Job situation - opinions on a long commute?

[Rastus]

I did 60 miles each way for 11 1/2 years. You get used to it.

 

[Captante]

IDK about the retail thing, but I suggest looking for some kind of short-term job to help pay the bills while you find somthing closer since I doubt you'll want to live with a 45+ minute commute long-term anyway... trust me it really gets old fast!

 

[George P Burdell]

I used to live on campus (GT) and drive to Alpharetta for an internship. It was 50 minutes one-way on a good day. The next two summers, I worked at a place near Marietta and the commute was down to 15 minutes.

A 45-minute commute is average for Atlanta if you're unwilling to move. Especially anything that involves driving up 85 or GA 400. I have friends who move because they are unwilling to drive. I have friends to drive for 75-90 minutes because they want to stay deep ITP. I guess you have to decide which is more important to you: a job or a shorter commute.

A possible downside to a long commute is the inevitable rise in blood pressure that results from driving on GA 400.

 

[FoBoT]

i drive 50 miles one way to work, takes between 50-75 minutes depending on traffic/time of day. my schedule is flexible most of the time so i can miss traffic both ways. KC's "rush hour" is nothing compared to atlanta/other big cities. most of the interstates are still only 2 lanes, if they were all made 3 lanes, there would be no rush hour. except maybe the west side of town, to/from JoCo (where all the rich people live)

it isn't bad for me, i get some "me" time with XM radio to think about stuff
i have been doing it for 3 years now, it is ok for now

my route is along one of the lightest routes to downtown KC, so there is little stop/go time, too much of that would drive me crazy
i lived in Atlanta for a couple years (southeast side) and would kill myself if i had to commute anywhere on the northern side of that city

 

[Batti]

I've been doing 45 minutes one way for 5 years now. It's absolutely no big deak for me. I listen to podcasts and have time to unwind and be in "Dad mode" when I get home. On the way in, I've frequently solved problems by having some time to decouple and think. I don't mind it at all.

As a plus, when work is looking for someone to come in on a night or weekend, they usually don't pick me as I'm "too far away". As a result, I work less. I'm salary, so that's fine with me!

 

[SearchMaster]

I commute from Hall County to Norcross every day - about 45 miles each way. I leave the house at ~5:30am, and get to work before 6:30. The evening commute is worse, about 4:30pm to 5:45pm.

It helps tremendously that the morning commute is early enough to miss most traffic, and the evening commute is heavy traffic at first but lighter by the time I get home. I actually enjoy the time to myself because it's about the only time I get on a regular basis.

I wouldn't do it if I didn't love where I live. I have 1.5 acres of land on Lake Lanier, it's very peaceful and relaxing, I love my neighbor(s), and I couldn't imagine having to live in a cluster home neighborhood near Atlanta. I lived in Dunwoody for several years, and while the commute was shorter, it was also heavier traffic and not very serene.

 

[Willoughbyva]

I used to drive an hour and then had about 20 minutes waiting for a bus and a bus ride to work. I would not do it again. It is ok at first, but then you realize that with lunch and the travel time you are spending 12 a day for an 8 hour job.


Perry

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: Batti
On the way in, I've frequently solved problems by having some time to decouple and think.

i have figured out many problems that i was stuck on sitting in my cube, while driving home after work or on the way in the next day. crank some MegaDeth or something chaotic and scramble my brain out of corporate mode into creative mode and come up with good solutions

 

[habib89]

i had a commute longer than that.. i personally didn't mind it, however i now have a much shorter commute, and i love it... it just depends on what you like.. i would take that commute again if i got a much better job

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

I drive a hour to my intern job and a hour back. It's not that bad. I guess after 10 years it would be though.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: SoundTheSurrender
I drive a hour to my intern job and a hour back. It's not that bad. I guess after 10 years it would be though.

Yeah, my friend does that too. I'm glad for my 15 minute commute that's against traffic about 50% of the way. Otherwise it would be about 10 - 11 minutes =P

 

[ppdes]

15 minute walk or a couple minutes in the car here. Not having to drive every day has pretty much ruined me for ever having a job farther away than this one. I'm not the sort of person who puts down roots, though, so I'll probably always just be able to grab a new apartment with location as needed.

 

[Praxis1452]

47 minutes isnt' that long...

 

[Koing]

Last job was an hr each way so 2hrs a day around trip...it was not fun...

