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WHO ELSE DRIVES AN HOUR OR MORE TO WORK? -

It takes me a full hour to make the drive in (and back, of course) which comes to 8 hrs a week based on my 4-day work week just driving to and from the office. I hate that damn commute so I was wondering who else has to do this and how do you feel about it?

Sgt_Spanky 8 Nov 17
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3

Did it for many years (12), 1 hour 15 minutes one way so long as traffic was good. 5 days a week. The mileage, new brakes, tires. I had to accept it. We had built our house in a location best suited for raising our kids. I could not have afforded a 4000 sqft house and acres of land in the city, and I couldn't have made the pay rate otherwise. It sucked, on the other hand, the down time was nice, and books on tape (or CD) helped. If I had to do over, I would have a smaller house in the city. I'll never get time back.

I resigned from a lucrative position with several employee perks I definitely miss even many years later, for the same reason you mentioned. 1.5 hours one way... It kept haunting me that it was time I'd never get back - the I was making allowed me enjoy more opportunities, but could never buy me more time.

2

I can hear Ray Charles singing "Hit the road Jack" 🙂

2

I used to spend over an hour one way on mass transit (bus) getting to work. The best part was that I could nap both ways while getting to/from work.

1

When I first moved back to NC I drove an hour & 20 minutes - one way, in the mountains... Beautiful drive but after a bit it flat out kicked my arse. One wonderful February it took me 3 hours to get home - snow, beautiful snow......
Currently I drive about 10 minutes... love it

1

My commute from Montana to North Dakota is about 500 miles.
I work 20 days, then drive home for 10 days and repeat:/

1

If you have not: get a player and listen to audio books. You will listen to about one book a week. Prolly more. You can learn a lot about a lot having read 40+ books a year.

1

I used to drive 1-1.5 hours (or 2-3 hours there and back) 3-4 days a week for work about 3 years ago. I did this for only 2-3 months but it was exhausting to have to drive so far. The reason was I had to temporarily fill a position then train the new employee at our farthest location. That position has recently been unfilled again but instead of driving there, I do the job using a Skype-like video system

1

I have always had to drive at least 45 min to work, but I don't live close to the city. I have looked for other places to live but its too expensive so I just have to suck it up. I understand the frustration tho! People are idiots in the road!

1

I commuted like that for 6 months. Luckily I could ride a commuter bus but that meant more time. TOo much and very tiring

I did it in Europe for years, riding my commute on the train was the best time of my life to read books like crazy.

@IamNobody now that is a bit different. it wasnt possible on the bus-real bad lighting at the time I was on the road. and the seats were cramped

@btroje I see.... understand. Trains in that part of Europe were pretty good at sitting comfortably and people mind their own business and for the most part, they are quiet and respect personal space. The train was actually old but clean and since people was very decent, I couldn't care less. It was always pleasant. I did missed my stop few times because I was trapped in my reading. Lots of funny stories.... Nothing but good memories from another of my "adoptive" countries.

1

not anymore .. 🙂
I had to drive about 80 minutes.. varied..up to an hour longer with traffic..it was all busy highway.. all the way there ... I'm glad that I'm out

That sounds brutal. Congrats on getting out of that hell.

1

I drove 50 miles to work at my previous job. I honestly enjoyed the time to either rev up for work or to cool down after. The drive was mostly rural and lovely.

Doing so in the snow was why I moved to Georgia.

Zster Level 8 Nov 17, 2018
1

I have to increase my commute from about 20 minutes to about 50. I have to allow an extra 20 minutes in case of traffic because I can't be late. I don't like it. Podcasts make it tolerable.

I have to leave 1.5 hrs ahead of time myself.

@Sgt_Spanky I'm sorry. I saw some study that showed an inverse relationship between commute time and happiness. Sounds about right.

1

If I go straight to the office, it takes me 35 min to get there. All highway and usually no traffic. I don't mind the drive. If I go to a farm from my house, it can take 20 to 45 min one way. But what I think it kills you is the traffic.
I think the views/landscape also helps the length of time not count as much. 🙂

1

Hell no. I live about 8 miles from my job.

You can't know our pain then. Add an additional 30 miles to that and get back to me.

@Sgt_Spanky no thanks

@Cabsmom You have chosen wisely.

@Sgt_Spanky I'm a wise person... What can I say?

