Are you stuck in a social tech/class bubble? Is that bad?
I've realized since working in tech, more and more of my social circle is other tech folk. I do keep in contact with friends from college but realize I can't talk too much about my goals, life or spending because it's a bit out of scope for them. One of my friends I can be completely transparent with because she is a doctor and her husband an engineer but for everyone else, I feel uncomfortable. I don't want to make them feel bad. However, I love talking about spending habits, future plans, retirement, hobbies, etc. and realize that the people I can be the most open with are other tech people since they understand the lifestyle more in terms of retirement savings/maxing out accounts, affording many hobbies, travel, flexibility of remote work and high lifestyle expenses. I feel I have more in common with STEM people also because they typically share similar intellectual interests like language learning, chess, book reading, even physical stuff out here in Washington surprisingly lots of avid people who love the wilderness and a few spartan/marathon racers.
Anyways, how do you leave this "tech bubble" to meet more "normal" people without coming off as privileged and detached from the realities of the average man? I, for one, try to diversify my hobbies through sports and avoid the subject of work. I don't want people finding out what I do or where. As typically there is some shift in energy.
What have you done to remove yourself from the tech/class bubble? Do you care? Is this just a ME problem?
TLDR: how do you manage to hang out with people who aren't as rich as yourself. Those in other fields.
Edit: removed, dating text.
#tech #faang #bigtech #microsoft #google #meta #amazon #squarespace #uber #lyft #classism
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I want to get more involved in the community through volunteering work to break the bubble and meet other people. The challenge is finding the time…