Do any of you commute an hour (or more) to work?

[LivinLaVivaPollo]

I'm going to be living in the central valley(CA) and commuting to the bay area for work. I've never really commuted more than 20 minutes before to work, so I don't know if I can do >=2 hours of commuting everyday.

The reason I'm in the central valley to begin with is because my fiance is a teacher here, and she got her job before me. The pay difference between working in the central valley and the bay area is about 10K for me, which is enough for me to commute and not just find something to do in Stockton.

In the long run, I'd like to move closer to the bay area and maybe divide out our commutes more evenly, because right now she's driving 10 minutes to work, while I'll be doing an hour.

Another thing is that I want to buy a nice car, but I would hate to put 30K miles on it a year.

Anyone out there commute an hour or more? Does it get better as an everyday regiment is established? Any tips on how to keep awake?

 

[Ika]

today's commute was an hour. it sucked, because the traffic jam was inexplicably long.

music is great.

 

[Willoughbyva]

I commute an hour one way. I don't have much of a choice. It gets old quick.


Perry

 

[HN]

is it an hour drive due to distance or due to traffic? I find that when I drive a long distance for an hour but with no traffic, it's a lot easier to stay awake than, say, being in bumper to bumper traffic for an hour and covering only 10 miles :|

 

[wasssup]

I drive about 45 minutes each way (22 miles, rush hour...)

It's not that bad. I'm used to long commutes though, last job was 50 miles each way...

 

[LivinLaVivaPollo]

It's about 70 miles or so. I can usually do it in an hour without traffic. I've never really driven it before in heavy traffic, but I can't imagine how bad it would be with traffic. :Q

 

[HN]

Originally posted by: LivinLaVivaPollo
Does it get better as an everyday regiment is established?

quite the contrary, it gets MUCH worse.
one tip is to find new routes and staying off the main freeway/highway. in big time traffic, the side streets end up being much faster; plus, you keep your mind occupied so you don't feel tired.

i've cut nearly 20 minutes of my morning drive by finding a route involving surface streets rather than staying on the 10 fwy in morning commutes.

 

[HN]

Originally posted by: LivinLaVivaPollo
It's about 70 miles or so. I can usually do it in an hour without traffic. I've never really driven it before in heavy traffic, but I can't imagine how bad it would be with traffic. :Q

if that takes you about an hour without traffic, i'd recommend investing in a LARGE coffee mug for the morning rush hour :shocked:

 

[TheRyuu]

On Long Island, rush hour really sucks ass sometimes. I'll leave it at that.

 

[jds2006]

I listen to clown music to keep me awake.

 

[Golgatha]

800watts of Rockford Fosgate amps + Boston Acoustics speakers keep me awake if I really need them to. I commute 40mins one way. Once you have kids, you might want to reclaim the lost hour in the evenings, but as a single or married w/o kids I'd say go for it.

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: wasssup
I drive about 45 minutes each way (22 miles, rush hour...)

It's not that bad.

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: LivinLaVivaPollo
I'm going to be living in the central valley(CA) and commuting to the bay area for work. I've never really commuted more than 20 minutes before to work, so I don't know if I can do >=2 hours of commuting everyday.

The reason I'm in the central valley to begin with is because my fiance is a teacher here, and she got her job before me. The pay difference between working in the central valley and the bay area is about 10K for me, which is enough for me to commute and not just find something to do in Stockton.

In the long run, I'd like to move closer to the bay area and maybe divide out our commutes more evenly, because right now she's driving 10 minutes to work, while I'll be doing an hour.

Another thing is that I want to buy a nice car, but I would hate to put 30K miles on it a year.

Anyone out there commute an hour or more? Does it get better as an everyday regiment is established? Any tips on how to keep awake?

Can you get working hours that aren't rush hour times? Might cut the commute a bit if you're lucky.

 

[dainthomas]

Originally posted by: LivinLaVivaPollo
The pay difference between working in the central valley and the bay area is about 10K for me, which is enough for me to commute and not just find something to do in Stockton.

I hope the > 500 hours a year you spend driving is worth the extra 5k you'll have left after paying for gas.

