Honestly that's what anyone employed to a company should care about. Your aim should be delivering value, which sometimes means making long term investments that improve the development environment.
You also should spend a portion time learning as it enables you to create more value over time.
And yes you should take time to get to know your colleagues, take breaks, play ping pong, etc. This helps you refresh yourself and avoid running out of steam.
But the work is meant to create value, hence why you are rewarding with currency you can exchange for things you value.
Manage a positive work life balance and and do the "fun" stuff outside of work. Life is not all work and work is not all of life.
I'd advise you to move. You will have greater economic opportunities if you are collocated to the HQs of the highest paying tech companies. NYC was a disaster in the 80s but a change in government greatly enhanced the security and livability of the city for someone in your cohort. SF and the bay area in will most likely transition over time in these dimensions. I have a sense that the companies and funding opportunities will remain.
Hey everyone, We are starting an eco first community. We will be basing the MVP near Joshua Tree, a beautiful national park in southern California. We intend to extend this eventually to a network of eco first communities and are looking for our initial wave of alpha investors. We would love to have some initial thoughts on our concept!