Better to live close to work, or far away?
- Thread starter blackman777
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If I could take my exact home and property and move it within walking distance to work for $500 a month, you bet your sweet a55 I'd do it.
Realistically though, it would be over $3000+ a month for the same property near my office.
Realistically though, it would be over $3000+ a month for the same property near my office.
We opted for a farmette away from our work....luckily both of us work at the same place, unluckily it happens to be 75 miles one-way.
We love the land (we have our own shooting range), love the visiting critters, love the creek that crosses our land, and love the rural lifestyle but I'm not sure I would do it again. We bought knowing retirement was a few short years away but those short years turn longer with every week of driving gone by. We are fortunate that we are able to only work four ten-hour days but our schedule requires us to leave the house no later than 4:45AM to arrive by 6 and we typically walk back in around 7:15PM or so...sometimes 6:50PM if we're REALLY lucky.
We usually accumulate around 35k miles on our vehicle each year counting our commute and grocery shopping and such.
We love the land (we have our own shooting range), love the visiting critters, love the creek that crosses our land, and love the rural lifestyle but I'm not sure I would do it again. We bought knowing retirement was a few short years away but those short years turn longer with every week of driving gone by. We are fortunate that we are able to only work four ten-hour days but our schedule requires us to leave the house no later than 4:45AM to arrive by 6 and we typically walk back in around 7:15PM or so...sometimes 6:50PM if we're REALLY lucky.
We usually accumulate around 35k miles on our vehicle each year counting our commute and grocery shopping and such.
My work is about 27 feet from my bedroom, takes about 8-10 seconds to get there, rain or shine. Yes, I work at home, computer repair for the last 15 years. Love it.
Before that 21 years at a body shop, three blocks away, still not bad.
Before that 21 years at a body shop, three blocks away, still not bad.
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Originally Posted By: supton
I'd love to bike to work. But I'd want to live such that it wasn't more than a few minute's drive to get out of the "city". Or the 'burbs, or whatever. Just not a fan of endless asphalt and people and stuff. Wife and I like the quiet area we are in, but I feel bad that my kids don't just run over to the neighbors to play with their kids. At the same time it's been real easy to keep negative influences away from the kids, so it's been a wash.
If we didn't have roots I'd be tempted to half the distance to work, except for that whole hassle of selling and buying. Sometimes I think I wouldn't mind going back to renting, and moving every few years: experience life every which way.
That's what is nice about small cities like Syracuse. I live on the edge of the city, but can be out in the country in 10 minutes!
I'd love to bike to work. But I'd want to live such that it wasn't more than a few minute's drive to get out of the "city". Or the 'burbs, or whatever. Just not a fan of endless asphalt and people and stuff. Wife and I like the quiet area we are in, but I feel bad that my kids don't just run over to the neighbors to play with their kids. At the same time it's been real easy to keep negative influences away from the kids, so it's been a wash.
If we didn't have roots I'd be tempted to half the distance to work, except for that whole hassle of selling and buying. Sometimes I think I wouldn't mind going back to renting, and moving every few years: experience life every which way.
That's what is nice about small cities like Syracuse. I live on the edge of the city, but can be out in the country in 10 minutes!
Wife and I moved to a city right between both our jobs...about 45 minutes each way. I'll say this....I enjoy that 45 minutes to get my head wrapped around the issues for the day. Gets me time to wake up and start thinking things out. One thing you absolutely must have....XM radio. Opposite on the way home, forget about work and start thinking about the stuff that needs to be done around the house and with the kids when I get there. Yeah sure, it's and hour and a half of "wasted" time to some, but for me, it's also quite/alone time to think things out.
Kestas
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Originally Posted By: glock19
Now I work in DC and the 3 mile commute into the city by car still takes 45 minutes but is just miserable stop and go.
It sounds like you're in a good position to bike to work in good weather -- if anything, just to save time. Are the streets not amenable to biking?
Now I work in DC and the 3 mile commute into the city by car still takes 45 minutes but is just miserable stop and go.
It sounds like you're in a good position to bike to work in good weather -- if anything, just to save time. Are the streets not amenable to biking?
Originally Posted By: Miller88
That's what is nice about small cities like Syracuse. I live on the edge of the city, but can be out in the country in 10 minutes!
I thought Syracuse was big? Been a while since I've been in NY around that area.
It was great in college. Bike 10 minutes to campus in one direction, bike 10 minutes in the other and mingle with the moose. South Portland was kinda like that but it required driving instead of biking to keep it at 10 minutes.
Unfortunately I went to work in hi-tech and while it pays nice it does have some limiting factors, like being stuck to the larger cities.
That's what is nice about small cities like Syracuse. I live on the edge of the city, but can be out in the country in 10 minutes!
I thought Syracuse was big? Been a while since I've been in NY around that area.
It was great in college. Bike 10 minutes to campus in one direction, bike 10 minutes in the other and mingle with the moose. South Portland was kinda like that but it required driving instead of biking to keep it at 10 minutes.
