting for you to open up.
So, the few times I had a yard sale I just stayed up all night, as I'm a night person.
Jul 25th 2008, 10:04 am
#38
Account Closed
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 138
Re: Life in San Diego?
Hello Everyone,
Ok, here’s the story…
I am faced with the possibility of being sponsored for a H1-b visa by a company in San Diego. It’s very likely that it’s too late to get the application through this year but the company has asked if I would be interested in working for them in fall 2009. So it’s probably at least a year away if it’s going to happen at all but the company seems keen enough so far.
I’m a 27-year-old single bloke and have no dependencies. I previously moved away from my hometown (Bournemouth) to live in the Midlands for 5 years but I must admit that I am both excited and scared in equal measure about the possibility of working in another country.
I would appreciate if anyone could give me his or her perspective on living in San Diego? And here are some questions off the top of my head! I might add more as they come to me.
Thanks in advance for any responses and apologies if I appear to be rambling
Cheers,
James
Ok, here’s the story…
I am faced with the possibility of being sponsored for a H1-b visa by a company in San Diego. It’s very likely that it’s too late to get the application through this year but the company has asked if I would be interested in working for them in fall 2009. So it’s probably at least a year away if it’s going to happen at all but the company seems keen enough so far.
I’m a 27-year-old single bloke and have no dependencies. I previously moved away from my hometown (Bournemouth) to live in the Midlands for 5 years but I must admit that I am both excited and scared in equal measure about the possibility of working in another country.
I would appreciate if anyone could give me his or her perspective on living in San Diego? And here are some questions off the top of my head! I might add more as they come to me.
- How is the city for cycling/public transport? I’m guessing that I would have to rent in a location further inland to avoid the really hefty price tags but I believe the company is quite close to the coast. I would like to cycle to work and I don’t mind a long(ish) distance as long as I’m not going to get splattered by a SUV or scalped on my way through a dodgy neighbourhood or something
- I currently don’t drive - could I make do without a car entirely? Or is that a pipe dream?
- Is it easy to make friends? How are the ladies? I’m pretty chatty so I’m not a social cripple so I cannot imagine the cultural gap being wide enough to cause problems. Will I get funny looks when I open my mouth?
- My previous employer in the UK gave me 28 paid holidays a year. In the US they appear to get only a fraction of this. I would like to be able to travel a bit around the USA/Canada and also come back to the UK to visit my family sometimes. I’m wondering if anyone has ever attempted to negotiate with a US company to get a few more holidays thrown into the bag? (“Oh go on, give me 21 days!… oh ok… how about 14?”). I have been a bit of a workaholic in the past and I don’t want to return to that lifestyle. What’s the point of the glorious weather if you are working through most of it?
Thanks in advance for any responses and apologies if I appear to be rambling
Cheers,
James
We often visit San Diego to escape the 115 degree heat we seem to get every summer here in Phoenix. I looked into moving there but found the decent coastal areas to be too expensive, i could go inland to get cheaper but then i end up back in the desert anyway.
The vacation you get is part of your package that is supposed to be fully negotiable before hire. However in my experience whenever I try to up the vacation the company has always responded along the lines of "if we increase it for you we have to increase it for everyone".
I once had a job that allowed 24 days PTO (inludes sick days) and 11 holidays right from day one. I have never had that since. National average is 2 weeks at start with 1 additional day per year up 3 weeks by 5 years.
Many companies offer 401k and health insurance but i recommend digging in for details like insurance deductibles, maximums, co pays, 401k matching etc. I think its worth it even if you are on and H1B and think you may be here for only a couple of years, you may find yourself here a lot longer.
I would strongly recommend getting a car. Biking into work is a tough one if you want to get there alive. I recommend using google earth to plan bike routes and look for bike paths. I cycle a 12 miles commute 3 days a week with only 2 miles on a sidewalk, the rest is a dedicated off road bike path.
Jul 25th 2008, 10:08 am
#39
Banned
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 826
Re: Life in San Diego?
Hey Bournemouth is my hometown too ! I hope you like San Diego, it is a great place to live for many different types of people. You certainly won't miss all the drunken chavs fighting it out in bmuff town center.
We often visit San Diego to escape the 115 degree heat we seem to get every summer here in Phoenix. I looked into moving there but found the decent coastal areas to be too expensive, i could go inland to get cheaper but then i end up back in the desert anyway.
