Job Q: driving to work, how long?

[BenoA]

Thanks for all yours answers guys. I'll have another long discussion with the wife tonite. We'll both make the pros and cons of that possible new job.

[Carbuff]

Yeah, Its 5 minutes to work for me. I would definately consider it though. So many people dont consider this when getting a new job. I know so many people who got their dream job only to be burnt out after a few months of commuting an hour or more each way. I could never do that. It would suck out any passion that I had for the job.

[NextInLine]

Thanks for all yours answers guys. I'll have another long discussion with the wife tonite. We'll both make the pros and cons of that possible new job.

BenoA, I won't be able to give you a suggestion but I can make you think about 2 things:

1-) You never know what can bring you happiness, from what I've read if things don't go unexpectedly bad this is a good opportunity for your career and maybe in the following months your life can change a lot. So i think it's always good to "try"

2-) I always think jobs, career plans, all these stuff are way overrated. More than %50 of the current occupations are related with new age technology and while technology should be making our lives easier, it only makes them "a lot" worse from what i can see! Giving 2 hours and 30 minutes of your day besides all that worktime is "a lot". People should be working for a better life, or to keep their life standards as they are but nowadays "a better job = less and less life" Mankind should take a breath and think what it's living for imo. And as a side note, I am a computer engineer.

I wish you and your family all the best, good luck!

[BenoA]

2-) I always think jobs, career plans, all these stuff are way overrated. More than %50 of the current occupations are related with new age technology and while technology should be making our lives easier, it only makes them "a lot" worse from what i can see! Giving 2 hours and 30 minutes of your day besides all that worktime is "a lot". People should be working for a better life, or to keep their life standards as they are but nowadays "a better job = less and less life" Mankind should take a breath and think what it's living for imo.

Food for tought! Thanks for sharing.

I think like you. Career plans are way overrated. I've always jumped from job to job, being more an opportunist than a careerist (is that a word! )

But my resume looks like a roller coaster. If I look at what I have done in the past 5 years (all for the same company): 5 different job positions and must have dealt with over 8 different managers/supervisors!

I just hit 40 this year and if I look at some of my friends' accomplishments, I wonder what I have done since I got out of University.

Funny thing is that I'm somewhat happy with my actual job but I surely know I can do way way better. And these days, I'm some kind of pissed off at my job as my current manager is like more putting me aside than involving in those important topics. I tried talking to him but always get those uncleared answers.

This recent job offer has been making question myself a lot!:think:

Thanks a lot guys for all those answers.

[Shawn Lutz]

50% travel (away from home) would be the deal killer for me, not the driving, at least when you drive, you still see your wife and kids everyday

Most of the time when they put a percentage on travel, its way underestimated so if they say 30% its really 50%.

[Endrik]

I just hit 40 this year and if I look at some of my friends' accomplishments, I wonder what I have done since I got out of University.

Yeah but unless they've invented some cancer cure or something else in that category and only have to show one extra car and two extra bedrooms and aren't happier than you are then who gives a shit
The most important thing is to have as much good time as possible outside the work and if the work becomes a distracting factor then it's hard to keep the sanity. Maybe the new job is positive but the driving thing can have a negative effect. I don't know what is it with the cars. There's many folks who have spent half of their lives in a car, long commutes because of work but also going to 7Eleven two blocks away with a car. And they live in their own little anti-social bubbles, having no sense of what's really going on. It's a strange fucking world. The cars really have un-humanizing effect.

But if the new job works out well, then perhaps yo can drive that distance for a couple of years until your kids finnish the high school or whatever they have going and and then relocate, closer to that work place?

[Rich#6]

I wouldn't do it. I spent the last 10 years(when I had a job) driving between 45-50 miles each way for the past 2 jobs. Leaving the house at 7 or 8 in the morning and getting home around 7 sucks. You will forget what daylight is. The traveling would kill it for me also. When it rains heavy add an hour(one way) and when it snows the trip can be between 3-4 hours. It was a heavy toll on my cars until I bought saturns.
If the gas prices go back up that will eat up a lot of your increase too. I bought a Honda insight to help with that but of course I lost my job the next month. grr!

[DonP]

In short term, moving closer is not an option but what about having "No time" keeps coming back in my head. 2 of my kids are in good high schools and both have educationnal program they like. One is in music the other just started some kind of international program. I don't want them to get out this now. And my wife moved a lot when she was younger and she hated it.

This is the deal breaker.

[Musician78]

I hate long commutes. I would have to make at least 100K/year in order to drive one hour and 15 minutes each way. Maybe even closer to 125. I am totally not joking.

[Wylde06]

I hate long commutes. I would have to make at least 100K/year in order to drive one hour and 15 minutes each way. Maybe even closer to 125. I am totally not joking.

At the BMW dealership where i work...the general manager drives 2 1/2 hours one way...

[BenoA]

Yeah but unless they've invented some cancer cure or something else in that category and only have to show one extra car and two extra bedrooms and aren't happier than you are then who gives a shit
The most important thing is to have as much good time as possible outside the work and if the work becomes a distracting factor then it's hard to keep the sanity.

So true!!!

So case is closed! I just finished a long long talk with the wife.

We've done the pros and cons... I'm no careerist. I know it.

I know I won't get that cool USA Jackson anytime soon as my actual salary won't permit it. But I know something, I get back home not too late and my life with my family is what makes me happy!

So, I'm keeping the job I have right now. May be far from perfect but that's OK wath I care for.

Thanks for this very constructive exchange guys! That was fun.

Rock on everyone!

[missionguitars1]

I know I won't get that cool USA Jackson anytime soon as my actual salary won't permit it. But I know something, I get back home not too late and my life with my family is what makes me happy!

Late to the party, but being the married father of 3 that used to commute over an hour each way and hated it SO much that I ended up selling my house just to move closer to work, I think you did the right thing!

FWIW, with the time you're saving, consider starting you own side-business out of your house to pay for that new Jackson - that's what I ended up doing!

[Larz]

I might have missed it but do you have kids or plan to soon? Mine are 8 and 11 and both have some sort of practice virtually every day of the week (soccer, lacrosse, baseball, tennis, volleyball, etc.). Fortunately I work 5 minutes from their school and our house so its not too bad getting them where they need to be, or take them to the doctor, etc., plus I coach baseball as well.

A long commute would make this type of scheduling very difficult to handle.

I used to do a combo bus/boat/subway commute getting into Boston and don't miss it.

[BenoA]

Hey Larz! You are a bit late but thanks for your comment.

I do have kids, 3 boys, 10, 12 and 14. They don't have too many things outside their regular school but anyway, that would kill me not being able to be with them enough.

I decided to keep what I'm doing for now (see my above post). With some luck, I'll have another opportunity that will show up closer.

[Grandturk]

I look at what my father did for years - 3 hrs commute every day and drove a paper truck on Saturdays. He busted his ass to make sure we lived in a good neighborhood, all four of us went to private schools and college and wanted for nothing. And he busted his ass to make it to all of my HS football and little league baseball games. Sure he sacrificed of himself - but that's what you're supposed to do, right? When I start a family, I'll have no problem doing the same.