Current job I cycle 7-8mins to work. It is SO awesomely refreshing when it isn't p!ssing it down with rain, but even then it is cool to ride in to work.

Koing

 

[GeekDrew]

I had a job that required me to be at one of two offices... one was about 2.5 hours south of my house, the other was 2.0 hours north of my house. I honestly didn't mind the drive to the south office, because I was able to maintain 60-70 MPH for almost the entire drive -- only about 5 minutes of it was "city traffic", and even that was really light, because of how early I was rolling through town on my way to work.

Right now my office is 25 miles from my house, and it takes me about 40-45 minutes to get there -- and I absolutely DREAD the drive to work. It's through the city, so it's stop-and-go, and after I get to the city limits, I can't get above 35 MPH. I'd much prefer the 2.5 drive at a nice speed to the 40 minute drive at a crappy speed.

At another former job, I lived only 10 miles away from the office. It usually took me 12 minutes to get there (all interstate) in the morning, but in the afternoon, the interstate would be backed up, and it would take me 30-35 minutes to get home. I frequently stayed after work, sometimes for several hours, just because I hated driving home so badly.

It all depends on the person.

Oh, and yes, I know, I'm reviving an old-ish thread. Cope.

 

[Koing]

Originally posted by: GeekDrew
I had a job that required me to be at one of two offices... one was about 2.5 hours south of my house, the other was 2.0 hours north of my house. I honestly didn't mind the drive to the south office, because I was able to maintain 60-70 MPH for almost the entire drive -- only about 5 minutes of it was "city traffic", and even that was really light, because of how early I was rolling through town on my way to work.

Right now my office is 25 miles from my house, and it takes me about 40-45 minutes to get there -- and I absolutely DREAD the drive to work. It's through the city, so it's stop-and-go, and after I get to the city limits, I can't get above 35 MPH. I'd much prefer the 2.5 drive at a nice speed to the 40 minute drive at a crappy speed.

At another former job, I lived only 10 miles away from the office. It usually took me 12 minutes to get there (all interstate) in the morning, but in the afternoon, the interstate would be backed up, and it would take me 30-35 minutes to get home. I frequently stayed after work, sometimes for several hours, just because I hated driving home so badly.

It all depends on the person.

Oh, and yes, I know, I'm reviving an old-ish thread. Cope.

Yeah?

For me, it would be the time spend getting to work.

Koing

 

[Gooberlx2]

47 minutes just isn't that big of a deal. Some people I know who live around Chicago and others around LA complain about 90 minutes commutes.

 

[shortylickens]

I guess I can only echo.

Job satisfaction is a hundred times more important than a paycheck.
If you are making a long, miserable commute every day it will suck you dry.
Your work will suffer and your home life will (eventually) suffer.

Don't do it.

EDIT: I live 5 minutes away from work and I love it.
No tearing my hair out everyday.

 

[WingZero94]

I dread my drive in and out of work..... and it is only 15 - 25 minutes!!! The thing I hate about it is that the wonderful city of Lincoln uses timed lights. I SERIOUSLY hit EVERY LIGHT from here to work. The drive is actually about 4 - 5 miles....... plus you always get the casual morning driver in front of you - just on a stroll to see the sights.... pisses me off!!

 

[nageov3t]

I've got the exact same commute you're looking at... 45-50 minutes each way, against traffic.

it's rough after my old commute to work was about 5-10 minutes each way, but it's not too bad. I just put my ipod on random and go.

 

[PingSpike]

I drive about 45-50 minutes now. I live around 35 minutes from work, but I take a slight detour so I can car pool with my wife. Its actually not so bad, I get to talk to my wife about her day and that kind of stuff like we would anyway, while we're commuting home. Its about 20 miles, the first half is mostly country roads. I might have to come up with some new tricks soon, as I drive past several schools which aren't currently open.

 

[theeedude]

I don't get it. You have to put in a 2 week notice, but they can just tell you to leave? Sounds a bit unfair. Why didn't you just wait the two weeks and just leave yourself?

 

[theeedude]

I too have a 40 min each way commute, on my bicycle 9 miles each way.
That is the only kind of 40 min commute I am willing to live with.

 

[Eeezee]

Taking retail for only a month won't screw everyone over; that happens all the time

 

[Chaotic42]

I drove 50 miles to school then 50 miles to work then 25 miles home for two years. I had mostly empty highways and it drove me up the wall. It's worth doing it for a while until you can get a place closer, but 47 minutes each way really sucks.