I guess it depends on what you like. I just moved back to Boston and am glad to be back. I like the snow and sitting by a roaring fire drinking tea, and walking the esplanade in the summer is always lovely. I like the SV/SF area to visit, but honestly I'd never want to live there.
Even walking on the esplanade on a serene calm winter's day when there's no-one else about can be very tranquil. Also, I find walking about Boston, even in weather that most people think of as bad, a good way to help me concentrate my thoughts.
Bad weather's not a big deal, you just have to dress appropriately.
Esplanade is also good for running too during the winter. Because if you are not dressed appropriately for the weather (i.e., in your running shorts), you are essentially forced to run the whole esplanade to keep warm 'till you get home.
Those things are great, and Boston does have its unique advantages. Digging your car out of the snow, slipping on ice, and gloomy days aren't. After 3 (ok, 2.8) winters here, those are the things that made me finally understand why people don't like winter.
Well, I grew up in Vermont, so I may be crazy, but I have a garage, good boots, and a love for snowboarding, walking in the snow, fireplaces, hot tea, and all that. I don't have to dig my car out of the snow, I don't slip on the ice, and I don't mind the dark days at all.
I love the sense of history that Boston has, old churches and many places that played a big role during the American Revolution. For me, it's the perfect US city, with the right balance of culture, East Coast attitudes, weather, etc... But I totally understand that it's not for everyone:)
With regards to the tech hub thing, I definitely see lots of younger tech people flocking to SV due to all the VC, Google, etc... That said, if you ignore the VC driven profitless startups, Boston still has a decent share of tech companies, and lots of other business (financial, medical, pharama/gene/biotech, etc..) which I think is important for a standard business ecosystem.
> [I have] a love for snowboarding, walking in the snow, fireplaces, hot tea, and all that
Ditto. The difference is that out here in the valley winter is a place up in the Sierra Nevadas that we visit when the December/January rain hits the bay area. The best part is that once we have had our fill of winter fun we drive back home :)
