moshez comments on Optimal Employment - Less Wrong

60 Post author: Louie 31 January 2011 12:50PM

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Comment author: moshez 01 February 2011 01:10:00AM 7 points [-]

I have a different perspective on these issues, having moved to the US from Israel (fairly recently). Here's why living in Australia would suck for me (Your Utility Function May Vary):

  • My family is located abroad, but it's easier for me to visit them and much more likely that they'll visit me if I live in the US. Seeing my family is valuable to me. If seeing your family is valuable to you, and they're in the US, prices are even more varied. If you have siblings (I do), then I will share my experience that seeing one's nephew grow up is a wonderful experience, that I am happy to pay for.
  • Atmosphere. The atmosphere in the Bay Area is awesome (for me). I have an active social life after having been here a little over a year. I suspect the case would not have been the same in Australia (I did have the opportunity to research the Bay in depth before moving here)
  • Conferences and conventions. The US has loads of them, and traveling inside the US is relatively cheap. I go to around 10 conventions/conferences a year.

Remember that there was a reason why Australia was a prison -- it is FAR. From everything. I have a friend who lives in NZ. He loves it there, but warned me that I would probably not like it there. He knows me better than Louie, so I would take his advice, and enhance it to include Australia (I understand the atmosphere is somewhat similar, though I suspect the Australians and the New Zealanders in the crowd will take offense at that.)

Comment author: taryneast 06 February 2011 12:39:27PM 1 point [-]

Yes, as an Australian, I have to concur that the biggest drawback of being in Australia is that it is a long way from the rest of civilisation.

We are surrounded by a lot of mostly-empty water in almost every direction.

Not only that, but the low population density (especially in somewhere like the outback) means that the distances are big even for local requirements.

This does have to be factored into consideration.

However, it seems as though the original article is all about putting up with being in a slightly less preferable life-situation for a year - to gain money which can then be leveraged when you get back to your ore preferable location...

Spending a year in the outback could be an acceptable situation as long as you know it's only temporary.

Oh, and I like YUFMV (Your Utility Function May Vary). I am now going to start using more often :)

Comment author: Carinthium 02 February 2011 12:14:51AM 0 points [-]

Actually, when the British were first deciding where to send convicts they considered West Africa, but decided on Australia despite the extra expense because they THOUGHT there were valuable goods (hemp if I remember correctly) that they otherwise would have to import from Russia.

This turned out to be completely wrong, but by then they'd commited themselves...

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