Comments on: How to decide if your commute is too long http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/20/how-to-decide-if-your-commute-is-too-long/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:47:54 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Alchik http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/20/how-to-decide-if-your-commute-is-too-long/comment-page-1/#comment-207465 Alchik Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:53:32 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/20/how-to-decide-if-your-commute-is-too-long/#comment-207465 Well, I've been doing a 2+ hour commute from Baltimore to DC for 4 years now. It's been slowing driving me bonkers. No friends, almost no family and pretty much a zilch home life. It's like I've been living just to pay bills, eat, sleep and work. The money is great but that's it. I was sort of forced into my home by the economics at the time. I couldn't see putting myself on the brink of financial disaster just to be near work. Well, I'm paying for it now and it's equally as stressful. Finally, about a month ago I got to shift my hours so it cut my commute in half each way. It's been great! I can see my daughter in the evening and actually have some time to do a couple of things before going to bed. I can actually watch a few minutes of tv! But today, I found out that this change has stressed out one of my single employees that lives just a few miles from work. Now, HR is going to force me back to my old schedule. Jeez, I guess you could compare it to being sent back to prison. With the job situation as it is I'm stuck with it. I sure miss my 30 min commutes! Thanks for letting me vent! Well, I've been doing a 2+ hour commute from Baltimore to DC for 4 years now. It's been slowing driving me bonkers. No friends, almost no family and pretty much a zilch home life. It's like I've been living just to pay bills, eat, sleep and work. The money is great but that's it. I was sort of forced into my home by the economics at the time. I couldn't see putting myself on the brink of financial disaster just to be near work. Well, I'm paying for it now and it's equally as stressful.
Finally, about a month ago I got to shift my hours so it cut my commute in half each way. It's been great! I can see my daughter in the evening and actually have some time to do a couple of things before going to bed. I can actually watch a few minutes of tv! But today, I found out that this change has stressed out one of my single employees that lives just a few miles from work. Now, HR is going to force me back to my old schedule. Jeez, I guess you could compare it to being sent back to prison. With the job situation as it is I'm stuck with it. I sure miss my 30 min commutes!

Thanks for letting me vent!

]]> By: Dan http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/20/how-to-decide-if-your-commute-is-too-long/comment-page-1/#comment-188910 Dan Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:51:07 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/20/how-to-decide-if-your-commute-is-too-long/#comment-188910 Just found someone who posted this blog under another name, didn't know if you cared or not: http://www.mechanicshub.com/heavy-truck-and-equipment-news/19-career-and-skills-news/531-is-your-commute-too-long.html Best regards... Just found someone who posted this blog under another name, didn't know if you cared or not:

http://www.mechanicshub.com/heavy-truck-and-equipment-news/19-career-and-skills-news/531-is-your-commute-too-long.html

Best regards…

]]> By: Jennifer Rai http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/20/how-to-decide-if-your-commute-is-too-long/comment-page-1/#comment-188292 Jennifer Rai Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:20:55 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/20/how-to-decide-if-your-commute-is-too-long/#comment-188292 I just stumbled upon your blog and love it! I understand why you have so many readers. Take care... I just stumbled upon your blog and love it! I understand why you have so many readers. Take care…

]]> By: Augusta Fells http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/20/how-to-decide-if-your-commute-is-too-long/comment-page-1/#comment-181418 Augusta Fells Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:19:10 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/20/how-to-decide-if-your-commute-is-too-long/#comment-181418 This is a really interesting point: If the new American Dream doesn't involve a 30-year career, does it make sense for it to always involve a 30-year mortgage? There was an article written a few years a go (in Newsweek? Time? not sure...) about how government policies that encourage homeownership shift potential dollars away from businesses, savings, and other investments that would have a more stimulatory effect on the economy and put them into real estate. Maybe the answer to unemployment and lack of investment in businesses is the same: renting! This is a really interesting point: If the new American Dream doesn't involve a 30-year career, does it make sense for it to always involve a 30-year mortgage?

There was an article written a few years a go (in Newsweek? Time? not sure…) about how government policies that encourage homeownership shift potential dollars away from businesses, savings, and other investments that would have a more stimulatory effect on the economy and put them into real estate. Maybe the answer to unemployment and lack of investment in businesses is the same: renting!

]]> By: Will G. http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/20/how-to-decide-if-your-commute-is-too-long/comment-page-1/#comment-148106 Will G. Wed, 28 May 2008 15:46:19 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/20/how-to-decide-if-your-commute-is-too-long/#comment-148106 My wife and I (recently married) live in NJ and work 30 miles from home in opposite directions. For her, she goes against traffic which take a nice 20-25 minutes doing 60 mph down a highway. Meanwhile I face a mean 1-1 1/2 hour drive on Rt 287 doing about 8.7 mph (lol). Plus I cut through Rutgers University which during the school year adds on about 30-45 min. My road options are pretty limited being the way the roads were built and other transportation is not an option (train, bus, etc). Getting to work on time is dicey because it is hit or miss how many accidents or how much contruction I will see each day (notice I didn't say "IF"). Last week a truck accident caused me to spend 3 hours and 40 min crawling to work. Oh and for the wonderful gas prices which keep increasing, I fill my tank every three days at approximately $60 a shot. That's about an annual $3000-$4000 excluding weekends. Tack on the several accidents I have been in (rear-ended, side swiped, etc) the car bills chip away too. Anyways, thanks for letting me vent and your article made me realize that this is not nor is it healthy. A loose rule of thumb should be: if you commute by car, try to work in your own area code and/or county. My wife and I (recently married) live in NJ and work 30 miles from home in opposite directions. For her, she goes against traffic which take a nice 20-25 minutes doing 60 mph down a highway. Meanwhile I face a mean 1-1 1/2 hour drive on Rt 287 doing about 8.7 mph (lol). Plus I cut through Rutgers University which during the school year adds on about 30-45 min. My road options are pretty limited being the way the roads were built and other transportation is not an option (train, bus, etc). Getting to work on time is dicey because it is hit or miss how many accidents or how much contruction I will see each day (notice I didn't say "IF"). Last week a truck accident caused me to spend 3 hours and 40 min crawling to work.

