How far do you drive to work?

Flint • Jul 24, 2008 1:02 pm
How long does it take you to get there? Is it worth it?
lookout123 • Jul 24, 2008 1:06 pm
after dropping LL off and swinging back around the one ways my drive is about 15 miles. It takes me about 15-20 minutes usually. Is it worth it? It beats spending 20 minutes in line at the welfare office I suppose.
morethanpretty • Jul 24, 2008 1:06 pm
About 15mins. If I have a long shift (8-10hrs), yes. If I have a short shift, which is increasingly happening, then no. But what choice do I have? No buses run near my apt (although there is one right by work) and the schedule I work isn't consistent enough to rely on that mode of transportation. Bike or walk you say? In Texas? In 100degree weather? I'm already sick, I don't want to kill myself.
lookout123 • Jul 24, 2008 1:09 pm
The longest commute I've had in the last 10 years was literally an hour and a half. Two hours and fifteen minutes if I had to pick LL up that day. That project lasted about 9 months and was one of the reasons I left that company.

My shortest was 8 seconds. That is how long it took me to walk from the refridgerator to my office when I worked from home. Hated it. I'd be at my desk at 5 in the morning and at midnight "just to check a quick thing".
wolf • Jul 24, 2008 1:09 pm
I drive less than three miles to work. If the connecting road hadn't been closed, I'd be driving something less than 1 1/2 mile.

It's worth it to the extent that since I do drive to work, I am able to afford to have someplace from which to drive to work.

I've been considering (with varying degrees of seriousness) either a bicycle or one of those Scooter thingies.
Clodfobble • Jul 24, 2008 1:12 pm
The vast majority of the time I don't go anywhere, but when I do have to go into the office, it's about 15 miles/20 minutes. Mr. Clod's is 15 miles/30 minutes. I'd prefer that it were closer so he could get home sooner, but it doesn't seem to bother him. It is the longest commute he's ever had.


SOOO. Tell us about this job offer you got with the company that wanted to interview you right away, and how far away is it? ;)
HungLikeJesus • Jul 24, 2008 1:19 pm
I go to the office one day per week, and it's my least productive day. Otherwise I work from home.

Round-trip driving distance: 74 miles
Total driving time: ~1h 45m (depends on time of day)
Gas use: ~ 0.9 gallons

I do enjoy getting out of the house that one day per week, but wouldn't want to make the drive much more than that.
Cloud • Jul 24, 2008 1:26 pm
My round trip is less than 5 miles. I'm a lucky D.O.B.
Flint • Jul 24, 2008 1:33 pm
Clodfobble;471222 wrote:

SOOO. Tell us about this job offer you got with the company that wanted to interview you right away, and how far away is it? ;)
It's an hour both ways without traffic (I've driven it at off-hours). Probably an hour-and-a-half with. The guy who I'd be working for lives about the same distance away. He'd let me work 7 to 3, which is what he does to avoid the worst traffic.

I'd be spending $300 a month on gas, and I'd have to buy another car for my wife. Considering additional expenses, there would be probably a net $20k difference after breaking even and paying my existing bills.

If he offers me the job, I'd have to take it. My current place knows that I'm officially on the market, and that I will give them an opportunity to make a counter-offer before I leave for more money.
lookout123 • Jul 24, 2008 1:37 pm
Well done Flint. I respect the way you are approaching this. Next question: Is this a job that you want, or is it just the money you want?
xoxoxoBruce • Jul 24, 2008 1:38 pm
LJ has the worlds worst commute. :yelgreedy
lookout123 • Jul 24, 2008 1:43 pm
I fully support long commutes in the name of the almighty dollar. I just like to make sure the person has their motivations straight in their own head so they don't become disillusioned too quickly. Old recruiter's habit.
classicman • Jul 24, 2008 1:44 pm
16 miles ~ 25 to 45 minutes depending on what time I leave
Flint • Jul 24, 2008 1:46 pm
lookout123;471243 wrote:
Well done Flint. I respect the way you are approaching this. Next question: Is this a job that you want, or is it just the money you want?
It would be a new challenge, to break me out of stagnation. A chance to navigate some major system migrations, and then work with the newer technology and add to my skillset.

