Should I accept my nightmare commute in order to take my dream job?
May 16, 2013 12:50 PM Subscribe
I've been offered my dream job! But between it and me is my worst nightmare--a terrible 1hr+ commute in LA traffic. A commute like this is a deal breaker for me, but at the same time, this position is a career-maker and I really want to figure out how to make it work. Does anyone have suggestions, tricks, or creative ideas to make my commute better? Specifics and details below.
So this is the commute I'm looking at. I know Google says it's a 30 minute drive, but Google is not so hot at estimating traffic here. Plus, even a 30 minute drive really gets to me.
Ok, so why do commutes bother me so much? First, I literally get sick in cars, especially when slowing down suddenly (e.g. constant braking in traffic). It's a kind of headache and mild queasiness. I hate it, but it's not unbearable. Secondly, I really feel trapped by the 40 hour work week. I have so many other things I'd like to do with my life, and I feel like working a full 40 hours leaves me almost no time to get stuff done for myself. Putting commute time on top of that adds to the misery. Also, I get incredibly bored in traffic. I have a very active, creative mind that doesn't want to stop: in the past I've listened to online courses and audiobooks, and podcasts, but ultimately, I am left with a sense of anxiety because I can't actually actively DO anything while driving.
Solutions?
So this is the commute I'm looking at. I know Google says it's a 30 minute drive, but Google is not so hot at estimating traffic here. Plus, even a 30 minute drive really gets to me.
Ok, so why do commutes bother me so much? First, I literally get sick in cars, especially when slowing down suddenly (e.g. constant braking in traffic). It's a kind of headache and mild queasiness. I hate it, but it's not unbearable. Secondly, I really feel trapped by the 40 hour work week. I have so many other things I'd like to do with my life, and I feel like working a full 40 hours leaves me almost no time to get stuff done for myself. Putting commute time on top of that adds to the misery. Also, I get incredibly bored in traffic. I have a very active, creative mind that doesn't want to stop: in the past I've listened to online courses and audiobooks, and podcasts, but ultimately, I am left with a sense of anxiety because I can't actually actively DO anything while driving.
Solutions?
- Take the metro. This makes the commute 1.5 hours, assuming I always arrive at the perfect time at the three or four various busses and trains I'd have to take. But on the other hand, I could use that time to do whatever I wanted--read, write, create...
- Ride my motorcycle. This makes the commute closer to Google's estimated 30 mins, but then weather becomes an annoyance and I get rattled up by the wind and the noise on my way to work every day.
- Get a better car. My current car is a noisy, clunky piece of junk that is a big part of the reason I get sick when I drive. A quieter car, (an electric?) would help things out. But my wife and I are both extremely frugal and extremely opposed to debt.
- Rideshare. I don't exactly know how or if this works, but I assume there is some way to find people with the same commute and pay them to drive you. But I think this would be hard to work out, especially since I would have a somewhat unreliable schedule.
- Taxi. Really expensive, but the bump in salary from taking this job would probably cover it. I don't actually know how much taxis cost though.
- ???
I used to live in Pasadena and work in the Valley. Have you, or can you, drive it at least once in rush hour to see what it's like? That would be my first recommendation. I can't imagine that commute taking over an hour every single time. Maybe sometimes, sure, but I bet most days it would be closer to a half hour.
One thing you might also ask is whether they will let you work off-hours - like 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. or 10:00 to 6:30, something like that. Or you could drive over there early and go to the gym before work, which is what I did when I had to drive Santa Clarita to Chatsworth every day.
posted by something something at 12:56 PM on May 16, 2013 [7 favorites]
One thing you might also ask is whether they will let you work off-hours - like 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. or 10:00 to 6:30, something like that. Or you could drive over there early and go to the gym before work, which is what I did when I had to drive Santa Clarita to Chatsworth every day.
posted by something something at 12:56 PM on May 16, 2013 [7 favorites]
Is there any reason why you can't move closer to the job? That's what I would try to ultimately do, but in the meantime I used to commute 1hr each way by metro when I worked in DC and I didn't mind it because I got a lot of reading done. I could read and also listen to podcasts or music and I really didn't mind it at all...the only thing that would have made it better would have been if I could drink coffee on the metro.
Eventually the commute did get old though because my days were so long(and I actually hated my job) but that is why the ultimate solution would be to move.
I could have driven too but DC traffic is terrible and I get bored and sleepy(and annoyed) while sitting in traffic even with podcasts and entertainment. That, for me, would have been much worse than sitting on the metro.
posted by fromageball at 12:56 PM on May 16, 2013
Eventually the commute did get old though because my days were so long(and I actually hated my job) but that is why the ultimate solution would be to move.
I could have driven too but DC traffic is terrible and I get bored and sleepy(and annoyed) while sitting in traffic even with podcasts and entertainment. That, for me, would have been much worse than sitting on the metro.
posted by fromageball at 12:56 PM on May 16, 2013
Response by poster: Ah, I meant to mention that (post was getting kind of long) but yeah, moving isn't an option. We're really strongly tied to our community here and don't want to move--plus, moving over there would make my wife's commute even worse!
posted by brenton at 12:57 PM on May 16, 2013
posted by brenton at 12:57 PM on May 16, 2013
Dude, if you're making that much more money at the new gig, can't you just move? I assume the "B" location is your destination neighborhood and I see hundreds of what appear to be residential housing structures in the immediate vicinity. People move across the country to further their careers. You just gotta move down the 101. Beleive me, any short-term loss or debt incurred would be paid for in short order by reduced transportation costs, especially if you are considering taking a cab, ffs.
On preview, never mind. Tied to your community is all fine and good, but if your wife has a good job already close to the house, that's a tough choice to make.
posted by BigLankyBastard at 12:57 PM on May 16, 2013
On preview, never mind. Tied to your community is all fine and good, but if your wife has a good job already close to the house, that's a tough choice to make.
posted by BigLankyBastard at 12:57 PM on May 16, 2013
For a career-making dream job, if I hated the commute that much I'd definitely move. But I also understand that moving is expensive and incredibly stressful, as well! Maybe give the commute a shot for a month or so and then consider moving if it's still awful? It's entirely possible you'll get used to it after your first few stressful ones, and it'll become part of your regular routine. That's exactly what happened to me when I had a dreadful long daily commute.
posted by rhiannonstone at 12:58 PM on May 16, 2013
posted by rhiannonstone at 12:58 PM on May 16, 2013
Metro and taxi for the bus section?
posted by bluefrog at 12:58 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by bluefrog at 12:58 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Hell, give it a shot. If it's terrible, consider moving or quit. You won't even know for sure it's a dream job until you try it. So try it.
I really feel trapped by the 40 hour work week. I have so many other things I'd like to do with my life, and I feel like working a full 40 hours leaves me almost no time to get stuff done for myself.
Are you in a field where 40 hours are unusual? Because my experience is this is pretty typical for a full-time job. So I wouldn't use that as a reason to not take it.
posted by kinetic at 12:59 PM on May 16, 2013 [8 favorites]
I really feel trapped by the 40 hour work week. I have so many other things I'd like to do with my life, and I feel like working a full 40 hours leaves me almost no time to get stuff done for myself.
Are you in a field where 40 hours are unusual? Because my experience is this is pretty typical for a full-time job. So I wouldn't use that as a reason to not take it.
posted by kinetic at 12:59 PM on May 16, 2013 [8 favorites]
Why don't you try to negotiate work-from-home days so that you don't have to commute every day?
posted by zug at 1:01 PM on May 16, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by zug at 1:01 PM on May 16, 2013 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: > Are you in a field where 40 hours are unusual? Because my experience is this is pretty typical for a full-time job. So I wouldn't use that as a reason to not take it.
No, actually 40 would be bare minimum, and I've been censured for working only 40 hours in the past (pieces of flair, anyone?). But that's the thing--I hate even the 40 hour minimum, and would take a large pay cut to work less time if possible. I know, I'm kind of crazy, but this is how it is.
posted by brenton at 1:01 PM on May 16, 2013
No, actually 40 would be bare minimum, and I've been censured for working only 40 hours in the past (pieces of flair, anyone?). But that's the thing--I hate even the 40 hour minimum, and would take a large pay cut to work less time if possible. I know, I'm kind of crazy, but this is how it is.
posted by brenton at 1:01 PM on May 16, 2013
Best answer: Duuuuuuude, do not take a taxi from Sherman Oaks to Pasadena every single day. That will be really REALLY expensive. It costs me like $40 to get from LAX to Beverly Hills in a cab.
Can you time-shift your work schedule so that you're not traveling at peak traffic times? Can you work from home a couple of days a week? As someone who makes this drive often to see family, Pasadena to Sherman Oaks is often more like 30-45 minutes and not actually that bad. It's all highway -- you don't even need to change highways, it's like 134 the whole way. But I believe you that you hate to commute. You WILL enjoy it more if you aren't worried the entire time that your junky car isn't about to break down, though. If you have to commute, and you are unhappy about it, and you can afford a nicer car, a nicer car WILL improve your commuting conditions.
That being said, if this is a career-maker, and you don't want to move, you might just have to suck it up. I use my commuting time to do a lot of my creative thinking, actually.
posted by Countess Sandwich at 1:02 PM on May 16, 2013 [17 favorites]
Can you time-shift your work schedule so that you're not traveling at peak traffic times? Can you work from home a couple of days a week? As someone who makes this drive often to see family, Pasadena to Sherman Oaks is often more like 30-45 minutes and not actually that bad. It's all highway -- you don't even need to change highways, it's like 134 the whole way. But I believe you that you hate to commute. You WILL enjoy it more if you aren't worried the entire time that your junky car isn't about to break down, though. If you have to commute, and you are unhappy about it, and you can afford a nicer car, a nicer car WILL improve your commuting conditions.
