I used to live in a larger city, and worked in the city. Wife worked in one part, I worked in another, and we had one car. With driving us both to work, and general running around, we did a fair amount of driving - 20-22k miles a year. I like driving, so it never bothered me, and being an oil fanatic, gave me a chance to do many UOA's on my vehicles to see how different oils held up.
2 years ago, we moved to the small city that my wife's family lived in, bc we were both getting tired of how crowded and busy the city had become, and we wanted a house. Houses in the city were simply beyond our means, so we bought a nice little bungalow with a yard, and I got a job in the city that was 3 miles from home. Went from 22k a year to less than 10k! At first I was kinda 'bummed' bc I liked putting miles on my vehicles, seeing how they held up, doing more OC's...yeah, I know, its an addiction.
Then...I started getting used to doing less driving, and enjoying it. 10-15 mins to anywhere I needed to be, spending less on gas, not feeling like I was just always on the road...this is okay! Who cares about miles on a vehicle, do life stuff!
Then...an opportunity came up to advance my career - a management position for the chain I work for in a smaller store in a smaller town 37.5 miles away (about half-way back up the highway to the city I used to live in). I applied, not actually expecting much, and got the job! I believe it is definitely worth the commute - a lot more money (25% higher pay), and management experience, which obviously can open other doors.
So now I have to get used to being a road warrior again...75 highway miles a day, about 21-22k miles a year when you factor in other driving. Don't know how long I will do this, will depend on a lot - how the job goes, where my wife ends up working (finishing school now), what happens with family. For probably the next couple of years, though, this is where I'll be. I will be trying to do it in the hand-me-down 2009 Pontiac G5 I drive...will get decent mileage, and is reasonably comfortable, but who knows how long it will hold up!
I will update on how this goes, and may get back to doing long-mile UOA's (search my user name in that section, you will find them!) Wish me luck!
2 years ago, we moved to the small city that my wife's family lived in, bc we were both getting tired of how crowded and busy the city had become, and we wanted a house. Houses in the city were simply beyond our means, so we bought a nice little bungalow with a yard, and I got a job in the city that was 3 miles from home. Went from 22k a year to less than 10k! At first I was kinda 'bummed' bc I liked putting miles on my vehicles, seeing how they held up, doing more OC's...yeah, I know, its an addiction.
Then...I started getting used to doing less driving, and enjoying it. 10-15 mins to anywhere I needed to be, spending less on gas, not feeling like I was just always on the road...this is okay! Who cares about miles on a vehicle, do life stuff!
Then...an opportunity came up to advance my career - a management position for the chain I work for in a smaller store in a smaller town 37.5 miles away (about half-way back up the highway to the city I used to live in). I applied, not actually expecting much, and got the job! I believe it is definitely worth the commute - a lot more money (25% higher pay), and management experience, which obviously can open other doors.
So now I have to get used to being a road warrior again...75 highway miles a day, about 21-22k miles a year when you factor in other driving. Don't know how long I will do this, will depend on a lot - how the job goes, where my wife ends up working (finishing school now), what happens with family. For probably the next couple of years, though, this is where I'll be. I will be trying to do it in the hand-me-down 2009 Pontiac G5 I drive...will get decent mileage, and is reasonably comfortable, but who knows how long it will hold up!
I will update on how this goes, and may get back to doing long-mile UOA's (search my user name in that section, you will find them!) Wish me luck!