It would be a chance to both have the advantage of more authority, while also suffering the stress of more responsibility.

It would be way out of my comfort zone, which is where I need to go in order to really advance my career path. I'm too comfortable.
lookout123 • Jul 24, 2008 1:48 pm
I'm too comfortable.


Oh, that's it. I thought you just had gas.

It sounds like a pretty great opportunity to me. I'm assuming that you make under $200K right now so having an extra $20K(>10%) increase is pretty awesome. When you add in the real world education and career growth opportunities it sounds like a real winner.
Flint • Jul 24, 2008 1:54 pm
lookout123;471254 wrote:
...
It sounds like a pretty great opportunity to me. I'm assuming that you make under $200K right now so having an extra $20K(>10%) increase is pretty awesome. When you add in the real world education and career growth opportunities it sounds like a real winner.


Another $20k would be nice for my family, for sure.

In reality, I would be making (at least) that same +$20k at any other facility offering this type of position. It's just that I've found this one, it looks like a great fit, and I really need the money rather urgently.

Another opportunity could open up 30 minutes away, but I can't wait around expecting that to happen. I've got to act.
glatt • Jul 24, 2008 2:22 pm
You didn't tell us what your current commute is and how much of an increase this would be.

You have to figure out how many extra hours a day you will be spending away from your loved ones, and then decide if the improvement in your lifestyle from the extra money will be worth the decline in your lifestyle because your kids won't see as much of their dad.

Will you be leaving in the morning before your kids wake up and coming home after they are in bed? Only seeing them on the weekends?
bbro • Jul 24, 2008 2:44 pm
My commute is about 35 miles depending on which route I choose at that time. Usually it takes me about 45 minutes, but again, it depends on the route. Traffic can also change in the span of 10 minutes.
I have left at 8:00 and gotten to work at 8:40-8:45. I have also left at 8:10 and barely made it to work by 9, usually a few minutes late. Coming home is completely different ballgame.

I hate it. If my current company offers me a permanent position (beginning of next year), I am so moving closer to work.
nowhereman • Jul 24, 2008 4:10 pm
About a mile one way. It makes the insurance police crazy - they want to charge more for long commutes I guess. Good thing - close. Bad thing - too easy to "just go down to the studio for a minute".
bluecuracao • Jul 24, 2008 6:05 pm
According to mapquest, if I drove to work it would take me 43 minutes to go 31.72 miles. I assume that would be without traffic--although it is a "reverse commute."

But I take public transit, which goes like this: 4 to 5 minutes on the subway, 40 minutes give or take on the train, and then about a half hour on the bus. The house-to-subway-to-train part is the most exciting and involves lots of running, because of course I leave my house at the latest possible second.

It's worth it not to drive, I think. I get to zone out on the train, and it's cheaper than having a car, at less than $150/month.
lookout123 • Jul 24, 2008 6:14 pm
But that is an extra hour per day and you are limited as to where the public system will take you. I guess if you don't have to be mobile during the business day it wouldn't be a big deal... but still.
TheMercenary • Jul 24, 2008 6:34 pm
Main job- 35 miles, Second job- 70 miles, other job-45 miles, other job- 35 miles, rare other job- 80 miles.

Yea, they are all worth it.
bluecuracao • Jul 24, 2008 6:39 pm
True, and I'm also somewhat limited by the public transit timetable. Which for me means I have a great excuse not to stay too late at work.

SEPTA is a pretty big network, with the buses, trolleys, trains and subways. I haven't needed to go anywhere where they don't go yet.
lumberjim • Jul 24, 2008 7:01 pm
60 miles one way. 0:55 - 1:05 going fast on saturday morning with no traffic.