That being said, if this is a career-maker, and you don't want to move, you might just have to suck it up. I use my commuting time to do a lot of my creative thinking, actually.
posted by Countess Sandwich at 1:02 PM on May 16, 2013 [17 favorites]
rent a cheap room somewhere near the office for those days when you really can't handle the commute?
posted by bananafish at 1:02 PM on May 16, 2013 [8 favorites]
posted by bananafish at 1:02 PM on May 16, 2013 [8 favorites]
I don't think you'll find a magic bullet, but it sounds like this will perhaps sling-shot your way somewhere else long-term? If it's truly worth it, accept that this is not a long-term sustainable situation and investigate telecommuting or alternate work schedules.
posted by bookdragoness at 1:05 PM on May 16, 2013
posted by bookdragoness at 1:05 PM on May 16, 2013
Best answer: Combine the metro, the motorcycle, and as much of a telecommute/alternate schedule as you can finagle.
When you do find yourself in the car for long periods, don't just do passive podcasts, learn Mandarin, or listen to/sing entire songbooks. Give yourself deadlines to trick your brain into looking forward to that productive time. Repeat the Mandarin phrases and sing VERY LOUDLY and passionately--you will learn better and it's fun!
posted by headnsouth at 1:07 PM on May 16, 2013 [3 favorites]
When you do find yourself in the car for long periods, don't just do passive podcasts, learn Mandarin, or listen to/sing entire songbooks. Give yourself deadlines to trick your brain into looking forward to that productive time. Repeat the Mandarin phrases and sing VERY LOUDLY and passionately--you will learn better and it's fun!
posted by headnsouth at 1:07 PM on May 16, 2013 [3 favorites]
Could you "make" your career at this dream job and use it as a springboard to get a new job in a few years closer to where you are?
I would try to figure out what the commuting reality is like by trying it out for yourself.
And, honestly, if commuting is such a bad problem and you simply cannot stand driving, the truth is that the greater LA area is just not going to work out for you. Even if you dodge this bullet and manage a decent commute by finding a better, closer job, some day that job might end or the office might move elsewhere (and justify it by saying that the commute isn't that big of a deal because that's what everyone does). The stereotype is true: it really does take 30 minutes to get get anywhere in LA. If you can't handle at least that, you're going to be unhappy.
(I hate commuting, too-- it's 40 minutes each way for me. But that's what it is if I want to stay in this job and don't want to move)
posted by deanc at 1:08 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
I would try to figure out what the commuting reality is like by trying it out for yourself.
And, honestly, if commuting is such a bad problem and you simply cannot stand driving, the truth is that the greater LA area is just not going to work out for you. Even if you dodge this bullet and manage a decent commute by finding a better, closer job, some day that job might end or the office might move elsewhere (and justify it by saying that the commute isn't that big of a deal because that's what everyone does). The stereotype is true: it really does take 30 minutes to get get anywhere in LA. If you can't handle at least that, you're going to be unhappy.
(I hate commuting, too-- it's 40 minutes each way for me. But that's what it is if I want to stay in this job and don't want to move)
posted by deanc at 1:08 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Note that the 750 bus starts at the subway. This should make getting to work much more predictable, given that buses tend to start their route on time. I've always assumed people who commute by car leave the house at the same time every day. But, if not, as someone who's never commuted by car, I don't think it's a really hard habit to get into. You did it when you were in school, presumably. The hour and a half on transit is the thing that would put me off the subway/bus option, not the transfers.
posted by hoyland at 1:09 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by hoyland at 1:09 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
take tomorrow off. do the commute, both ways, at the expected times. see how you feel.
I will say that, as someone who did noho to Santa Monica, noho to Pasadena, noho to burbank and noho to glassell park to Burbank... commutes make life worse, but not impossible. adjustments are required, in two specific areas: expense (gas and mileage and higher insurance rates) and you will have to allow a lot of slop for travel time estimates. but if it really is your dream job, then go for it, especially if you don't have kids.
then again, the best time overall I had in Los Angeles was my four mile surface street noho to Burbank commute, and I miss it enough that I'm looking into moving there and changing my kids' school accordingly. it is hard to enjoy in a community you love if you spend tons of time commuting to and from it.
posted by davejay at 1:11 PM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
I will say that, as someone who did noho to Santa Monica, noho to Pasadena, noho to burbank and noho to glassell park to Burbank... commutes make life worse, but not impossible. adjustments are required, in two specific areas: expense (gas and mileage and higher insurance rates) and you will have to allow a lot of slop for travel time estimates. but if it really is your dream job, then go for it, especially if you don't have kids.
then again, the best time overall I had in Los Angeles was my four mile surface street noho to Burbank commute, and I miss it enough that I'm looking into moving there and changing my kids' school accordingly. it is hard to enjoy in a community you love if you spend tons of time commuting to and from it.
posted by davejay at 1:11 PM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
Look, you don't like the commute, you don't like the idea of moving, you won't make the commute nicer by investing in a less crappy car, you din't want to take the faster option because of the bad weatger in southern California and you don't want to work even the bare minimum if hrs if at all possible...clearly Zi may be wrong but I don't think you really want a career making job (none of which are likely to make your career if you're out of there after 40.0 hrs max all the time) so find a way to work part time and follow whatever interests you have, assuming you guys can afford to do that.
posted by koahiatamadl at 1:11 PM on May 16, 2013 [52 favorites]
posted by koahiatamadl at 1:11 PM on May 16, 2013 [52 favorites]
Best answer: I think this is really a matter of personal preference. Myself, I would never do it, no matter how much you paid me. There are just some things in life (like time and health) that no amount of money can buy. You have to decide for yourself what are the most important things to you, and then decide if the sacrifice is worth it for you. No matter what you decide, be assured that a long, tiring commute is going to have some negative impact, somewhere. Everything in life is a trade-off.
posted by Dansaman at 1:12 PM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Dansaman at 1:12 PM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
40 hour work weeks are standards most everywhere, unless you have a forward-thinking company that supports 9-80 or other flexible schedules. Depending on your employer, you might be able to work less than full time, but still enough to get benefits. My last place of work allowed telecommuting and some people worked less than full-time but still enough for benefits, which was pretty great. But because you're new there, you might have to prove yourself for a while and stick to a standard schedule for a while.
I completely understand your hate of commuting in a car, and I don't even live in a serious metropolis like yours. At my last place of work, I walked about 10 minutes, then I hopped on the bus for 45 minutes. It was a longer commute than just driving, but I enjoyed it. I'm lucky again, because now I drive about 10 minutes, then ride the train for an hour. Both on the bus and on the train, I read, listen to music, muck around on my laptop, take pictures out the window, whatever. This is truly personal time, because I have freedom that I don't have when driving. I'm wary enough of being stuck with other people I don't really like that I opted out of car pooling or van pooling, and I've been quite happy with the random people on the bus and train. I even made a good friend on the bus.
If the drive is really more than an hour on most days, commuting via metro sounds great. There are breaks between stops, which slows down the whole trip, but walking is great.
Otherwise, look into shifting your work day, so you can avoid the busiest times. I don't know how much you'd have to shift your schedule, but if you have time to try the drive out and your place of work would allow you to start early and leave early, give it a go.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:13 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
I completely understand your hate of commuting in a car, and I don't even live in a serious metropolis like yours. At my last place of work, I walked about 10 minutes, then I hopped on the bus for 45 minutes. It was a longer commute than just driving, but I enjoyed it. I'm lucky again, because now I drive about 10 minutes, then ride the train for an hour. Both on the bus and on the train, I read, listen to music, muck around on my laptop, take pictures out the window, whatever. This is truly personal time, because I have freedom that I don't have when driving. I'm wary enough of being stuck with other people I don't really like that I opted out of car pooling or van pooling, and I've been quite happy with the random people on the bus and train. I even made a good friend on the bus.
If the drive is really more than an hour on most days, commuting via metro sounds great. There are breaks between stops, which slows down the whole trip, but walking is great.
Otherwise, look into shifting your work day, so you can avoid the busiest times. I don't know how much you'd have to shift your schedule, but if you have time to try the drive out and your place of work would allow you to start early and leave early, give it a go.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:13 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'll add that I've read more books and listened to more music in my time on the bus and train than I have in a long time. I wish I was home sooner, but given the options, I love my home and neighborhood, I enjoy my work, and I enjoy my commutes.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:14 PM on May 16, 2013
posted by filthy light thief at 1:14 PM on May 16, 2013
oh, and: I have my dream job, doing what I love for more money than I deserve and fewer hours than seems reasonable. it doesn't make me as happy as I was when my commute was tiny and I didn't like my job (not enough money, well over 40hrs a week.) YMMV.
posted by davejay at 1:15 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by davejay at 1:15 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Is there not a place you could move that might split the commute for you and your wife?
