I'd say the same thing about New York. Places matter a lot to me, and I couldn't handle living and working somewhere that far from the mountains, and with that kind of climate, no matter how nice the office is.
I never understood this mentality. Why do all the "Cool" companies have to live on the coast? It bothers me that I have to live 2000 miles away from my family if I want a great job. The Midwest has many appealing features.
I live over 9000km from my family because I wound up somewhere I liked. It's not on the coast and it has nothing to do with companies. Everyone has different priorities, I'm just expressing mine.
BTW, in the US, Boulder seems to have some 'cool' companies, and is pretty far from the coast itself.
Please help me understand what those appealing features are. I am not being snarky. My wife is currently trying to get me to consider moving back there because everything is cheaper. Sure, it's cheaper: it is, as far as I am currently concerned, a less desirable place to live. Being from California, I'm clearly snobbish. So seriously, what am I missing about the Chicagoland area? Keep in mind: I'm used to nice weather, beautiful and varied natural environment, and a distinctive culture. And thin people.
It really depends on what you are looking for, and all of the points you made are true. However, Chicago has some great things going for it IF you like living IN the city. Chicago's winters are brutal, but the rest of the year is gorgeous. Chicago overall has much better weather than San Fran, though much worse than the rest of the Bay Area. If you want to raise a family, while living in the city, it is both doable and affordable here. Areas like Wicker Park and Lakeview have pretty tree lined streets, brick 3-flats, amazing restraunts, coffee shops, record stores etc etc. The bars are amazing, good music venues, oh and you will never have to get behind the wheel drunk because you cannot walk 5 feet without seeing a cab for hire. There are great artist and developer communities here, as well as a budding startup scene.
I am not saying you should rush out of San Fran for Chicago, but if you are considering moving here you should give it serious consideration.
One caveat, for the love of god don't move to the suburbs. They are filled with mid-westerners. scary.
In terms of things I don't like about California that might be better elsewhere:
* "Real people" as someone said below. People can be kind of fake and superficial in certain parts of California.
* People in it for the long haul: so many people in places like the Bay Area are not planning to stay there. Indeed, unless you make a lot of money, it can be pretty difficult to stay there if you want things like a family. In any case, people are constantly coming and going, so you tend to be a little bit more guarded/less committed in your dealings with people, whereas elsewhere, people stick around a bit more, so you can get to know them with less fear that they'll be leaving soon.
