Do you have an extreme commute?

[genchan]

I read today's news on this site with interest since I find myself in an extreme commute situation. I spend about 4 hours round trip for my commute and I'm at the point where I don't think it's worth it anymore. Housing prices in CA are soooooooo expensive. I've been looking for a house, but due to prices I can't find anything that I can afford that would bring me closer to my work.

While the job I have pays well, the commute I think sucks away a lot of that both in costs of driving and time I have to spend in the car. Is anyone else in a situation like that?

[terry1156]

Re: Do you have an extreme commute?

I've never had to deal with a commute like that and no that I'm retired, there's no commute at all. 4 hours in traffic would be very hard day after day. I think you're right that the commute of that length costs you more than just money. It's a lot of time to spend in a car.

[mjrube94]

Re: Do you have an extreme commute?

I have an extreme commute, too, but I guess I never thought about it like that because it's all I've ever known. I live in northern NJ and commute to lower Manhattan. Regardless of whether I take the train or drive and take the ferry across, it's about 1:40 door-to-door. Fortunately, I work out of our NJ office (20 minutes away) 2 days per week, so I'm only making this commute 2 days per week. It's worth it for me because I work part-time and have worked here for 14 years. So I'd have a hard time getting the same flexible schedule for similar pay from a different company. Plus I'm lucky that I work for a company that gives commutation reimbursement of up to $100/month if you use public transportation. It's really expensive to commute, so this helps!

[txjman]

Re: Do you have an extreme commute?

I have about a 2 hour round trip commute. I've always had a long commute. I honestly wouldn't know what to do with my time if I didn't. The only thing that worries me is the constant rise in gasoline prices. I hope it becomes a little more reasonable soon.

[kashi]

Re: Do you have an extreme commute?

Mine is only about 70 minutes round trip. However, my old car sucks down gasoline, and the crappy drivers I deal with every day are making me crazy. I'm hoping for a job closer to home. I have no idea how you deal with 4 hours a day!!

[SeeAPenny]

Re: Do you have an extreme commute?

When I lived in CHGO years ago, I had an hour commute each way on public transportation-- so it was two hours a day/5days a week. Tiring, but about the norm, and I got used to it. However, FOUR hours a day?? That would surely do me in. It's a big chunk of life passing by while stuck in traffic, KWIM...?

[gakline]

Re: Do you have an extreme commute?

Here's my Chicago bit too. Mine is somewhere around and hour each way. I take the public transportation in, so I can sit back and take a nap or read or talk. I look at it as kind of my downtime. I don't really have to do anything if I don't want. I am catching up on my reading though

[PRICEPLUS]

Re: Do you have an extreme commute?

10 minutes from work and thankful for that luxury.

[baselle]

Re: Do you have an extreme commute?

About 10 minute walk to the bus stop and 30 - 35 minutes to work depending on what bus I take. In Seattle, housing prices are insane, so most commutes are, but the Metro bus is still pretty good & dependable with dependable schedules. Everywhere else I've lived was far, far worse. It amazes me that I haven't seen a lot of new bus commuters from the gas prices. During last years spike I met quite a few.

I enjoy being a bus commuter. I can multi-task, read, reconcile my checkbook and just generally decompress. It also keeps me from developing road rage.

[PrincessPerky]

Re: Do you have an extreme commute?

DH is about 25 minutes, 30 if there is school. I have about 0 seconds (SAHM)

[txjman]

Re: Do you have an extreme commute?

Well, I checked into the limited mass transit we have in the DFW area, and I found there is a rail station close to work. A one year pass will cost $400, which is basically two months of gas for my car. I may try it out next week. It will take a little longer, but the money savings and the reduced wear and tear on the car may be worth it.

[terry1156]

Re: Do you have an extreme commute?

Well, I checked into the limited mass transit we have in the DFW area, and I found there is a rail station close to work. A one year pass will cost $400, which is basically two months of gas for my car. I may try it out next week. It will take a little longer, but the money savings and the reduced wear and tear on the car may be worth it.

if you decide to go that way, also contact your auto insurnace once you are doing it. Taking the commute miles out of your car should also reduce your auto insurance rate

[txjman]

Re: Do you have an extreme commute?

Good point about the insurance, I didn't think about that.

Re: Do you have an extreme commute?

Yes, I have a 4-hour round trip commute too. I do this 5 days a week. I live outside of Boston, where the housing prices are insane.

I was taking the train, but recently starting taking a semi-express bus. It's much more luxurious, and I don't have to pay attention to the stops or people banging into me. At least I can get paperwork done on the bus, or even take a nap!