What I’m really thinking: the Silicon Valley newcomer

One friend's version of meal planning for the weekend is to stock up on free food from the office cafeteria on Fridays

My husband and I moved here for the jobs. This place had way more than we could imagine. We packed our bags and uprooted our lives without ever having been to the west coast. Being selected to work for a major tech company was like winning the lottery; it wasn't a question of whether you'd accept the prize, but how soon.

Most of the friends we've made are colleagues from other states who are here for the same reason. The companies we work for have taken over the role of our parents, sponsoring what feels like an extension of our college years: free meals, laundry and shuttle buses. We are making six-figure salaries, but we're also slow to outgrow the frugal student lifestyle. One friend's version of meal-planning for the weekend is to stock up on free food from the office cafeteria on Fridays. Apparently, this is common practice.