Also, when I lived in L.A. and had a really long commute, I would do my errands/hobbies/gym visits/leisure activities right after work near my office, and drive home later in the evening when traffic was lighter. So I got to start having fun almost immediately after work, managed to get in my activities early while I was still energetic, and had a shorter commute home. That might be a way to help you reclaim some free time even if you work far from home.
posted by serialcomma at 1:16 PM on May 16, 2013 [6 favorites]
Also, when I lived in L.A. and had a really long commute, I would do my errands/hobbies/gym visits/leisure activities right after work near my office, and drive home later in the evening when traffic was lighter. So I got to start having fun almost immediately after work, managed to get in my activities early while I was still energetic, and had a shorter commute home. That might be a way to help you reclaim some free time even if you work far from home.
posted by serialcomma at 1:16 PM on May 16, 2013 [6 favorites]
Best answer: As someone who spent all of high school commuting this far to school(1-1.25 hours depending on traffic), then several years of working... An hour commute isn't that bad.
1. Fuck transit if you have to make multiple transfers. You will perpetually and unpredictably be late. This will make you look like crap to your employer, and the entire process will really wear on you. I managed to find a "slow but steady" transit route that was just one, convoluted bust route. I could have taken a multiple bus path there that would randomly only take 45 minutes, but sometimes took longer. It wasn't worth it to take the super variable and transferring route. If there isn't a single vehicle(bus/train/whatever) transit route I'd tentatively say fuck that. Because the only solution to it being randomly late is to leave VERY early, like 45 minutes earlier in the morning. It's the definition of unreliable transportation(and friends who live or have lived in LA say the buses are fucking awful), and if you ever complain or get harangued at work for being late... They'll just tell you to leave way earlier, get reliable transport, or poop on you for taking the bus at all.
2. Do this when its nice out. This is an excellent choice to have. I have friends who commute by motorcycle when it's nice out and they always show up where they're going all like :D. Isn't it nice in your area a lot too? I'm saying I know people who use there's as part time primary transport in Seattle. This sounds like a solid most of the time plan down there.
3. Yea, and you don't have to go crazy here either. Get something used, sensible, but nice like an older lexus ES, or even an 80s/early 90s diesel Mercedes like a lot of(admittedly a bit hipstery) people run biodiesel on. Both of those will be quiet, drive extremely smoothly and are built like brick shithouses while still getting decent low 30s mileage. My friend who motorcycle commutes got a used g35 to drive when it's crappy out. It was less than 10 grand and is fairly cheap to work on. Look at 10ish year old common Japanese luxury cars, or older diesel Mercedes. I'd almost say a VW TDI too just for the efficiency and checking all the comfort boxes, but they have a million random little problems that aren't showstoppers but just irritating. Pick something you can pay cash on after a bit of saving up. Maybe hump along the current car for a month or two of the new paycheck to be able to really throw down on something solid you won't hate commuting in?
4 and 5 are both kinda unrealistic options. Ride share would work if you left at the exact same time every day, and taxis on what's a 4 bus/combined transit vehicles commute? Fuck that.
I might just be jaded, but a 1 hour commute is nothing. It's my upper limit, for sure, but I've just done it so many times that I'm kinda like "really? That isn't that bad" about it. However
I hate even the 40 hour minimum, and would take a large pay cut to work less time if possible. I know, I'm kind of crazy, but this is how it is.
Nah, I can relate to this. I've pretty much done the same currently. But you know how I got over it some? I moved in to a slightly more expensive place a few blocks from my work, rather than a 30-40 minute bus trip away. My commute is now 5 minutes.
I'd really, really consider moving. I think that may be the most happiness-enhancing choice here. I tried to answer your commute question as it was asked, but as a straight talk thing... Dude, just move.
posted by emptythought at 1:16 PM on May 16, 2013 [6 favorites]
1. Fuck transit if you have to make multiple transfers. You will perpetually and unpredictably be late. This will make you look like crap to your employer, and the entire process will really wear on you. I managed to find a "slow but steady" transit route that was just one, convoluted bust route. I could have taken a multiple bus path there that would randomly only take 45 minutes, but sometimes took longer. It wasn't worth it to take the super variable and transferring route. If there isn't a single vehicle(bus/train/whatever) transit route I'd tentatively say fuck that. Because the only solution to it being randomly late is to leave VERY early, like 45 minutes earlier in the morning. It's the definition of unreliable transportation(and friends who live or have lived in LA say the buses are fucking awful), and if you ever complain or get harangued at work for being late... They'll just tell you to leave way earlier, get reliable transport, or poop on you for taking the bus at all.
2. Do this when its nice out. This is an excellent choice to have. I have friends who commute by motorcycle when it's nice out and they always show up where they're going all like :D. Isn't it nice in your area a lot too? I'm saying I know people who use there's as part time primary transport in Seattle. This sounds like a solid most of the time plan down there.
3. Yea, and you don't have to go crazy here either. Get something used, sensible, but nice like an older lexus ES, or even an 80s/early 90s diesel Mercedes like a lot of(admittedly a bit hipstery) people run biodiesel on. Both of those will be quiet, drive extremely smoothly and are built like brick shithouses while still getting decent low 30s mileage. My friend who motorcycle commutes got a used g35 to drive when it's crappy out. It was less than 10 grand and is fairly cheap to work on. Look at 10ish year old common Japanese luxury cars, or older diesel Mercedes. I'd almost say a VW TDI too just for the efficiency and checking all the comfort boxes, but they have a million random little problems that aren't showstoppers but just irritating. Pick something you can pay cash on after a bit of saving up. Maybe hump along the current car for a month or two of the new paycheck to be able to really throw down on something solid you won't hate commuting in?
4 and 5 are both kinda unrealistic options. Ride share would work if you left at the exact same time every day, and taxis on what's a 4 bus/combined transit vehicles commute? Fuck that.
I might just be jaded, but a 1 hour commute is nothing. It's my upper limit, for sure, but I've just done it so many times that I'm kinda like "really? That isn't that bad" about it. However
I hate even the 40 hour minimum, and would take a large pay cut to work less time if possible. I know, I'm kind of crazy, but this is how it is.
Nah, I can relate to this. I've pretty much done the same currently. But you know how I got over it some? I moved in to a slightly more expensive place a few blocks from my work, rather than a 30-40 minute bus trip away. My commute is now 5 minutes.
I'd really, really consider moving. I think that may be the most happiness-enhancing choice here. I tried to answer your commute question as it was asked, but as a straight talk thing... Dude, just move.
posted by emptythought at 1:16 PM on May 16, 2013 [6 favorites]
I used to have an hour commute, and it wasn't even for a dream job. What I would do is drive before the am rush hour or after pm rush hour and go to the gym during that time between driving and work.
As for the 40 hr work week, uh, I'm pretty sure we all would like to work less but for most people that isn't really an option. thems the breaks.
posted by hellameangirl at 1:18 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
As for the 40 hr work week, uh, I'm pretty sure we all would like to work less but for most people that isn't really an option. thems the breaks.
posted by hellameangirl at 1:18 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Here's what I would do:
Get better motorcycle gear, get a decent pair of earplugs and ride the motorbike. It won't be as boring, it'll be fun, exciting and/or relaxing instead, and shorter too.
People can, and do, ride in almost all kinds of weather. It really depends on your clothing and other equipment how enjoyable that is.
Oh, and when buying gear, think of the safety factor too. More riding, especially in busy traffic, means more risks!
posted by Too-Ticky at 1:21 PM on May 16, 2013
Get better motorcycle gear, get a decent pair of earplugs and ride the motorbike. It won't be as boring, it'll be fun, exciting and/or relaxing instead, and shorter too.
People can, and do, ride in almost all kinds of weather. It really depends on your clothing and other equipment how enjoyable that is.
Oh, and when buying gear, think of the safety factor too. More riding, especially in busy traffic, means more risks!
posted by Too-Ticky at 1:21 PM on May 16, 2013
I think your best option is to upgrade your car and to time shift, can you work 7 to 4, or 10 to 6? If so, aim for that.
Only you know if this commute is a dealbreaker for you. It sounds like it is. Which begs the question, why did you apply for the job in the first place? If you have an answer for that, then go with it, bite the bullet and climb into your Smart car and drive.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:22 PM on May 16, 2013
Only you know if this commute is a dealbreaker for you. It sounds like it is. Which begs the question, why did you apply for the job in the first place? If you have an answer for that, then go with it, bite the bullet and climb into your Smart car and drive.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:22 PM on May 16, 2013
Taxi. Really expensive, but the bump in salary from taking this job would probably cover it. I don't actually know how much taxis cost though.
A taxi will probably run you about $70 per trip based on the start and end locations you mapped above. $140/day x 20 workdays a month = you could lease one helluva fucking nice car if your pay increase is enough to cover that.
Get a nicer car, listen to audiobooks.
posted by phunniemee at 1:22 PM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
A taxi will probably run you about $70 per trip based on the start and end locations you mapped above. $140/day x 20 workdays a month = you could lease one helluva fucking nice car if your pay increase is enough to cover that.
Get a nicer car, listen to audiobooks.
posted by phunniemee at 1:22 PM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
moving over there would make my wife's commute even worse!
6. The optimal solution is clear: you move to somewhere in-between.
posted by Rash at 1:25 PM on May 16, 2013
6. The optimal solution is clear: you move to somewhere in-between.
posted by Rash at 1:25 PM on May 16, 2013
I currently drive about 50-60 minutes to work (from West Hollywood to Santa Clarita), and I've been doing it for 6 months now. I love my job crazy much, and my husband drives in the opposite direction nearly as much. Couldn't move either. I do everything I can to avoid peak traffic. If you have the option to do something other than 8-5 or 9-6, take it. Otherwise I would not be able to keep this up, too.
