How far would you commute?

SilliRy · March 2010

I'm thinking of doing something a little crazy...

My old company is hiring for a position in Charlotte. I think I would have a good chance of getting the job, and I would really like to work for old company again. I know for sure that the salary and benefits would be way better than what I have now (especially since I don't have health insurance through my job and spend an arm and a leg on it).

I could probably finagle working at home for some part of the week, but I'd have to be in the office the majority of time. I live near Clemson though. I already commute 1 hr/each way every day. I don't know if I could mentally handle anything more than that.

So...how far would you commute for a job that you love?

MrsZP2B · March 2010

I would not commute that far. That's around 2.5 hours each way, or 5 hours a day.

Literally no amount of money would get me to give up an additional 5 hours a day for a job. I'm a person that works to live though, I don't live to work.

In DC I had to commute 45 minutes for one project I was on. It was terrible. I can't imagine ever commuting more than about 30 minutes each way moving forward.

That doesn't mean that YOU shouldn't... it would just not make me happy at all. I'd rather do a job I hated 8 hours a day, than a job I loved 8 hours plus a 5 hour commute. Those 5 hours are important to me.

PunkyBooster · March 2010

I had a 1 hour commute each way in Boston and was burned out. Of course that was only 5 miles, but traffic is what it is.

I am all about quality of life with regard to commutes. I wouldn't do more than 30 minutes anymore.

buckeyegirl58 · March 2010

I commute about 55 minutes now, commuted about the same when I lived in PA. When I was living in PA I did consider applying to jobs at my company that were in NYC, which would have been about a two hour trip, mainly on the train. The way that I looked at it was that I was already commuting 10 hours per week, if I worked from home 2 days a week and worked in the city, that would total 12 hours per week commuting, and a good chunk of that time would be on the train, and I could study, read, etc.

But, 2.5 hours DRIVING each way, 4-5 days a week- I couldn't do it.

LIAngel · March 2010

No way Jose! I work all over the place in different towns as an On Call Administrator for a financial company. Some days I might be 20 minutes away, some days I might be 45 minutes away. The furthest I will go is Boiling Springs- I think that's exit 70 something on 85 and I live off exit 46. Sometimes I wonder if even that's worth it.

Driving to Charlotte? Ugh from Clemson?! Double ugh. Dh and I hate it when we have to drive to Charlotte airport to pick up/drop off family members.

SilliRy · March 2010

Haha...yeah, I figured the responses would be like that. I don't think I could do the commute either. I currently do an hour each way every day, and it's really not that bad, but I couldn't spend 4-5 hours in my car every day (2 is pretty close to my limit!)

As much as I love our house, sometimes I really regret that we bought it. It's in the middle of nowhere, and there are very few if any job prospects there. I don't even bat an eye anymore at my commute...I know that it's my only option if I want to be gainfully employed!

MrsZP2B · March 2010

What if you put your house on the market and buy a house between your husband's school and your work? You could at least split the commute and share the burden.

laurenbncha# · March 2010

I'm so sorry Ry.

sctiger · March 2010

I couldn't do it. I already have a commute longer than I want (45 minutes to an hour) and it's so draining on me. It means less down time and less time to spend with your husband. You'd be very limited in what you can do after work in terms of social obligations and such. It just wouldn't be worth it to me!

How far would you commute?

Re: How far would you commute?

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