Commuting for work - how far is too far?

[natewood70]

Hello my fellow geeks!

Like many of us on the forum I work in a different profession by day and let out my inner detailer at night and on the weekends.

That being said, where I am now is a place where I do not see much growth anymore. In fact, I get bored at work and spend the majority of my days browsing the Internet and studying new technologies (I'm a network engineer).

I received an offer for a new job that is absolutely my DREAM job, but it will take my commute from 30 to 60 minutes. They are flexible on work times, and will even allow me to telecommute 1 day out of the week, but I'm just nervous about the longer commute eating into time with my wife and daughter.

So... that being said, does anyone currently have a ~1 hour commute? If so, how do you pass the time so you don't go crazy? I was thinking audiobooks and podcasts would be a good start, but I'm just not sure if the commute will beat me down enough to the point that I regret my decision.

Anyway, thanks for any advice or input you all can offer!

-Nate

 

[Buster906]

When one enjoys their work or job, then you never work another day in your life. Since you like detailing, there are plenty of YouTube videos you could download for the commute. Just my 2 cents

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[custmsprty]

I'd say if it's your dream job I'd say go for it. I know people who commute 60-90+ minutes each way every day. I guess you have to weigh the pros vs the cons and discuss it with your family and see how they feel about it.

 

[Nick McKees37]

Go for it. :dblthumb2:

 

[natewood70]

When one enjoys their work or job, then you never work another day in your life. Since you like detailing, there are plenty of YouTube videos you could download for the commute. Just my 2 cents

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Can't watch the videos while I drive

I'd say if it's your dream job I'd say go for it. I know people who commute 60-90+ minutes each way every day. I guess you have to weigh the pros vs the cons and discuss it with your family and see how they feel about it.

Yeah, I know that is very common in California, New York, and other places. I talked to my wife about it and she is very supportive. I know this is up to me, but I just don't want to take the job, and 6 months later I really hate the commute. But, it seems doable since a lot of other people take a similar (if not longer), commute. I just like hearing other opinions about it since someone with a different perspective might be able to mention some things I didn't think of.

Go for it. :dblthumb2:

Thanks, Nick. I'm leaning that way because everything else aside from the commute is saying GO GO GO! Hopefully the commute won't get to me

 

[Buster906]

Your wife supports you. Go go. And perhaps down the road a new to you house will be for sale closer to the new job

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[aztec1987]

I have two colleagues that commute about 72 miles one way from home to work and another 72 back! Here in California traffic gets pretty bad but in order for them to pass by the time they listen to talk radio such as news in order to make the commute faster. 3 days out of the week they carpool in order to beat the traffic (working 8pm start and getting out at 0430). If this is a dream job I say go for it.

 

[natewood70]

Your wife supports you. Go go. And perhaps down the road a new to you house will be for sale closer to the new job

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That's very true. The biggest thing to me is not sacrificing time with my wife and daughter (she's 4 months old, so I don't want to miss her growing up!) The commute is what it is it seems. I think I can just spin that in my favor of making it a personal development hour or something... decompress from the day and what not.

I have two colleagues that commute about 72 miles one way from home to work and another 72 back! Here in California traffic gets pretty bad but in order for them to pass by the time they listen to talk radio such as news in order to make the commute faster. 3 days out of the week they carpool in order to beat the traffic (working 8pm start and getting out at 0430). If this is a dream job I say go for it.

That is quite the hike! Comparing my drive to that, it isn't that bad at all haha.

 

[custmsprty]

It can take 45-60 minutes to go 20-25 miles in Tampa during the commuting hours :doh:

 

[ronkh57]

I'd say if it's your dream job I'd say go for it. I know people who commute 60-90+ minutes each way every day. I guess you have to weigh the pros vs the cons and discuss it with your family and see how they feel about it.

This ^^^^^

 

[FUNX650]

IMO:
Around an hour's commute, to and
from work, is more than doable...
and still have time for Family, Friends,
and Frivolity.