My problem is that an hour-long commute puts me alongside shitty drivers for way too long, so I needed coping mechanisms strictly for that. If you can be more zen about that sort of stuff I think you'll be okay.
I also understand the general anxiety from not doing anything while driving. I got a little squeezy gel stressball thing, and it seems to be helping.
Try out the commute during the hours you think you'd have to take! You'll probably be okay, and if the job is worth it, well... Sometimes you have to remind yourself of that a few times. Yeah it's crappy to be in a car for so long and yeah it sucks if I don't get home before 7pm because of one thing or another (working more than 40 hours), but that's not unusual. Working less than 40 hours while being happy and not worrying about money would be the unusual situation.
Make sure your car is comfortable, try to have a wide variety of "entertainment" to keep your mind occupied, have something you look forward to both at the office and at home, and I think you're going to come out of this just fine.
posted by Tequila Mockingbird at 1:28 PM on May 16, 2013
My problem is that an hour-long commute puts me alongside shitty drivers for way too long, so I needed coping mechanisms strictly for that. If you can be more zen about that sort of stuff I think you'll be okay.
I also understand the general anxiety from not doing anything while driving. I got a little squeezy gel stressball thing, and it seems to be helping.
Try out the commute during the hours you think you'd have to take! You'll probably be okay, and if the job is worth it, well... Sometimes you have to remind yourself of that a few times. Yeah it's crappy to be in a car for so long and yeah it sucks if I don't get home before 7pm because of one thing or another (working more than 40 hours), but that's not unusual. Working less than 40 hours while being happy and not worrying about money would be the unusual situation.
Make sure your car is comfortable, try to have a wide variety of "entertainment" to keep your mind occupied, have something you look forward to both at the office and at home, and I think you're going to come out of this just fine.
posted by Tequila Mockingbird at 1:28 PM on May 16, 2013
I traded a 45 minute highway commute for a 90 minute bus-and-train commute and I'm a lot happier.
Highway driving stresses me out.
If I was commuting in L.A. I wouldn't consider anything but a hybrid: once I got the taste for the absolute quiet when at a stop in traffic, I couldn't stand listening to the engine idling at stoplights, pouring carbon dioxide into the sky. Gas isn't going to get cheaper.
Bus and train time isn't totally blissful: it's crowded, the bus lurches and rolls, and it's full of the great masses of unwashed humanity. I have to get up at 0500 to catch the early train. The cost is close to what I was paying for fuel.
But it's a lot less stressful on a daily basis than being behind the wheel. And I'm actually spending less time at work because I have only one train I can catch home.
I'm an enthusiastic podcast listener, and find I enjoy them a lot more staring out the window of the bus than I do listening while behind the wheel.
The really good days are the ones where I use only the train, and ride my bicycle the rest of the way.
posted by Kakkerlak at 1:33 PM on May 16, 2013
Highway driving stresses me out.
If I was commuting in L.A. I wouldn't consider anything but a hybrid: once I got the taste for the absolute quiet when at a stop in traffic, I couldn't stand listening to the engine idling at stoplights, pouring carbon dioxide into the sky. Gas isn't going to get cheaper.
Bus and train time isn't totally blissful: it's crowded, the bus lurches and rolls, and it's full of the great masses of unwashed humanity. I have to get up at 0500 to catch the early train. The cost is close to what I was paying for fuel.
But it's a lot less stressful on a daily basis than being behind the wheel. And I'm actually spending less time at work because I have only one train I can catch home.
I'm an enthusiastic podcast listener, and find I enjoy them a lot more staring out the window of the bus than I do listening while behind the wheel.
The really good days are the ones where I use only the train, and ride my bicycle the rest of the way.
posted by Kakkerlak at 1:33 PM on May 16, 2013
Best answer: I don't know how much worse traffic has gotten in the last 10 years, but my memory of rush hour traffic in LA is that Pasadena to Sherman Oaks might actually be manageable and closer to 30 minutes than you'd think; my experience was that the worst traffic was from people leaving the Valley, not going to it (and most of that was people going south on the 405 and 101 to Los Angeles proper/Orange county; I commuted from Sherman Oaks to Valencia for a while and there was usually nobody on the 405 going north.)
I wouldn't want to leave Pasadena either!
posted by usonian at 1:35 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
I wouldn't want to leave Pasadena either!
posted by usonian at 1:35 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I have so many other things I'd like to do with my life, and I feel like working a full 40 hours leaves me almost no time to get stuff done for myself.
Also, given this, why are you prioritizing your career so much? Is this purely a monetary issue?
You don't like commuting (totally fair!), you really don't like the idea of working a full time job, but you're willing to bit the bullet if you need to, and there's lots of stuff you want to do for yourself. Given the combination of things, here, what is the end goal of getting a better job?
You sound really attached to your community and other things going on in your life. That is generally incompatible with an "ever upwards" career path that will have you running around to different offices all over the state, if not the country related to your job.
If your priorities are your community, minimizing commute, and staying engaged with non-work activities, you might want to swing something that allows you to do business in your own community. What you say you want (to take a job that can "make your career") and what you actually seem to prioritize seem really at odds.
posted by deanc at 1:38 PM on May 16, 2013 [10 favorites]
Also, given this, why are you prioritizing your career so much? Is this purely a monetary issue?
You don't like commuting (totally fair!), you really don't like the idea of working a full time job, but you're willing to bit the bullet if you need to, and there's lots of stuff you want to do for yourself. Given the combination of things, here, what is the end goal of getting a better job?
You sound really attached to your community and other things going on in your life. That is generally incompatible with an "ever upwards" career path that will have you running around to different offices all over the state, if not the country related to your job.
If your priorities are your community, minimizing commute, and staying engaged with non-work activities, you might want to swing something that allows you to do business in your own community. What you say you want (to take a job that can "make your career") and what you actually seem to prioritize seem really at odds.
posted by deanc at 1:38 PM on May 16, 2013 [10 favorites]
I think the optimal solution is two-fold: spend the money to get a car that you truly enjoy driving and to consider moving to a place that's between where you and your wife work. Yes, I understand that you really enjoy where you currently live, but if this really is a career-making job, then you might have to give up some comforts of your current life in order to fully take advantage of the opportunities this job affords you.
If it's been awhile since you've driven a new car (even a used, new-to-you car), you owe it to yourself and your career to try one out. See if it makes a difference in how you enjoy (or don't enjoy) the commute you'd face. Someone above suggested taking the day off and test driving the commute. I'd up the ante by doing so in a new vehicle. While you might not ever LOVE it, it doesn't have to be something you hate with the fire of ten thousand suns.
If neither of those solutions are palatable to you, you might consider rearranging your life/finances/priorities so that you can work part-time in your field so you can stay closer to your preferred neighborhood and have more time to pursue the things you wish to pursue.
posted by heathergirl at 1:39 PM on May 16, 2013
If it's been awhile since you've driven a new car (even a used, new-to-you car), you owe it to yourself and your career to try one out. See if it makes a difference in how you enjoy (or don't enjoy) the commute you'd face. Someone above suggested taking the day off and test driving the commute. I'd up the ante by doing so in a new vehicle. While you might not ever LOVE it, it doesn't have to be something you hate with the fire of ten thousand suns.
If neither of those solutions are palatable to you, you might consider rearranging your life/finances/priorities so that you can work part-time in your field so you can stay closer to your preferred neighborhood and have more time to pursue the things you wish to pursue.
posted by heathergirl at 1:39 PM on May 16, 2013
Also check out any sidestreets you can take. Freeway traffic is for suckers in LA. There are many routes known to locals that go faster than freeways during rush out. I used to live in Santa Monica and work in Burbank. I usually took the 405 to the Valley, and then bailed off freeways to go along surface streets. That can save you 10, 15 minutes.
posted by musofire at 1:42 PM on May 16, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by musofire at 1:42 PM on May 16, 2013 [3 favorites]
I used to commute from La Crescenta to Sherman Oaks and it wasn't an hour but I avoided peak hours if possible. If the 134 gets bad, you can always get off in Burbank and take Ventura, Riverside or Magnolia.
Unless you live right by the Gold Line, I can't imagine that it would be good to go all the way downtown and then out to the Valley by Metro. You could try it but even though you're not driving, that just sounds too long. If I were you, I would invest in a new car or a more comfortable reliable used car like a Honda. I've always bought used cars, and my current car has been just fine for the past 9 years that I've owned it. It's not beautiful but if you are making more money, it just makes more sense than riding the metro or taking a taxi. Better podcasts are your friend I think.
Otherwise, I would question whether this is really a dream job. It seems from reading your question that the commute is less an issue than working 40 hours a week.
posted by biscuits at 1:44 PM on May 16, 2013
Unless you live right by the Gold Line, I can't imagine that it would be good to go all the way downtown and then out to the Valley by Metro. You could try it but even though you're not driving, that just sounds too long. If I were you, I would invest in a new car or a more comfortable reliable used car like a Honda. I've always bought used cars, and my current car has been just fine for the past 9 years that I've owned it. It's not beautiful but if you are making more money, it just makes more sense than riding the metro or taking a taxi. Better podcasts are your friend I think.
Otherwise, I would question whether this is really a dream job. It seems from reading your question that the commute is less an issue than working 40 hours a week.
posted by biscuits at 1:44 PM on May 16, 2013
#1 I live near you, that commute is going to be 30-40 minutes, not close to an hour. Maybe a few times a year when there's an accident or something.
But honestly I don't think you're ever going to be happy, based on your question...