 

[JulesMaximus]

My commute by bicycle takes me about 45 minutes or so depending on traffic lights. Traffic does not affect me at all though.

If I drive in it takes about 20 minutes.

 

[Zach]

MP3 player in car is a must. I do 120 miles a day, 1-1.5 hours each way.

I don't think it's worth the $10,000 you mentioned. I lose $2 an hour to gas and car costs. Plus what is the opportunity cost of losing two hours a day away from the house and stuck in traffic? If you like spending the time for work you might be able to find a place that would let you work 50 hour weeks and pocket the extra time or progress faster if you are salaried.

 

[lozina]

I'd rather be homeless than have a long commute to work

I hate driving... especially in traffic

 

[LivinLaVivaPollo]

Originally posted by: dainthomas

I hope the > 500 hours a year you spend driving is worth the extra 5k you'll have left after paying for gas.

Yeah. I've run through the numbers quite a bit myself. But, another contributing factor though is that the job in the bay area is more career centered, whereas an alternate job here around Stockton is more of just settling for work.

 

[Pikachu]

The pay difference between working in the central valley and the bay area is about 10K for me, which is enough for me to commute and not just find something to do in Stockton.

Guess you don't put much value on your time, eh?

All I have to say is, you better not be bitchin' about SUV drivers sucking up too much fuel, when all of you obviously use as much or more than the average driver of any type of vehicle!

 

[Wapp]

I commute 50 miles or so each way in the DC metro area. I reccommend you look for mass transit . I only drive for about 20 minutes and then I carpool(slug) the rest of the way. Saves on gas and helps me avoid dealing with the stress of traffic.

 

[LivinLaVivaPollo]

Originally posted by: Pikachu

The pay difference between working in the central valley and the bay area is about 10K for me, which is enough for me to commute and not just find something to do in Stockton.

Guess you don't put much value on your time, eh?

All I have to say is, you better not be bitchin' about SUV drivers sucking up too much fuel, when all of you obviously use as much or more than the average driver of any type of vehicle!

I'd take public transportation if I could.

 

[jlbenedict]

Used to commute to work about 1 1/2 hrs one way to work (Pentagon) for about two years.. Thank goodness they transferred me to the alternate Pentagon.. now I only commute an hour, one way

 

[Thraxen]

Originally posted by: LivinLaVivaPollo

Originally posted by: dainthomas

I hope the > 500 hours a year you spend driving is worth the extra 5k you'll have left after paying for gas.

Yeah. I've run through the numbers quite a bit myself. But, another contributing factor though is that the job in the bay area is more career centered, whereas an alternate job here around Stockton is more of just settling for work.

Well, I hope it pays off for you in the future career wise. Personally, I don't think i could handle that much of a commute. I might be able to do 40-45 minutes one way, but 1 full hour or more might be beyond what I'm willing to do. But I guess that would depend on the money. Right now I have roughly a ten minute "commute".

 

[jimbob200521]

Nope, my commute, on a bad day, is about 15 minutes.

However, my friends day drives about an 1 1/2 hours to work each day, then back again at night. My brother also used to make a similar trek, going from Illinois to Iowa City each day, which is about 2 hours each way.

 

[BoomerD]

I commuted from Modesto to various sites in the Bay Area for many years. Depending on where you are going, figuring 2 hours is wishful thinking, with the traffic that defines the bay area. On MOST days, you could do Stockton to Pleasanton in an hour, but might take 1-1/2 to 2 hrs going home during the evening rush. Time of commute is critical. I worked about 3 yrs on the Richmond Bridge. 97 miles one-way. 1-1/2 to 1-40 in the morning, (I left home at 4 a.m.) and normally, 2-1-1/2 in the afternoon going home. SOME days, it would be 3-4 hrs when traffic was totally pooched...THAT sux big-time...If I snuck out at 3, (8 hrs) I could be home by 5, but if I left at 5, it always took over 2 hrs. I averaged over 1000 miles per week...that adds up VERY quickly. Oil changes, tires, depreciation, etc...
Driving 30K miles/yr, unless you drive one of the 40+ mpg cars, is going to eat up much of that $10K difference.