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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 18,033
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 18,033 |
I did the opposite. In stead of moving closer to work, I moved work closer to me. I'm a Vision Center Manager for Wal-Mart, and my commute was 50 minutes each way for 7 years, all freeway, and about 85% of it during morning or evening rush hour. A store opened up in my neighboring community, and I transferred there. Commute is now less than 15 minutes, my fuel consumption is down over 60%, my cars last longer, and there's no travel related stress. I had a typical traffic jam on the way to work yesterday-3 deer crossing the road!
I didn't realize how stressed I was from putting up with the idiots on my commute. The store I was in was an urban store, and virtually a free-fire zone among the gangs. Now, I'm in a rural store. My customers are my neighbors, area farmers-just plain good folks. Shorten the drive up and improve your life.
molɔ̀ːn labé skýla
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,867 Likes: 5
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,867 Likes: 5 |
I live in town, and commute to the farm a couple of times a week. We're looking at buying property near the farm, but there are a couple of things that I, at least, consider.
First, is the simple risk of driving a long distance every day. Driving is by far, BY FAR, the most dangerous thing we do. Throw in a mountain pass and icy roads, rising and/or setting sun in your eyes, and it makes me want to live very close to work.
Second is wear and tear on the vehicles. I do a little over 30,000 miles a year on the truck. The last one had 360,000 miles on her when my son spun out at hit the guard rail with it. Big commutes eat vehicles, a HUGE expense.
I grew up on a farm, and isolation is something that doesn't faze me, but many women don't cope well with "can't see the neighbor" scenarios. Unhappy wife, unhappy life..... When you get older, distance to relatives and medical facilities seem to become more important.
For us, we're happy to enjoy the benefits of a smaller town, theater, restaurants, movies, decent selection at the liquor store..... Plus, the redhead has her relatives in town, and that makes a difference, too. For a while yet, I'm commuting, and that's ok.
Sic Semper Tyrannis
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494 |
I work from home now and travel to visit customers. Every time I watch Doc Hollywood, I think about moving to a small town.
Anyway, I agree with Teal's comment about unwinding in the car. I know it sounds crazy, due to traffic problems, etc. But when I used to walk to work, I missed the time unwinding between work and home. Dad drove 13 miles one way in Houston for years. Took on average 1 hour or more. Moved to the country at my begging, and moved the business too, but not to where we lived quite.... he had a 39 mile one way drive then every day. Took on average about 42 minutes IIRC. Less drive time, 3 times the distance, and much more relaxing drive. If I had to be forced to pay the bills and it required moving to a city, I would I guess. As long as I knew there was NO other way to do it. Other than that, anyone that moves closer to or into a city is nuts, but I'm thankful for them. The job will eventually end, and then what are you stuck with...
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,494 |
I live in town, and commute to the farm a couple of times a week. We're looking at buying property near the farm, but there are a couple of things that I, at least, consider.
First, is the simple risk of driving a long distance every day. Driving is by far, BY FAR, the most dangerous thing we do. Throw in a mountain pass and icy roads, rising and/or setting sun in your eyes, and it makes me want to live very close to work.
Second is wear and tear on the vehicles. I do a little over 30,000 miles a year on the truck. The last one had 360,000 miles on her when my son spun out at hit the guard rail with it. Big commutes eat vehicles, a HUGE expense.
I grew up on a farm, and isolation is something that doesn't faze me, but many women don't cope well with "can't see the neighbor" scenarios. Unhappy wife, unhappy life..... When you get older, distance to relatives and medical facilities seem to become more important.
For us, we're happy to enjoy the benefits of a smaller town, theater, restaurants, movies, decent selection at the liquor store..... Plus, the redhead has her relatives in town, and that makes a difference, too. For a while yet, I'm commuting, and that's ok. The unhappy wife/life thing just means you didn't choose right....
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,867 Likes: 5
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,867 Likes: 5 |
The unhappy wife/life thing just means you didn't choose right....
Oh, I picked VERY CAREFULLY.... the second time around. Willingness to live at the end of the road was not a deal breaker issue, let me assure you.
Sic Semper Tyrannis
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 23,474 Likes: 9
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 23,474 Likes: 9 |
I like to live very close to where I work.
I lived out of town once, and it was terrible. 15 minute drive to the harbor, post office, etc. Now I can walk to the harbor in under 5.
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 170
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 170 |
Good god, if I'm working a job an hour from home I'm happier than a pig in $hit. I'm usually 1 1/2 - 2 hours each way, at times its been 2 1/2 - 3 hours each way. But that's a price I'll gladly pay to support my family & have my kids grow up in a rural area.
I've commuted to work down south for close to twenty years & if anything, I want to move even farther away from the city.
There's nothing in the city that I need, to many a$$holes stacked up on top of eachother, traffic jams, gangs, drugs, filth....
Lee
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317 |
"City" can be a relative term. Technically we're in the city limits, but on a 1/2 acre where we watch the sun set over the ocean from our dining room Neighbors include black bears, mountain goats, wolverines, fox and I'm sure yotes though I haven't seen one yet. Drive 10-15 minutes and I'm hiking in the hills with these views.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 15,380
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 15,380 |
Its 38.5 miles one from the end of my driveway to my parking spot at work .....u CAN NOT put a price on a good time >period...5 miles one way to the next guy on the power line is a dream date IMO... Of course .…everyday in Alaska is a weekend.... Many don't understand that/and u can't be helped....
I work harder than a ugly stripper....
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