"Even a 30 minute drive really gets to me."
"I really feel trapped by the 40 hour work week. I have so many other things I'd like to do with my life"
"My current car is a noisy, clunky piece of junk... But my wife and I are both extremely frugal and extremely opposed to debt."
It's fairly typical to a) commute to work for 30 minutes b) work 40 hours a week or more c) have to choose between old crappy car and new reliable car.
Welcome to being an adult in the United States in the 21st Century.
posted by hamsterdam at 1:45 PM on May 16, 2013 [45 favorites]
But honestly I don't think you're ever going to be happy, based on your question...
"Even a 30 minute drive really gets to me."
"I really feel trapped by the 40 hour work week. I have so many other things I'd like to do with my life"
"My current car is a noisy, clunky piece of junk... But my wife and I are both extremely frugal and extremely opposed to debt."
It's fairly typical to a) commute to work for 30 minutes b) work 40 hours a week or more c) have to choose between old crappy car and new reliable car.
Welcome to being an adult in the United States in the 21st Century.
posted by hamsterdam at 1:45 PM on May 16, 2013 [45 favorites]
Well, you make this job sound pretty necessary for your career goals. So the question is not if you take it, but how you make it work, yes?
I have known people who had commutes that were an hour and even longer with no way around it, for various reasons. They would get cheap little studio apartments near their office they could stay in during the week when they needed, and then they obviously spent their weekends at home. If you can get a cheap basement/attic apartment or sublet, it may make sense with your bump in salary. You don't need to stay there every night, but if you have to work a little later or if your wife is not going to be around when you get home anyway, you could just stay by your office. Unless you have children, of course. But it may be less daunting to make that commute three times a week instead of five.
Unfortunately, your commute is your commute. There's not really going to be a way around that. That said, once you get to know your co-workers, you may want to try car pooling. It would save on gas money and you could do stuff in the car when it's not your turn to drive -- whether it's reading or playing Fruit Ninja or texting your wife or doing work.
Or, I agree, you could move in between so the commute to your job and the commute to the community you love so much is equidistant. But you need to decide if you could handle being a 20 minute drive from the area you love, or if you need to be living in the heart of it.
posted by AppleTurnover at 1:49 PM on May 16, 2013
I have known people who had commutes that were an hour and even longer with no way around it, for various reasons. They would get cheap little studio apartments near their office they could stay in during the week when they needed, and then they obviously spent their weekends at home. If you can get a cheap basement/attic apartment or sublet, it may make sense with your bump in salary. You don't need to stay there every night, but if you have to work a little later or if your wife is not going to be around when you get home anyway, you could just stay by your office. Unless you have children, of course. But it may be less daunting to make that commute three times a week instead of five.
Unfortunately, your commute is your commute. There's not really going to be a way around that. That said, once you get to know your co-workers, you may want to try car pooling. It would save on gas money and you could do stuff in the car when it's not your turn to drive -- whether it's reading or playing Fruit Ninja or texting your wife or doing work.
Or, I agree, you could move in between so the commute to your job and the commute to the community you love so much is equidistant. But you need to decide if you could handle being a 20 minute drive from the area you love, or if you need to be living in the heart of it.
posted by AppleTurnover at 1:49 PM on May 16, 2013
Best answer: I agree with deanc; commuting for a 40+ hour job (even one you characterize as your dream job) seems pretty much inherently at odds with the things you say you really want in your life. That is absolutely not a criticism; just an observation.
That said, here are the things I would suggest to make this commute a little better for you:
- Invest in a better car; at the very least, a quieter and more comfortable ride might take the edge off the headaches and nausea from stop-and-go traffic.
- Find out about time-shift and/or work-from-home options. Working from home once or twice a week and/or coming in at 10 (or 7, depending on your circadian rhythms) might allow you to avoid the worst of it 5 days a week.
- Explore options beyond just doing the freeway all the way. My own guess is that the 134 might be relatively OK from Pasadena until Burbank or even as far as Toluca Lake, at which point you could get off and take surface streets the rest of the way into Sherman Oaks (I would suggest trying Riverside, Moorpark, or Magnolia to start) (on preview: jinx, biscuits!).
- For more active creative things to do in the car, maybe get a voice-recording system and dictate ideas for writing projects, compose song lyrics, etc. (if this is applicable to your kind of creativity). I've tried learning a language in my car, and personally I find it horribly distracting, perhaps because the language-acquisition place in my brain and the drive-safely place in my brain override each other.
posted by scody at 1:51 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
That said, here are the things I would suggest to make this commute a little better for you:
- Invest in a better car; at the very least, a quieter and more comfortable ride might take the edge off the headaches and nausea from stop-and-go traffic.
- Find out about time-shift and/or work-from-home options. Working from home once or twice a week and/or coming in at 10 (or 7, depending on your circadian rhythms) might allow you to avoid the worst of it 5 days a week.
- Explore options beyond just doing the freeway all the way. My own guess is that the 134 might be relatively OK from Pasadena until Burbank or even as far as Toluca Lake, at which point you could get off and take surface streets the rest of the way into Sherman Oaks (I would suggest trying Riverside, Moorpark, or Magnolia to start) (on preview: jinx, biscuits!).
- For more active creative things to do in the car, maybe get a voice-recording system and dictate ideas for writing projects, compose song lyrics, etc. (if this is applicable to your kind of creativity). I've tried learning a language in my car, and personally I find it horribly distracting, perhaps because the language-acquisition place in my brain and the drive-safely place in my brain override each other.
posted by scody at 1:51 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I've basically done that.
I went from mostly working at home, or a 15 minute commute, to commuting between Silver Lake and Venice: about 2 miles shorter than your commute, a few miles south on the 10. I did the commute for a year and a half, and it was really not so bad. I think it usually took me 30-40 minutes to get to work, and 40-60 to get home. The two most significant factors in that were riding a motorcycle and time shifting.
I rode a motorcycle most of the time. There was full-on rain once in the 18 months (this is LA!), and there were two or three occasions where there was intermittent light sprinkling. It really wasn't an issue. Lane splitting cuts down on commute time. It was a fun way to commute 90% of the time, though after a while there were definitely times where I felt pretty tired about strapping on the gear and trying not to become a statistic on the LA freeways. I developed a simple taxonomy of LA drivers: 1. Tries to kill you but is apologetic about it. 2. Unapologetically tries to kill you. 3. Sees you splitting lanes and moves over to give you room. 4. Is surprised to see you suddenly next to them and swerves.
Riding or driving during rush hour is inevitably terrible, so I never did it--I always left for work after 10 AM. The end of the day commute is less temporally concentrated because the variance of times that people leave work is higher, and you can also run into more special event traffic (maybe not on the 134, but going downtown I did), so it was typically worse than my morning commute, but it still wasn't too bad.
What helped a little bit was occasional telecommuting--about one day every other week.
In the end, what I thought was my dream job turned out to be just another megacorp machine with me as cog, and while the commute was less unpleasant than I expected, I do not miss it.
posted by jjwiseman at 2:08 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
I went from mostly working at home, or a 15 minute commute, to commuting between Silver Lake and Venice: about 2 miles shorter than your commute, a few miles south on the 10. I did the commute for a year and a half, and it was really not so bad. I think it usually took me 30-40 minutes to get to work, and 40-60 to get home. The two most significant factors in that were riding a motorcycle and time shifting.
I rode a motorcycle most of the time. There was full-on rain once in the 18 months (this is LA!), and there were two or three occasions where there was intermittent light sprinkling. It really wasn't an issue. Lane splitting cuts down on commute time. It was a fun way to commute 90% of the time, though after a while there were definitely times where I felt pretty tired about strapping on the gear and trying not to become a statistic on the LA freeways. I developed a simple taxonomy of LA drivers: 1. Tries to kill you but is apologetic about it. 2. Unapologetically tries to kill you. 3. Sees you splitting lanes and moves over to give you room. 4. Is surprised to see you suddenly next to them and swerves.
Riding or driving during rush hour is inevitably terrible, so I never did it--I always left for work after 10 AM. The end of the day commute is less temporally concentrated because the variance of times that people leave work is higher, and you can also run into more special event traffic (maybe not on the 134, but going downtown I did), so it was typically worse than my morning commute, but it still wasn't too bad.
What helped a little bit was occasional telecommuting--about one day every other week.
In the end, what I thought was my dream job turned out to be just another megacorp machine with me as cog, and while the commute was less unpleasant than I expected, I do not miss it.
posted by jjwiseman at 2:08 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: LA Metro runs a vanpooling/rideshare program. For an agent assisted search,
call 511 - say "Los Angeles County rideshare."
Larger companies also coordinate vanpools.
My employer offers me a free annual metro pass in lieu of having to purchase me a parking pass for me car, see if that's an option for you.
My husband does almost the same commute from Central Pasadena to the Valley and confirms it is 45 minutes on average. At off-rush times it is a 20-25 minute drive. Once, there as a huge accident on the freeway and it took 90 minutes but that is once in over 5 years of taking that route.
If a 45 minute commute is really that unpalatable to you and is enough to make you question whether you want the job, then maybe it would be better to look in our immediate area or find a job that allows telecommuting. I work downtown and even that is a 45 minutes with parking factored in.
posted by dottiechang at 2:23 PM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
call 511 - say "Los Angeles County rideshare."
Larger companies also coordinate vanpools.
My employer offers me a free annual metro pass in lieu of having to purchase me a parking pass for me car, see if that's an option for you.
