Every morning, I wake up at the same time, kiss my wife, feed the cat, shower, pack my lunch and get in the car to go to work. On a normal day, my commute consists of 30 minutes on an average interstate. I don’t live in LA, Chicago, or NYC, so heavy traffic for me is a walk in the park compared to those of you in busy cities.
Having gone from a 5-minute “commute” to a 30-minute “actual commute” within the past year, I’ll admit it initially annoyed the fuck out of me. Everyday, I deal with at least three assholes who need to learn how to drive, not to mention the fact that the Midwest has only two seasons: winter and road construction. It required that I wake up earlier, get home later, all for a pay raise that most likely doesn’t do much more than cover the extra gas I burn getting to and from work.
All that being said, about six months ago, something clicked in my thick skull and I decided I needed to just stop bitching and enjoy the drive. I had a particularly unpleasant day at work, dealing with fellow employees who I suspect have a medical condition known as “shit for brains.” Five minutes after I left the office, my wife called to tell me we needed to make a surprise road trip that evening to visit her parents, who live an hour away.
The following revelation changed the course of my daily life: my 30-minute commute meant that I was GUARANTEED a whole hour to myself each day. No boss, no moron coworkers, no wife. Just a man and his thoughts. Other commuters who can’t drive? Fuck ‘em. I’m in no hurry. Phone ringing? Whoops, didn’t hear it. I can listen to rage metal if I feel exceptionally pissed off, listen to talk radio if I decide to have a clue about what’s going on in the world, and I can listen to some Mozart if I wanna be all classy and shit.
I cannot stress this enough. Embrace your commute. Cherish that time to yourself, because when you get to work, we all know what sort of bullshit will start flying at you the second you set foot in the door. When you get home, your parents will demand that you “earn your keep” since you’re living at home. Your roommates will demand that you do your dishes. Your significant other will demand that you do the dishes. Your landlord will have made a mess fixing the stove, leaving you to either walk around in filth or clean up the colossal mess he made. Someday your kids will be clamoring for toys or attention or food or some other nonsense.
Something is bound to happen, but that time behind the wheel – that’s your time.
I wouldn’t trade my hour on the train for anything. In the morning I pass the fuck out and enjoy an extra hour of sleep, in the evening I drink a tall boy and relax
San Francisco I’m guessing.
where you living man?
Tall boy on the train? Sounds like Amsterdam…
Winter and road construction… Minneapolis?
Toledo area. Basically the same thing.
Went from a 45er to a 10er. I never want to look back.
“Not to mention the fact that the Midwest has only two seasons: winter and road construction.”
This line got me. Well done
Fuck commutes. I did an hour and 15 at my first job. My work suffered drastically as a result. Current job has a 20 minute commute, if you can even call it that. Complete upgrade in quality of life. My last day here is in a week. Hopefully my next position won’t be too bad.
If it weren’t for my commute, I wouldn’t have seen Bruno Mars front row. Gotta love AM radio shows.
Bruno Mars sucks. Hope you took a girl.
This is my life. Except in Columbus, OH. I’ve started to not care about the traffic, and just enjoy the radio and my time to think.
I would love a longer commute. I live 7 blocks from my office and it’s never enough time to properly wake up for the day.
Try an hour and 15 minute drive in and out of Washington, DC every day and see if you’re still enjoying it. I can’t take that time to myself because I’m constantly having to playing defense against the other 300,000 cars on the Beltway/395.
Sorry to hear that. I take it public transit is not an option?
Unfortunately not.