Working in the 'burbs
I began working for EMC Documentum in November, 2005, in Pleasanton, California. My previous job was with SRA International as a government contractor in Monterey. I am now completely aware of why people from the San Francisco retreat to Monterey on the weekends. Simply put, it's a rat race up here.
Monterey is an extraordinarily beautiful area. Unfortunately, the real cost of living is much more expensive than neighboring area, including the S.F. Bay Area. The lack of technology jobs in the area severely restricted my opportunities.
So, we've since moved to a beautiful apartment in the Oakland/Piedmont area. I have no complaints about our current living arrangement, but I can't help comment on the growth trends I've seen in the Bay Area since moving. The office I work at is located in Pleasanton, which is a booming part of Alameda County. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of single family homes and condominiums being built on what once served at ranchland. It's simply astonishing and revolting to look at. Fortunately, my evening commute takes me back to the less-densely populated Oakland/Berkeley area; however, I see thousands of cars trapped in gridlock as they travel from the business hubs of the Bay Area (S.F., Oakland, Berkeley, Walnut Creek) to the suburbs of Pleasanton, Dublin, and Livermore.
I think that it is human nature to screw up the first time. Initial construction or development is the byproduct of short-term thinking designed to address an immediate concern. It is hard to understand what your requirements will be like 20, 50, or 100 years into the future. I frequently encounter similar situations in software development. Only when presented with an existing infrastructure and the need to expand is an engineer forced to sit down and contemplate their choices. This process of screwing up initially and then performing repairs is timeless.
In software engineering, and traditional architectural engineering, there are patterns that aid designers in their work. Patterns represent ideas that are known to work well. Good engineers rely heavily on patterns for a myriad of reasons: they reduce the workload, serve a common language among engineers, and reduce risk. What bothers me about the growth in the Pleasanton area is how closely is mirrors the growth of the Pleasant Hill & Walnut Creek areas in the 1950's. Those areas reserved little real estate for commercial ventures. Fifty years later, the majority of residents are left commuting ridiculous distances to work, spending less time with their families and friends, and feeling less connected to the cities in which they live. I have a strong feeling that the Pleasanton area is going to face a similar fate.
I feel extremeley fortunate to be living in the Oakland area. It is simply beautiful and home to a diverse population. I could work in the Oakland/Berkeley area if I chose. Sure, I can't afford a 2500 square-foot home here, but I'm enjoying my time renting.