Oh and for the wonderful gas prices which keep increasing, I fill my tank every three days at approximately $60 a shot. That's about an annual $3000-$4000 excluding weekends. Tack on the several accidents I have been in (rear-ended, side swiped, etc) the car bills chip away too.

Anyways, thanks for letting me vent and your article made me realize that this is not nor is it healthy. A loose rule of thumb should be: if you commute by car, try to work in your own area code and/or county.

]]> By: orlando http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/20/how-to-decide-if-your-commute-is-too-long/comment-page-1/#comment-135173 orlando Mon, 04 Feb 2008 20:16:53 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/20/how-to-decide-if-your-commute-is-too-long/#comment-135173 I live 300 miles from where I work at this time. I stay with family to cut the daily commute down to 60 minutes each way. I ride a shuttle bus that costs $90 for a one month pass. On Fridays I drive myself to work so that I can head straight home after work. With gasoline prices rising and the cost of car maintenance and the bus fare it is getting pretty expensive. I have been doing this for 3 1/2 years and I was hoping to finish 5 years to get vested. There is an office where I live and I work there when I have had car trouble. My boss has tried to get me moved but upper management says no. I live 300 miles from where I work at this time. I stay with family to cut the daily commute down to 60 minutes each way. I ride a shuttle bus that costs $90 for a one month pass. On Fridays I drive myself to work so that I can head straight home after work. With gasoline prices rising and the cost of car maintenance and the bus fare it is getting pretty expensive. I have been doing this for 3 1/2 years and I was hoping to finish 5 years to get vested. There is an office where I live and I work there when I have had car trouble. My boss has tried to get me moved but upper management says no.

]]> By: Second outing: On commutes, public transport and jobs « La Vie Quotidienne http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/20/how-to-decide-if-your-commute-is-too-long/comment-page-1/#comment-135124 Second outing: On commutes, public transport and jobs « La Vie Quotidienne Mon, 04 Feb 2008 06:02:11 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/20/how-to-decide-if-your-commute-is-too-long/#comment-135124 [...] post started forming in my head when my reply to Penelope’s post yesterday on how to decide if your commute is too long failed to show up on her blog. She raises some good points about weighing up commuting decisions [...] [...] post started forming in my head when my reply to Penelope's post yesterday on how to decide if your commute is too long failed to show up on her blog. She raises some good points about weighing up commuting decisions [...]

]]> By: Mapgirl’s Fiscal Challenge / Opining on Shorter Commutes http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/20/how-to-decide-if-your-commute-is-too-long/comment-page-1/#comment-133859 Mapgirl’s Fiscal Challenge / Opining on Shorter Commutes Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:17:50 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/20/how-to-decide-if-your-commute-is-too-long/#comment-133859 [...] Money Finance coincidentally posted an article on shorter commutes by Penelope Trunk, on the same day I said that a shorter commute is one reason why I switched jobs. [...] [...] Money Finance coincidentally posted an article on shorter commutes by Penelope Trunk, on the same day I said that a shorter commute is one reason why I switched jobs. [...]

]]> By: Fred http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/20/how-to-decide-if-your-commute-is-too-long/comment-page-1/#comment-130000 Fred Mon, 24 Dec 2007 20:02:45 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/20/how-to-decide-if-your-commute-is-too-long/#comment-130000 I believe a person's commuting time should be a secondary factor; secondary to such things as whether WHAT they're doing and WHO they are working for. One of my favorite quotes of all time is: "What makes men happy is liking what they have to do" - Anonymous I believe a person's commuting time should be a secondary factor; secondary to such things as whether WHAT they're doing and WHO they are working for. One of my favorite quotes of all time is: "What makes men happy is liking what they have to do" – Anonymous

]]> By: JoyChaser.com » Is Your Commute Too Long: How That Long Drive May Be Hurting Your Life - A blog for those in pursuit of happiness http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/20/how-to-decide-if-your-commute-is-too-long/comment-page-1/#comment-129947 JoyChaser.com » Is Your Commute Too Long: How That Long Drive May Be Hurting Your Life - A blog for those in pursuit of happiness Mon, 24 Dec 2007 17:38:03 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/20/how-to-decide-if-your-commute-is-too-long/#comment-129947 [...] Trunk recently posted about How To Decide If Your Commute Is Too Long; it’s a really great post that mentions some of the ways a long commute can have a negative [...] [...] Trunk recently posted about How To Decide If Your Commute Is Too Long; it's a really great post that mentions some of the ways a long commute can have a negative [...]

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