The vacation you get is part of your package that is supposed to be fully negotiable before hire. However in my experience whenever I try to up the vacation the company has always responded along the lines of "if we increase it for you we have to increase it for everyone".
I once had a job that allowed 24 days PTO (inludes sick days) and 11 holidays right from day one. I have never had that since. National average is 2 weeks at start with 1 additional day per year up 3 weeks by 5 years.
Many companies offer 401k and health insurance but i recommend digging in for details like insurance deductibles, maximums, co pays, 401k matching etc. I think its worth it even if you are on and H1B and think you may be here for only a couple of years, you may find yourself here a lot longer.
I would strongly recommend getting a car. Biking into work is a tough one if you want to get there alive. I recommend using google earth to plan bike routes and look for bike paths. I cycle a 12 miles commute 3 days a week with only 2 miles on a sidewalk, the rest is a dedicated off road bike path.
We often visit San Diego to escape the 115 degree heat we seem to get every summer here in Phoenix. I looked into moving there but found the decent coastal areas to be too expensive, i could go inland to get cheaper but then i end up back in the desert anyway.
The vacation you get is part of your package that is supposed to be fully negotiable before hire. However in my experience whenever I try to up the vacation the company has always responded along the lines of "if we increase it for you we have to increase it for everyone".
I once had a job that allowed 24 days PTO (inludes sick days) and 11 holidays right from day one. I have never had that since. National average is 2 weeks at start with 1 additional day per year up 3 weeks by 5 years.
Many companies offer 401k and health insurance but i recommend digging in for details like insurance deductibles, maximums, co pays, 401k matching etc. I think its worth it even if you are on and H1B and think you may be here for only a couple of years, you may find yourself here a lot longer.
I would strongly recommend getting a car. Biking into work is a tough one if you want to get there alive. I recommend using google earth to plan bike routes and look for bike paths. I cycle a 12 miles commute 3 days a week with only 2 miles on a sidewalk, the rest is a dedicated off road bike path.
I wonder if there are many people there any more? Been a while since I popped down.
Jul 25th 2008, 10:46 am
#40
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Oz -> UK -> San Diego
Posts: 9,912
Jul 25th 2008, 1:27 pm
#41
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Chula Vista, California
Posts: 216
Re: Life in San Diego?
Guy next door to me is leaving at 3.30am to go to work !!!
My hubby has to be AT WORK by 5am.
I'm terrible even though we no longer lives together, he still gives me a wake up call, so, I get the kids to school on time.
Although he was Navy and he doesn't understand not all people are the same as him. Plus 15 years of flexi hours, is hard to get out of, well, that's my excuse.
BUT, on the plus side, when he had to go in sometimes at 2am, i was still up, at 1am, so, I could wake HIM up !! LOL
Jul 25th 2008, 1:42 pm
#42
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 19
Re: Life in San Diego?
ukelaine: Blimey, I think I might have trouble adapting to the early rise! However, my friend knows a chap who works in the company and he said they generally get in for about 10am. That's my kind of time! 
Elliott: very true! I was just out in Charminster tonight and there were a couple of plonkers out looking for trouble (they seemed to spend thier night shoulder barging people
That was great fun for them i'm sure, sigh! 
)
Ozzidoc: too early for me!
Right, i'm off to bed... i'm pissed! (hence the excessive smiley count)
However, my friend knows a chap who works in the company and he said they generally get in for about 10am. That's my kind of time! Elliott: very true! I was just out in Charminster tonight and there were a couple of plonkers out looking for trouble (they seemed to spend thier night shoulder barging people
That was great fun for them i'm sure, sigh! )Ozzidoc: too early for me!
Right, i'm off to bed... i'm pissed!
(hence the excessive smiley count)
Jul 27th 2008, 12:16 am
#43
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Posts: 77
Re: Life in San Diego?
Forget DC, I really wanna move to san diego!! Those pictures look amazing!!!
Aug 22nd 2008, 8:26 pm
#44
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 124
Re: Life in San Diego?
To the OP;
Move, move, move to San Diego and don't look back.
You will not regret it.
Good luck with what ever you decide to do.
Move, move, move to San Diego and don't look back.
You will not regret it.
Good luck with what ever you decide to do.
Aug 22nd 2008, 9:55 pm
#45
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Oz -> UK -> San Diego
Posts: 9,912
