Long commute to work? Why do you do it?

[Mr Nice]

Some people have no choice but to drive long distances (50+ miles) for work.

I like living in a house that takes an hour to cut the grass but with all the rain we've been getting I have to cut it twice a month.

 

[zzyzzx]

People do it because most jobs these days are temporary in nature, and who wants to move that often?

 

[Bladecutter]

Originally Posted By: Brons2
Taking care of a yard is a burden! I hate my yard! What I am supposed to do back there anyway? Watch the grass grow?

I just don't understand the mentality of having to have a little piece of dirt to call one's own. It's a free country, and if that's what you want, it's your prerogative, but don't tell me it's sad because I don't want the same. I think getting out gives you MORE of a sense of community not less. People who want to isolate themselves in a suburban cocoon (or urban in your case), well, I don't get it at all.


Some of us actually LIKE having that little piece of dirt, you know.

I planted a Gala Apple tree, a yellow delicious apple tree, and a peach tree in my back yard. I also have a nice tomato plant, and a cantaloupe plant back there too.

So, in a way, I do like watching the grass grow.

And I live 7 miles away from my job.
My gf is just 3 more miles up the road, so sometimes we commute into work together.

As long as you are happy with your work, and you believe it pays you well, a long or short commute isn't an issue, if you love your home. Once the job doesn't make you happy, the commute is a chore, or the neighborhood is undesired, and you start hating life.

I don't miss my 26 mile commute from my house to the IBM facility in Boulder, CO. I hated working there with a passion, and I hated the commute each and every day. I would take the long way home (35 miles) just to avoid the evening rush, and drive closer to the mountains, just to try and feel a bit better about my life situation.

Nothing made me happier than getting my new job.
Life is great, and I don't have to move. Never wanted to, either. I love my house, just wish my yard was bigger. I want to plant more grass, and other boring things to you.

BC.

 

[Nick R]

Also I do it because I don't have any other choice at preesent. And anyway, with the exception of the traffic in the afternoon, I actually don't mind the commute. I like having the bit of a drive in the morning to wake up and drink my coffee before I get to work and have to start taking phone calls.

 

[andyd]

It is about the house and the life we have after living in the same place for 35 yrs. I am on my 4th career since 1975. Daily commute ranging from 10 miles to 150. Same house though. My current job has me driving all day getting permits. A 2yr old Transit Connect and a gas card used for work purposes only. Thats fine with me. This present gig is the best job, I've ever had. I try to spread sunshine where ever I go and so far, it seems to be working.

 

[dwcopple]

Originally Posted By: BrianWC
I'm an archaeologist working for the govt. I've tended to work where there are large areas of govt-owned land.
find anything cool yet? Dinosaurs or Alien crash debris/bodies? Or is that "classified"?

 

[Tdbo]

I do it because I like where I live and I wouldn't want to live where I work.

I drive 65 miles one way and put in some pretty long days. Got up at 4:30 yesterday morning and was on the road by 5:00. Got to work at 6:15 and left at 3:30 to get some dinner and get the oil changed in the car. Was back at the building @ 4:45 until I left at 10:45 last night and walked into my house at midnight.

The gas really doesn't bother me as much as the thought of replacing the car (pushing 270k). Really don't want to do that until after I retire from my current job (2.5 years out.)

After I retire from my current job, I will explore other options that will be, without question, closer to home.

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

For 33 years I drove 160 miles round trip 5 and sometimes 6 days a week..I lived in Times Square in N.Y.C. then later on in North Jersey..I worked in upstate New York..I found the drive had me more relaxed after I got home on those stressful days..Since I was going against the gridlocked traffic [the bulk of the time] it was a overall a nice highway run once I got out of the city..I really looked foward getting back to the city every night after work.

For a few months after a nasty storm in N.Y.C. I rented a place [about 5 miles from where I worked] while my apt was being repaired..I actually missed my long commute.

Now I work part time here in Miami..My commute now is 90 miles round trip 3 days a week..That works fine with with me..It generally takes me less the hour on a good day each way.

I could never do all that commuting in a small car..I always had full size V8 loaded cars..All my full size V8 cars got decent mileage out on the road..I average 25 MPG [sometimes more] on my 4.6 Vic.

The good thing is you can easily get 300K miles [or more] out of your car if you keep up with rountine maintenance..Even in the late 60's and 70's I got at least 200K miles out of V8 Impalas and Caprices.