Depressing thoughts indeed. All the money in the world doesn't mean a thing if you don't have the time and demeanor to enjoy it. I'm getting very concerned about the general decline of sociability and increase in agitation spotted in Silicon Valley lately. In '89 when I first moved here, people had time on weekends to celebrate life. I was talking to a sales manager who has been in high-tech for 17 years.
Nothing is inherently evil about money.
But along with the increasing stress has come incredible impatience. As both residents and visitors tell me, Silicon Valley would be a much better place to live if improving social skills was as high a priority as raising stock valuations. This helps me to shape my expectations. Working in a Gold Rush community is intense and often tiring. A Gold Rush community also attracts a lot of people looking to earn big bucks.