Unfortunately I went to work in hi-tech and while it pays nice it does have some limiting factors, like being stuck to the larger cities.
I've been questioning the same thing myself. It depends on what's sort of money I'll be making. Distance doesn't bother me, but time does. If travel time is less than 40 minutes than I'm happy.
Hour commutes are common where I live. Mine is about 45 minuits. I would love to live closer, since I have to work 12 hr shifts, and be at work at 4 AM. Otherwise, I am losing sleep time out on the interstate.
15 to 30 minutes is good. In addition; if you have nagging spouse then, an hour or more can be beneficial.
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I live 22 miles away from my job which is usually a 35min commute. I'd say it's perfect amount of time to unwind and of course get my oil to operating temp! Hehehe!
I wouldn't wan't to be to close or much farther away either. BUT this would also greatly depend on what your job is!
I wouldn't wan't to be to close or much farther away either. BUT this would also greatly depend on what your job is!
I only lived between 5 and 10 miles from work. But I worked shift work and if I had a long drive after coming off of graveyards, I would have probably ended up in a field somewhere from falling asleep behind the wheel or worse. I tried the hour drive back in the early 70's to live out in the country. Couldn't do it.
Originally Posted By: Kestas
Originally Posted By: glock19
Now I work in DC and the 3 mile commute into the city by car still takes 45 minutes but is just miserable stop and go.
It sounds like you're in a good position to bike to work in good weather -- if anything, just to save time. Are the streets not amenable to biking?
Well basically there are only 3 bridges into the city and of course the one I need to use is the one that is car traffic only (Roosevelt bridge going East). I could bike and use one of the other two bridges but it turns the 30 minute bike ride into an hour and fifteen minutes.
Originally Posted By: glock19
Now I work in DC and the 3 mile commute into the city by car still takes 45 minutes but is just miserable stop and go.
It sounds like you're in a good position to bike to work in good weather -- if anything, just to save time. Are the streets not amenable to biking?
Well basically there are only 3 bridges into the city and of course the one I need to use is the one that is car traffic only (Roosevelt bridge going East). I could bike and use one of the other two bridges but it turns the 30 minute bike ride into an hour and fifteen minutes.
Riding 150 miles per day together can be tough on any marriage....some of you can relate how it is; sometimes a simple topic of conversation can become an arguing point.
I solve this problem occasionally by picking a minor fight in the morning prior to leaving the house....doesn't take much; a simple "are you wearing THAT to work?" or "Hmmmm, maybe we should hit the exercise bikes tonight?"
My technique almost always guarantees a quiet ride into work with nary a word spoken. Attempting this method for the ride home though can backfire.....occasionally, I'll say something and then look up later and she's standing there at my office door...with her arms crossed and that look on her face!
I solve this problem occasionally by picking a minor fight in the morning prior to leaving the house....doesn't take much; a simple "are you wearing THAT to work?" or "Hmmmm, maybe we should hit the exercise bikes tonight?"
My technique almost always guarantees a quiet ride into work with nary a word spoken. Attempting this method for the ride home though can backfire.....occasionally, I'll say something and then look up later and she's standing there at my office door...with her arms crossed and that look on her face!
Originally Posted By: bepperb
Let's see. 500 dollars in rent extra divided by 20 working days a month is 25 bucks a day to save 3 hours in commuting?
My commute was 90 minutes (round trip). So almost $17 an hour
I've done telecommute and didn't like it.
I was lonely. ;-)
Let's see. 500 dollars in rent extra divided by 20 working days a month is 25 bucks a day to save 3 hours in commuting?
My commute was 90 minutes (round trip). So almost $17 an hour
I've done telecommute and didn't like it.
I was lonely. ;-)
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I use to live 35 miles away, which was a 42 minute drive. I not live 12 miles away and only 15 minute drive. I'd pay more to be closer. Than extra 1-2hours a day really adds up and give you extra stuff to do things, like work out, mow the lawn, change oil, ect.
How's this for a flip, working 4x 10 hour days per week?
With a reasonable commute, that buys an extra DAY!!! Every week.
Had this for 10+ years and loved it.
After all, if you have a work shift, you're watching the time before and after it anyway, so it sort of ruins the day.
With a reasonable commute, that buys an extra DAY!!! Every week.
Had this for 10+ years and loved it.
After all, if you have a work shift, you're watching the time before and after it anyway, so it sort of ruins the day.
^4x10 shifts was so awesome, i miss it so much. 4 days were gone to work, 3 days were all mine.
Rent? Live close. Buy? Live exactly where you want. Future property value increases can make your small town property worth big bucks. Plus once you have the fluids warmed up in a car its not really much wear to go an extra 10-20 miles down that highway.
Rent? Live close. Buy? Live exactly where you want. Future property value increases can make your small town property worth big bucks. Plus once you have the fluids warmed up in a car its not really much wear to go an extra 10-20 miles down that highway.
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