My husband does almost the same commute from Central Pasadena to the Valley and confirms it is 45 minutes on average. At off-rush times it is a 20-25 minute drive. Once, there as a huge accident on the freeway and it took 90 minutes but that is once in over 5 years of taking that route.
If a 45 minute commute is really that unpalatable to you and is enough to make you question whether you want the job, then maybe it would be better to look in our immediate area or find a job that allows telecommuting. I work downtown and even that is a 45 minutes with parking factored in.
posted by dottiechang at 2:23 PM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
I am like you, I hate long commutes SO MUCH because I want to have as much free time to concentrate on my life as possible.
I have what sounds like about the same commute as you do (time-wise). It really isn't that bad. Sure, it's not as nice as a 10-minute commute, but it's not bad. I listen to audiobooks, or think. It's nice to have thinking time. Agreeing with the people above that shifting your commute to be earlier/later than the rest of the commuters will make things quicker and easier.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 2:28 PM on May 16, 2013
I have what sounds like about the same commute as you do (time-wise). It really isn't that bad. Sure, it's not as nice as a 10-minute commute, but it's not bad. I listen to audiobooks, or think. It's nice to have thinking time. Agreeing with the people above that shifting your commute to be earlier/later than the rest of the commuters will make things quicker and easier.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 2:28 PM on May 16, 2013
Best answer: You can maybe do it in about an hour on transit, if you're willing to start with a quick drive -- catch the Metrolink (thats LINK not RAIL) in Sherman Oaks, and take it to the Metrolink station in Glendale. Then take the Metrobus Route 780 which goes between that station and Downtown Pasadena. Pasadena has local service on its own ARTS bus system that complements the MTA buses there and the Gold Line metro can also help you get around locally. Metrolink is kinda pricey to use for intracity service through.
I had thought there was an express bus between Glendale and Pasadena on the 134 freeway, but I'm not finding it.
posted by snuffleupagus at 2:47 PM on May 16, 2013
I had thought there was an express bus between Glendale and Pasadena on the 134 freeway, but I'm not finding it.
posted by snuffleupagus at 2:47 PM on May 16, 2013
I'd go for the motorcycle option, personally. But I enjoy riding my bike and the fact that lane-splitting is legal in California---brilliant (I'm assuming this is the reason that your commute time would be cut in half on the bike).
posted by asnider at 2:47 PM on May 16, 2013
posted by asnider at 2:47 PM on May 16, 2013
You don't have to commit to one type of commute. You could sometimes drive, sometimes ride your bike (either kind), sometimes catch a bus, sometimes carpool with coworkers.
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:48 PM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:48 PM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
Honestly, the motorcycle seems like the stone-cold obvious answer to me. You'll get there in no time, and it's L.A.- the weather is nice 350 days of the year.
posted by drjimmy11 at 2:48 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by drjimmy11 at 2:48 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
I commuted 1.5 hours each direction for two years for my dream job. I did it for two years and it was worth it for me. I got a nice salary boost plus new responsibilities and skills that were great for my career.
How I managed it:
1. Took the commuter train most of the time, and used the time to work, read, meditate, sleep, etc. I loaded my phone with games and books for the bus segments of the commute.
2. When I accepted the job I negotiated for one work-from-home day per week. I don't think I would have made it two years without this.
3. Eventually bought a car (I was 9 months pregnant and couldn't do the train anymore). I got a brand new one with heated seats and it was very comfortable. I occupied my brain during the commute by listening to podcasts.
4. I was not shy about taking cabs once I got into the city, to skip the bus segment of the trip which was always a big hassle.
5. I picked a train I was going to take home every day and ALWAYS left the office in time to catch that train. People adjusted to this schedule and it meant that my work days stayed a reasonable length. If you end up sucked into staying late and THEN making a nightmare commute... that's pretty much the worst.
posted by annekate at 2:53 PM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
How I managed it:
1. Took the commuter train most of the time, and used the time to work, read, meditate, sleep, etc. I loaded my phone with games and books for the bus segments of the commute.
2. When I accepted the job I negotiated for one work-from-home day per week. I don't think I would have made it two years without this.
3. Eventually bought a car (I was 9 months pregnant and couldn't do the train anymore). I got a brand new one with heated seats and it was very comfortable. I occupied my brain during the commute by listening to podcasts.
4. I was not shy about taking cabs once I got into the city, to skip the bus segment of the trip which was always a big hassle.
5. I picked a train I was going to take home every day and ALWAYS left the office in time to catch that train. People adjusted to this schedule and it meant that my work days stayed a reasonable length. If you end up sucked into staying late and THEN making a nightmare commute... that's pretty much the worst.
posted by annekate at 2:53 PM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Sorry, Van Nuys, not Sherman Oaks. Note that you can also take the Metrolink all the way into Union Station and grab the Gold Line metro to Pasadena. Not sure how much time that would save over riding the Red Line into downtown, though. Or how much more it costs. Here's the metrorail/metrolink combo map. Note that the Orange Line is a busway route, and I'm guessing the transfer to the Red Line might be adding time to the route Google found for you. It shouldn't take much more than 15 minutes or so to get to the Metrolink station from near Sepulveda and Ventura. The lack of a link between Glendale and South Pasadena is pretty glaring. I'm not sure why the 134 freeway bus never happened.
You could also maybe keep the bike in Glendale/Pasadena? Drive to the Van Nuys station. Ride Metrolink to the bike in Glendale, ride the bike to work and back to the Glendale station. It would be a quick, reasonably fun ride on the Bike through the hill streets in Eagle Rock. Or just a blast down the 134, either way.
posted by snuffleupagus at 2:55 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
You could also maybe keep the bike in Glendale/Pasadena? Drive to the Van Nuys station. Ride Metrolink to the bike in Glendale, ride the bike to work and back to the Glendale station. It would be a quick, reasonably fun ride on the Bike through the hill streets in Eagle Rock. Or just a blast down the 134, either way.
posted by snuffleupagus at 2:55 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Would the raise in pay cover rent on an apartment near your work that you could live in during the week, and live at home on the weekends? I had a roommate whose parents lived that way for years.
If you drove Monday morning and Friday evening, you'd only have to make that hairy commute twice a week instead of ten times, and if you drove there Sunday night, you'd only have to make it at its worst once a week. Bonus: as you wouldn't have at-home distractions, you could work longer hours, and either impress your boss with your dedication or work an extra hour on Monday-Thursday and take off at noon on Friday to beat the traffic. Or you could negotiate a 4-day, 10+-hour workweek and drive home Thursday night.
(And you could always schedule date nights to meet your wife at some place in between the two locations a couple of times a week!)
posted by telophase at 3:07 PM on May 16, 2013
If you drove Monday morning and Friday evening, you'd only have to make that hairy commute twice a week instead of ten times, and if you drove there Sunday night, you'd only have to make it at its worst once a week. Bonus: as you wouldn't have at-home distractions, you could work longer hours, and either impress your boss with your dedication or work an extra hour on Monday-Thursday and take off at noon on Friday to beat the traffic. Or you could negotiate a 4-day, 10+-hour workweek and drive home Thursday night.
(And you could always schedule date nights to meet your wife at some place in between the two locations a couple of times a week!)
posted by telophase at 3:07 PM on May 16, 2013
Best answer: Wait a sec. This job pays so much more that you'd be willing to take a taxi every single day... yet you wouldn't consider buying a new car with this fancy new-job money even though your old car is so jolty that it makes you sick whenever you drive it? Think about that for a minute.
I second the ideas of trying to work from home a day or two per week.
posted by showbiz_liz at 3:29 PM on May 16, 2013 [8 favorites]
I second the ideas of trying to work from home a day or two per week.
posted by showbiz_liz at 3:29 PM on May 16, 2013 [8 favorites]
This is really not a bad commute at all. When I started reading 'nightmare commute' I thought the commute was going to be something worse than the crazy 3+ hour commutes some of my colleagues endure (Try Ontario - Glendale or Pasadena - Culver City on for size...)
If you're currently driving a manual transmission vehicle, I can understand your pain. But otherwise this commute is totally doable. Don't psych yourself out. Get an automatic transmission car (for god's sake don't ride your donorcycle to work) and you'll be fine.
posted by mullingitover at 3:40 PM on May 16, 2013
If you're currently driving a manual transmission vehicle, I can understand your pain. But otherwise this commute is totally doable. Don't psych yourself out. Get an automatic transmission car (for god's sake don't ride your donorcycle to work) and you'll be fine.
posted by mullingitover at 3:40 PM on May 16, 2013
The answer to your problems is a 4 day work week. If you work 4 ten hour days, you will not be as likely to hit traffic in the morning, you will have another day to yourself, you will get more done in the wee hours of the morning when you're all alone at work and you will be advancing your career.
I would, however, urge you to re-shape the way you think about driving...
I am left with a sense of anxiety because I can't actually actively DO anything while driving.
The active thing you do while driving is drive. Please do not search for something to distract you from that task. Your vehicle is a 4,000 lb weapon, and we all want you and everyone else to be safe.
posted by Nickel Pickle at 3:41 PM on May 16, 2013 [6 favorites]
I would, however, urge you to re-shape the way you think about driving...
I am left with a sense of anxiety because I can't actually actively DO anything while driving.