During the weeK? I plan for 1:40 minutes, and am usually late in the morning. The worst thing is when I'm here until 11 and then get stuck sitting in construction on the sure kill. that's hurts my taint.

yes, it's worth it. been doing it 4 years now.
lookout123 • Jul 24, 2008 7:30 pm
Wow. It's been that long already?
zippyt • Jul 24, 2008 7:58 pm
on average from 10 minuets ( about 7-8 miles ) To 4+ hrs ( 200 + miles ) , every now and then 12++ hrs ( 600 ++ miles ) , oh these are 1 way distances ,
But I drive a company truck , they pay for the gas , maint , etc,,,
Plus I start getting paid as soon as the truck starts , and stop when I get home .
Oh and I can use the truck as much as I want ,
barefoot serpent • Jul 25, 2008 12:48 pm
TheMercenary;471314 wrote:
Main job- 35 miles, Second job- 70 miles, other job-45 miles, other job- 35 miles, rare other job- 80 miles.

Yea, they are all worth it.


it's tough being a gigolo ;)

me: ~1.5 mi. and I take the long way to avoid traffic on a bike.
freshnesschronic • Jul 25, 2008 2:38 pm
Less than 15 miles to my farthest destination (Chicago golf sites) on the northside of Chicago, although it takes the same amount of time to get to south west side site even though it is less distance (congestion and time of day are the factors).

If I hadn't moved to the city for the summer I'd be commuting an hour 15 to the northside, and just under an hour to the rest of my destinations.

Yes it's worth it. This summer internship is what I need to get my foot in the door.
miketrees • Jul 26, 2008 7:45 am
I take about 45 minutes to work. It pisses me right off if I do it in peak hour, then it takes an hour.
So I am leaving the job and going 1000km north to work in a small coastal town where I will have no driving to do.
I worked from home for about 20 years and I just cant stand driving to work, it really sucks and it takes too much of your life away
Flint • Jul 27, 2008 12:04 am
So, miketrees, lurk around AG much...following links back to the Cellar?

Edit: If so, you'd know that the infamous Michael has returned, promising bug fixes to restore 2002-era functionality.
miketrees • Jul 27, 2008 1:20 am
I am looking for a home Flintobuttmous
classicman • Jul 27, 2008 11:40 pm
Well the market is pretty good from a buyers perspective - you should have no trouble at all. :rolleyes:
miketrees • Jul 28, 2008 5:26 am
I meant on the net :)
Sundae • Jul 28, 2008 8:17 am
Well the market is pretty good from a buyers perspective - you should have no trouble at all. :D
classicman • Jul 28, 2008 8:56 am
:lol2: - oh and a belated welcome to the cellar.
Sheldonrs • Jul 28, 2008 9:04 am
I take the bus to work and i walk home. It's about 2.2 miles each way.
LabRat • Jul 28, 2008 10:24 am
My commute is 35 miles one way. It is 50-60 minutes from my front door to the lab door when you include the 12 minute walk from my parking ramp because of the lousy parking situation here. Off peak traffic hours and speeding I have done it in 40 minutes, but only on rare occasion :).

I love my job. I have high job satisfaction, excellent benefits, and a killer retirement plan. The worst part about it is in fact the commute.

The time I spend in my car has been spent away from my daughter, and that has hurt a bit. But becasue my bosses and job are so flexable, I am able to be with her whenever I want/need to such as leave early for soccer, or swimming, or like I am doing this summer, taking Thursday's off to hang with her on her daycare fieldtrips.

Do I wish I had that gas money? Hell yes. And my time is worth money too. But I grew up watching my parents loath the jobs they had to keep a roof over our heads, and feel lucky that my job rarely feels like 'work' because I enjoy it so much. If the worst part about it is the commute, so be it.
Big Red • Jul 28, 2008 11:11 am
Quit complaning you have a slack job that should make up for some time. if you dont stop complaining I will Dostart your ass
xoxoxoBruce • Jul 28, 2008 11:15 am
Well, I guess Red's not getting any for a while. :lol2:
Sundae • Jul 28, 2008 11:37 am
If that's the Rat complaining I reassess all of her opinions on how grumpy she can be.

Perfectly reasonable chick, carry on. Red, you meanie.
LabRat • Jul 28, 2008 12:42 pm
Guess I should have mentioned time away from him too. . . oops. :o