1

In 2007, I was hired as a consultant for a company that was looking for a source of Kenaf pulp for making paper. It was supposed to be a 6 month contract, but they renewed it in January and it went longer. The company was near Keene, NH and I was living in Amherst at the time. I could have done more remote work, but the company president wanted to meet in person every day, so that was out. The commute took me about an hour each way. The winter was the worst. Sometimes the snow wouldn't be cleared on the roads and I'd have a harrowing drive! Finally the contract was up in April and I could turn to closer clients. That's when I really started growing my studio. I didn't want to have to do a drive like that again!

what kind of consulting do you do? what is kenaf pulp?

@wongway research

1

I drive about 45 minutes. I feel a little guilty about using the extra resources. I'd live in the city if I had an easy way to move but I currently don't. Also makes me feel vulnerable to whatever rickety car I might have. It was nice for a while last year when I worked 2.2 miles away. and knew I could walk if I had to.

MsAl Level 8 Nov 17, 2018
1

Not work but I drive over an hour each way to go to dance classes (and practice and workshops). A class might be 1 to 1.5 hours long so I spend more time driving than I am participating in the class. My current work is a 2 minute walk from my house.

On your way to work, do you stop along the way? 🙂

@Sticks48 I might stop and pick an apple from my tree in the summer. Then it might add another minute.

1

I did it for 14 years. Every year I told myself I was going to make a change. I finally did it. My drive is now 6 minutes! I feel so much better now that I'm not wasting time.

My last job was work at home working for an insurance company. Best commute ever since I only had to go from bed to computer.

0

Okay, I feel a little better knowing I'm not the only one who has to deal with this. Mine is a 70 mile round trip 4 days a week. If there's a traffic jam, I have an alternate route but that's 12 miles longer and about $10 in tolls so I avoid it as much as possible

0

bus-to-boat, 20min....boat-to-city, 60min...bus-to-another-city, 30min...walking and waiting, 60min...total, 2:50...round-trip, 5:40... ... ...fortunately I only do this once a month...other clients from my home office...

0

Depending on when I leave the house it takes me anywhere from 40 to 90 minutes to get to work. It usually takes exactly an hour to get home. This is confusing to me but I don't think the laws of physics apply to Atlanta traffic. I do not mind the commute. I love to drive and even though there are idiots in front of me I just turn on Pandora and listen to music.

0

I did 30-40 min one way for a year or so yeah. It wasnt too bad because I was driving a company vehicle and they were paying for my gas. I got to clock in at the store near me and then another 20-30 mins to my destination at our warehouse, sometimes some stops along the way to pick up empties (I recycled n rebuilt old toner cartridges for printers). It still sucked of course but driving either a loaded ford transit or a scion that were pretty much overgrown golf carts taught me a lot of road patience and necessitated defensive driving. I was previously a rushing aggro driver but that experience really calmed me down. Get yourself a big coffee and some podcasts to soothe you along the way and practice meditating, kindness, and patience on the highway n maybe youll get somethin out of it.

0

I used to drive close to seventy miles, round-trip, between home, school, and work. At the time, I thought it seemed 'normal', because I lived in a rural, western community, where practically everybody made long commutes. It's only now, that I live in Florida, that I realize just how long those commutes were! In many States, they have 'park-and-rides', which are parking lots out by Interstate on-ramps, where you can leave your vehicle, and car-pool to your destination. I've often thought all States should have those.

0

I drive all day FOR work. I work from home for a national lender and spend most days on the road locally... Within 20 minutes to 2 hours away. Mostly back roads VA driving. I put about 27k miles per year on my truck. I love it!

Doesn't count of you're getting paid for it and love it.

@Sgt_Spanky So just about every job I have ever had prior to this one... I've had 45-60 minute drives. Years ago I drove from Stafford County to Tysons Corner, VA... This is the PRIME #1 traffic jam area in the country. On a good day it would take 55 minutes... But with an accident or bad weather... It could take 4 HOURS! I can clearly remember coning into work late with a really bad attitude several times.

0

Having a comfort zone is most important. I knew people who travel 2-3 hrs. plus one way because they can afford a house in a certain locale. I would always access Mass Transit as the solution and I was able to take the train into the center of the city and then I would walk to work. If the money is there at your job and you enjoy the work you just have to search around for a habitable abode of comfort.

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