The active thing you do while driving is drive. Please do not search for something to distract you from that task. Your vehicle is a 4,000 lb weapon, and we all want you and everyone else to be safe.
posted by Nickel Pickle at 3:41 PM on May 16, 2013 [6 favorites]
To the people saying to use a motorcycle, I just want to add that motorcycles aren't exactly safe. I know OP has a motorcycle and a license and all that, but I feel like a leisurely ride is different than a tense commute to make it to work on time. An accident in a car that wouldn't hurt you at all would kill you on a motorcycle. So, I'd be careful. I know I drive aggressively when I am running late by speeding and weaving through traffic, but otherwise when I'm not going to work, I go the speed limit and stay in one lane the whole time.
posted by AppleTurnover at 3:44 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by AppleTurnover at 3:44 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
This job pays so much more that you'd be willing to take a taxi every single day... yet you wouldn't consider buying a new car
This is a good point. I would bet that a taxi would run at the absolute least $50-60 each way, so $100-120/day. That means in three days you would easily spend more than a monthly car payment (assuming decent credit and a decent down payment) on a brand-new Honda Fit, Fiat 500, Mazda 3, etc.
posted by scody at 3:46 PM on May 16, 2013
This is a good point. I would bet that a taxi would run at the absolute least $50-60 each way, so $100-120/day. That means in three days you would easily spend more than a monthly car payment (assuming decent credit and a decent down payment) on a brand-new Honda Fit, Fiat 500, Mazda 3, etc.
posted by scody at 3:46 PM on May 16, 2013
Best answer: Your commute is not too different from my commute.
(I go from east of downtown to Sherman Oaks via the 5 and the 134)
Pointers:
- In the morning, the 134 from my point of entry (the 5) on is rarely backed up AT ALL. I can't speak to the 134 through Glendale, but once you pass the 5 you'll fly headed west. Sometimes there's traffic on the 101, but there's almost never traffic on Ventura, so just get off at Laurel Canyon or something if it's bad.
- I find the evening commute to be the real hellbeast. The 101 is usually slow where I get on (Coldwater) and the 134 tends to back up between Forest Lawn Drive and the 5. I take the 5, and to be honest I'm usually like "SAYONARA SUCKERSSSSSS" to the people who are still parked on the 134. Maybe it clears up just past there, though, I don't know.
Is it possible that you could take the 110 to the 5 to the 134 instead of the 134 the whole way? The 5 is usually a breeze for both legs of my commute. Google Maps shows it as an option for your commute, and it's almost the exact same distance.
(Like something something says, my commute is way less than an hour, though it is about three miles shorter than yours. Mornings it's usually half an hour even with some traffic. Evenings it can be 45 minutes, and sometimes really is an hour on an especially bad day.)
posted by Sara C. at 3:56 PM on May 16, 2013
(I go from east of downtown to Sherman Oaks via the 5 and the 134)
Pointers:
- In the morning, the 134 from my point of entry (the 5) on is rarely backed up AT ALL. I can't speak to the 134 through Glendale, but once you pass the 5 you'll fly headed west. Sometimes there's traffic on the 101, but there's almost never traffic on Ventura, so just get off at Laurel Canyon or something if it's bad.
- I find the evening commute to be the real hellbeast. The 101 is usually slow where I get on (Coldwater) and the 134 tends to back up between Forest Lawn Drive and the 5. I take the 5, and to be honest I'm usually like "SAYONARA SUCKERSSSSSS" to the people who are still parked on the 134. Maybe it clears up just past there, though, I don't know.
Is it possible that you could take the 110 to the 5 to the 134 instead of the 134 the whole way? The 5 is usually a breeze for both legs of my commute. Google Maps shows it as an option for your commute, and it's almost the exact same distance.
(Like something something says, my commute is way less than an hour, though it is about three miles shorter than yours. Mornings it's usually half an hour even with some traffic. Evenings it can be 45 minutes, and sometimes really is an hour on an especially bad day.)
posted by Sara C. at 3:56 PM on May 16, 2013
Best answer: In addition to not being very good at traffic estimates in LA, Google is not very good at transit routing in the area (probably due to the absolutely ridiculous number of transit services.) The LADOT Commuter Express 549 appears to run about where you're looking at (Pasadena to Ventura/Sepulveda) in closer to an hour (downside: it only runs during "commuter times", so you're pretty much locked into a 9-5 schedule if you take that route.)
posted by kagredon at 4:16 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by kagredon at 4:16 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Dramamine can help with the car queasiness.
posted by spaltavian at 4:38 PM on May 16, 2013
posted by spaltavian at 4:38 PM on May 16, 2013
Best answer: 1hr+ drive in Sydney traffic here.
Absolutely the best is to carpool - you are only driving 50% of the time, and you have someone to talk to. Start the new job, then find out who lives nearby and would be willing to carpool.
Another thing that I like to do is take public transport to work on Friday and cycle home. Something different, you aren't sitting in traffic, and you only have to deal with public transport once.
posted by trialex at 4:40 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Absolutely the best is to carpool - you are only driving 50% of the time, and you have someone to talk to. Start the new job, then find out who lives nearby and would be willing to carpool.
Another thing that I like to do is take public transport to work on Friday and cycle home. Something different, you aren't sitting in traffic, and you only have to deal with public transport once.
posted by trialex at 4:40 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
I don't think Pasadena to Sherman Oaks is that horrific. It's a slog, but the 134 usually moves more quickly than say, the 10, and if you're really stuck, you can go surface. I used to live in South Pas and commuted to Culver City, and that was really worse. (And I'd never move from Pasadena to the SFV!)
If you can car pool, fine, but I've usually found that it ends up being more trouble than it's worth and you can't get groceries on the way home.
Try the drive. You might want to get a better car. In my experience, having a decent car makes the commute far easier.
posted by Ideefixe at 5:15 PM on May 16, 2013
If you can car pool, fine, but I've usually found that it ends up being more trouble than it's worth and you can't get groceries on the way home.
Try the drive. You might want to get a better car. In my experience, having a decent car makes the commute far easier.
posted by Ideefixe at 5:15 PM on May 16, 2013
negotiate some work from home time. maybe you only work certain days. maybe you work on a weekend and have a work day off. maybe you come in late and make it up on another day. maybe you work from home 6-10am, then drive to work when there's less traffic.
if you can make the case that it won't hurt your productivity, you could be very persuasive since it's your dream job (in terms of making a career) and the commute is nearly a deal breaker for you.
posted by cupcake1337 at 5:18 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
if you can make the case that it won't hurt your productivity, you could be very persuasive since it's your dream job (in terms of making a career) and the commute is nearly a deal breaker for you.
posted by cupcake1337 at 5:18 PM on May 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Does your job involve things you can do off-site? If so, what if you take the public transport options, bring a laptop, and work on the bus/train? Would your employer be willing to count those hours as hours worked, so that you can come in late/leave early? I imagine this would only work if your job is very product-focussed, so that whatever you are doing on the public transport is tangible and obvious to everyone, otherwise people might suspect you are slacking off. But it's worth considering.
I had a two-hour each way commute to university for a couple of years. I did it as a combination of biking to the train station (therefore getting my daily exercise and saving on time spent going to the gym otherwise); two trains with a good connection, and then a bus. It was a pain in the ass. I rented a cheap room in a shared house near the university and stayed there a couple of nights a week, and also arranged my schedule so that I only had to be in four days instead of five. But those four hours of commuting on days I did travel were actually a godsend for getting uninterrupted work done. There are basically no distractions on a train (e.g. no internet, no coworkers) and you can be quite efficient when you get into the hang of it!
posted by lollusc at 5:25 PM on May 16, 2013
I had a two-hour each way commute to university for a couple of years. I did it as a combination of biking to the train station (therefore getting my daily exercise and saving on time spent going to the gym otherwise); two trains with a good connection, and then a bus. It was a pain in the ass. I rented a cheap room in a shared house near the university and stayed there a couple of nights a week, and also arranged my schedule so that I only had to be in four days instead of five. But those four hours of commuting on days I did travel were actually a godsend for getting uninterrupted work done. There are basically no distractions on a train (e.g. no internet, no coworkers) and you can be quite efficient when you get into the hang of it!
posted by lollusc at 5:25 PM on May 16, 2013
Best answer: I asked this question a while back and got some helpful answers that might interest you.
posted by Pomo at 5:25 PM on May 16, 2013
posted by Pomo at 5:25 PM on May 16, 2013
Dude, when you said nightmare commute in LA, I thought: Valley to Westside. Silver Lake to Venice. Etc. I realize its all relative, but your prospective commute doesn't sound that bad. I am an LA traffic ninja, and I doubt it would take you more than forty-five minutes. Which is, IMO, not that bad.
posted by ablazingsaddle at 6:16 PM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by ablazingsaddle at 6:16 PM on May 16, 2013 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Wow, so many amazing answers, thanks everyone. Still thinking this through.
posted by brenton at 6:31 PM on May 16, 2013
posted by brenton at 6:31 PM on May 16, 2013
Is it possible your concerns are expressing a fear of taking on a bunch of unknowns?
I went from an 8 minute walk to work to a 30 minute drive. You may be able to do some schedule shifting to optimize your drive time a bit. Arriving 1/2 hour earlier might slice off 15 minutes of drive time. If I leave at 7:45, my drive takes 45 minutes, due to school buses. Use the commute time to listen to books on tape, podcasts, or news on public radio. You can use a smartphone to take notes or dictate writing. It really helps to learn patience and not get angry about bad drivers. There are, and always will be, many bad drivers who seem intent on hitting you, making you late, or both. Singing loudly to pop music is one way to de-escalate. Some groggy days, you may be the bad driver.
