In reply to your editorial "What is so special about Silicon Valley?" I have an answer, seeing as how I am a long-time resident. While I agree that telecommuting could claim a much larger audience than it does, the idea that there should be more people telecommuting to other areas misses an important point: People and companies like to be here, and not just because of the current economic state of the technology sector.

With all the San Francisco Bay area has to offer, few of my colleagues would telecommute every day, even if they could. After all, why go to Disneyland if you only intend to stay in the hotel lobby 24 hours a day? With the great weather that offers access to nearly every outdoor and sporting activity year-round, the fresh air from the ocean breezes, the world-class restaurants and cultural events, the tremendous history and architecture of the area, and the vast array of ethnic and social diversity, no wonder companies and people seek residence here. They were moving here long before technology moved to the head of the economic class.

It is a natural result that the Bay Area economy would be expensive and competitive. But to suggest that people like Robert Luhn are easily lost to higher-paying or better jobs is too shortsighted. When talent is valuable to an organization, it does what is necessary to obtain or retain it. That is not a new idea.

When the economy is hot, it may be more of a financial issue, but it is the nature of business in this country. Companies and employees sometimes don't survive economic prosperity any more than economic down-times. During the next recession, see how many companies keep these overvalued employees (not Luhn, of course!).

My point is that the economy works both ways. The Bay Area will still be a magnetic melting pot no matter what happens to the economy--it's that good. Personally, I'd hate to live anywhere that made the option of staying home all the time attractive. Fortunately, I live in San Francisco, and I like getting out of the house and into the mix.--Joseph Hardegree, jhardegree@calegariandmorris.com

Molly Joss's column IT consulting is not for everyone was great. I have been working for about two years on a transition to IT consulting. I was a contract engineer for the medical industry for 10 years and wanted a change. I started doing some side jobs with a friend on evenings and weekends, and last year I set up my company and was finally laid off in June from my last medical contract.

I spent $2,500 on a booth at a local IT trade show, sent out hundreds of fliers, and took out a $10,000 loan on my house. Guess what happened? Nothing, no immediate work! Luckily, 36 hours after I walked out the door of the last medical company, a friend starting a new packaging company (one of my jobs was packaging design and testing for medical devices) hired me to help with its Internet expansion.

I initially thought it would derail my plans for being a full-time consultant, but after two months of no response from the show and fliers, I've realized that this job saved my hide! I plan on sticking around the packing company at least 20 to 30 hours per week as long as they need me.

The reason I liked that article is that now all of my friends want to know how to get into computers, some with almost no skills! I'm going to give them copies of your article and tell them to plan on three to five years minimum for the transition, with luck.--Tracy Eberly tracy@fangnetworks.com

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