*****************************
Once upon a time (when I worked)
there were guys at my places of em-
ployment that lived in, and drove to
and from Indiana and Kentucky, to
work in Ohio.

{They said that the prevailing wages,
good benefits, etc. were the big draw.}



Bob

 

[aztec1987]

Try 45 minutes for 10 mile driver

 

[aztec1987]

I work 14 miles away from work, on a good day I get to work in 15 minutes, when it rains and everyone forgets to driver 20 minutes, when people stop by to see something out of this world (flat tire) 30 minutes!!!!

 

[natewood70]

It can take 45-60 minutes to go 20-25 miles in Tampa during the commuting hours :doh:

Yeah, that's rough. I'm in South Florida and I'll be driving from Royal Palm Beach down to Weston if you're familiar with the areas. Luckily, I won't be hitting the crazy traffic down in Miami (a hot spot for tech jobs). That would've been a hard no for me at that point.

IMO:
Around an hour's commute, to and
from work, is more than doable...
and still have time for Family, Friends,
and Frivolity.

*****************************
Once upon a time (when I worked)
there were guys at my places of em-
ployment that lived in, and drove to
and from Indiana and Kentucky, to
work in Ohio.

{They said that the prevailing wages,
good benefits, etc. were the big draw.}



Bob

Thanks, Bob. This is making more and more sense to take the jump. A commute is a commute, and if it doesn't work out (i.e. the commute is killing me), I can always find employment elsewhere.

I work 14 miles away from work, on a good day I get to work in 15 minutes, when it rains and everyone forgets to driver 20 minutes, when people stop by to see something out of this world (flat tire) 30 minutes!!!!

Haha. Yeah... I get that. People lose their minds when it's not a crystal clear day and no vehicles are on the side of the road.

 

[david79z28]

30-60 minutes isn't that bad at all... Pretty typical in our area.

 

[Misterpaul]

My commute is 7 minutes, 8-9 if I hit the light wrong, 10 if I get stuck behind the school bus.

 

[PaulMys]

My commute is 7 minutes, 8-9 if I hit the light wrong, 10 if I get stuck behind the school bus.

Exactly the same for me. 2.4 miles each way. And you should hear me in the truck when I get stuck behind a slow car.

Damn New Yorker's. :laughing:

 

[WindyCity]

If you are not fighting traffic with that flexible schedule I would go for it. Alot of my coworkers at the railroad have 60+ mile one way commutes but its a 24/7 operation so the work their schedule to not deal with any traffic


Weather sucks though

That being said I personally love my 3 mile commute


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[FrankS]

Yeah, that's rough. I'm in South Florida and I'll be driving from Royal Palm Beach down to Weston if you're familiar with the areas. Luckily, I won't be hitting the crazy traffic down in Miami (a hot spot for tech jobs). That would've been a hard no for me at that point.

I know exactly where Royal Palm Beach is. You are just a few miles west of me. I'm in West Palm Beach. My sister lives in Royal Palm behind Costco.

I work for a company which does construction material testing and inspections and we have offices in Riviera Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami. I'm also an Engineer, Civil though.

I've traveled quite a bit throughout the South Florida area and I've had to make the trip to the Weston area many times from West Palm Beach, actually from our office in Riviera Beach.

The Turnpike and the Sawgrass Expy is your best bet.

If you can manage to start work early and leave early you can avoid the rush hour traffic and it's not that bad of a drive. The Turnpike is less stressful than I-95.

I have a co-worker who commutes from West Palm Beach to our Fort Lauderdale office everday, not as far as Weston, but he gets there early and leaves early before the rush hour hits.

Weston is a nice area...who knows, you may find a nice place live there.

 

[bill110]

I drive 45 min each way. No traffic. Have to because no good paying jobs in my area in my field.. But, I love where i live. 16th fairway butts up to my back lawn and the lake is a 5 min. walk.