New job + more money + big opportunity > extra drive time.
posted by theora55 at 9:18 PM on May 16, 2013
I went from an 8 minute walk to work to a 30 minute drive. You may be able to do some schedule shifting to optimize your drive time a bit. Arriving 1/2 hour earlier might slice off 15 minutes of drive time. If I leave at 7:45, my drive takes 45 minutes, due to school buses. Use the commute time to listen to books on tape, podcasts, or news on public radio. You can use a smartphone to take notes or dictate writing. It really helps to learn patience and not get angry about bad drivers. There are, and always will be, many bad drivers who seem intent on hitting you, making you late, or both. Singing loudly to pop music is one way to de-escalate. Some groggy days, you may be the bad driver.
New job + more money + big opportunity > extra drive time.
posted by theora55 at 9:18 PM on May 16, 2013
I understand the advice about cars, but if you have any shot of a reasonable transit commute (even with a park-and-ride addition), I'd really recommend that. Not only are you not risking your life on the highway eveyr day, or slowly cranking up your road rage index (for some folks this is a nontrivial happiness/health issue), but also you can really use the time. My spouse would go crazy with the current commute if by car, but on the train can use the time to do some grading (a teacher), read the paper, or just relax and wind down from the day -- none of those are an option in the car. If your driving jitters aren't pure motion sickness, maybe you could use train time similarly to help buffer the office's expectations and your own less-time desires by doing a little work or catching up on emails, etc., as you travel, thus giving them a little extra "office time" that you can still lay aside when you hit home. Just another penny for the thought pond.
posted by acm at 6:49 AM on May 17, 2013
posted by acm at 6:49 AM on May 17, 2013
The dream job I had was 90 minute commute one way by car with no alternatives. Time spent in a car is not quality time. Based on your post and responses I say this... any job considered a career-maker is going to come with compromises like this. Your career is in fact made by your own choices as to what compromises you are willing to make. If it really is going to make your career, then I would choose the job.
However, the time I spent at my dream job felt foreign and alien to me. Even things like lunch out or a bathroom break would make me homesick to be that 90 miles away. Then sitting doing my great job knowing I'd have another 5 hours to wait to arrive home just made it worse. If you are community oriented, you probably are so because your home is in your heart more than your career is. If so then passing on the dream job sounds healthier.
posted by No Shmoobles at 11:58 AM on May 17, 2013
However, the time I spent at my dream job felt foreign and alien to me. Even things like lunch out or a bathroom break would make me homesick to be that 90 miles away. Then sitting doing my great job knowing I'd have another 5 hours to wait to arrive home just made it worse. If you are community oriented, you probably are so because your home is in your heart more than your career is. If so then passing on the dream job sounds healthier.
posted by No Shmoobles at 11:58 AM on May 17, 2013
For the motorcycle option, besides nice gear, also look at heated clothes, maybe just vest and gloves. Gerbing is a good brand.
For the auto option, be sure to test drive some cars that are rated very quiet. I recently rode in a friend's late model car - it was sooo quiet! It's a '07 Camry.
Also, podcasts and audiobooks are great, but also consider satellite radio.
Also, maybe look into tech that can read your email to you, and let you compose emails and docs via voice, so you can work during your commute and roll in at 10am all prepped, and take off at 4pm in good conscience.
How much more are you making? Driverless cars are legal in your state, right? JK, but in a few years.
posted by at at 6:30 PM on May 17, 2013
For the auto option, be sure to test drive some cars that are rated very quiet. I recently rode in a friend's late model car - it was sooo quiet! It's a '07 Camry.
Also, podcasts and audiobooks are great, but also consider satellite radio.
Also, maybe look into tech that can read your email to you, and let you compose emails and docs via voice, so you can work during your commute and roll in at 10am all prepped, and take off at 4pm in good conscience.
How much more are you making? Driverless cars are legal in your state, right? JK, but in a few years.
posted by at at 6:30 PM on May 17, 2013
Another reason to nix the taxi option is your carsickness problem - if you're anything like me, you'll feel even worse sitting in a car's backseat.
posted by naoko at 9:57 PM on May 19, 2013
posted by naoko at 9:57 PM on May 19, 2013
Response by poster: I had forgot to list it in my original question, but part of the reason I fear the commute is because I have read this article: I have had a Money Mustache Mindset for at least as long as MMM himself, so this was a big part of my commuter anxiety.
A lot of the answers here are very helpful, and insightful, and in fact, several are truly profound: you called into question my true priorities and were able to discern that this job is clearly not in alignment with them. You are right.
Yet against all of this, I did choose to take the job. Because I'm young and it's ok to do something crazy, because I want to try it out and see how it goes, because I'd always wonder what it was like to work at Amazon, and because I'm stupid, really stupid. And feeling stupider after re-reading the article I just linked to.
But I'm still excited, because this will be fun until it's not, and California is an at-will employer. After a few months, I'll be able to re-evaluate my priorities: do I truly want to move out of my community for work? Was it really worth it? Basically, this isn't a final decision. :D
All that being said, here is what I've decided to do to help mitigate the commute.
posted by brenton at 9:24 AM on May 21, 2013 [3 favorites]
A lot of the answers here are very helpful, and insightful, and in fact, several are truly profound: you called into question my true priorities and were able to discern that this job is clearly not in alignment with them. You are right.
Yet against all of this, I did choose to take the job. Because I'm young and it's ok to do something crazy, because I want to try it out and see how it goes, because I'd always wonder what it was like to work at Amazon, and because I'm stupid, really stupid. And feeling stupider after re-reading the article I just linked to.
But I'm still excited, because this will be fun until it's not, and California is an at-will employer. After a few months, I'll be able to re-evaluate my priorities: do I truly want to move out of my community for work? Was it really worth it? Basically, this isn't a final decision. :D
All that being said, here is what I've decided to do to help mitigate the commute.
- My wife and I are going to lease a brand new electric car. We calculated out the 3-year driving costs of making that commute on my existing car (which makes me sick) and found it to be about $8,000 (mostly gas). The 3 year cost of leasing a 2013 Honda Fit EV, factoring in all costs (rebates, electricity, insurance, etc) is about $9,000. And it seems like the EV really will make me feel less sick.
- We are dedicating a portion of my salary to time saving things in our home life. We're trying to figure out what things take the most time while being reasonably cheap to change or outsource. So far we think we're going to invest in installing a dishwasher, we're going to eat out slightly more often, and we are going to possibly pay for a laundry service, though that last one might be pricey compared to the time it saves, so we might find something else.
posted by brenton at 9:24 AM on May 21, 2013 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Definitely get a dishwasher -- it has been a lifesaver for us. And you don't necessarily have to invest in getting a brand-new one installed; depending on your kitchen layout and space issues, you could get a portable one that you just wheel up to the sink and hook up to the faucet, then wheel back in place when you're done. We got a compact (18-inch) portable dishwasher off Craigslist a few years ago for $130 and it fits right next to the stove (bonus counter space!) when we're not using it.
posted by scody at 11:04 AM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by scody at 11:04 AM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: You'll come out ahead on the EV. The old car would likely have developed problems requiring repairs if pressed into service for that commute.
I like to cook even though I'm usually pressed for time. I can't afford to eat the kind of food I like out as often as I can make it for myself. My thoughts on saving time in the kitchen:
DW is a huge timesaver. So is a hanging pot rack over your sink. Bar style if it will fit between cabinets on either side of the basin, otherwise get the loop or square kind that attach to the cieling. A heavy duty aluminum or cast iron stovetop grill. And an outdoor gas grill (can be cheap, my patio is small so I use a little Weber Q with a tank adapter on a scavenged metal patio side table, I think it cost me around $150 with the adapter and hoses).
Food processor if you don't already have one is a huge timesaver. And an extra workbowl or two so you don't have to stop to clean constantly (ebay). A countertop toaster oven too (used in oven mode to cook side dishes like veggies, can also be used to hold at temp). A crock pot or sous vide cooker, so you can have your meal cooking and holding automatically while you're out for the day.
These cookbooks: Cucina Rustica, Pasta Fresca, Cucina Fresca.
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:14 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
I like to cook even though I'm usually pressed for time. I can't afford to eat the kind of food I like out as often as I can make it for myself. My thoughts on saving time in the kitchen:
DW is a huge timesaver. So is a hanging pot rack over your sink. Bar style if it will fit between cabinets on either side of the basin, otherwise get the loop or square kind that attach to the cieling. A heavy duty aluminum or cast iron stovetop grill. And an outdoor gas grill (can be cheap, my patio is small so I use a little Weber Q with a tank adapter on a scavenged metal patio side table, I think it cost me around $150 with the adapter and hoses).
Food processor if you don't already have one is a huge timesaver. And an extra workbowl or two so you don't have to stop to clean constantly (ebay). A countertop toaster oven too (used in oven mode to cook side dishes like veggies, can also be used to hold at temp). A crock pot or sous vide cooker, so you can have your meal cooking and holding automatically while you're out for the day.
These cookbooks: Cucina Rustica, Pasta Fresca, Cucina Fresca.
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:14 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Also, use the Waze app! I commute from Los Feliz to BH - not so bad but the app always tells me the best route and arrival time is usually within a few minutes of their prediction. Takes some of the guesswork out of things.
posted by buzzkillington at 9:11 PM on May 25, 2013
posted by buzzkillington at 9:11 PM on May 25, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by DingoMutt at 12:54 PM on May 16, 2013 [15 favorites]