# Shortest commute: the corollary to the longest commute thread **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 11, 2005, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-commute-the-corollary-to-the-longest-commute-thread/330629 "2005-11-11T21:28:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-commute-the-corollary-to-the-longest-commute-thread/330629/21 "2005-11-12T07:55:16Z")
Over the summer, about .4 miles when I was working at a movie theater. Alas, I was generally dead on my feet after an 8-10 hour shift with a 15 minute break, ending sometime around 1 AM. So I mostly relied on borrowing a car/mooching rides off friends, at least going home from work. ---
**Author:** ![gouda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c77e96/32.png) [@gouda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gouda)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-commute-the-corollary-to-the-longest-commute-thread/330629/22 "2005-11-12T08:05:02Z")
Current job, 2.5 km each way. Last job, 40 km each way. It’s one of the reasons I had quit. ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-commute-the-corollary-to-the-longest-commute-thread/330629/23 "2005-11-12T08:47:42Z")
Don’t know if this counts as working at home or not, but I used to work and live at the same youth hostel. Could be both good and bad, for all the obvious reasons. I _hate_ long commutes. It blows my mind the distances people in the DC area travel, and why they’re not taking over the run down inner city neighborhoods just to cut down their travel time. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-commute-the-corollary-to-the-longest-commute-thread/330629/24 "2005-11-12T13:46:14Z")
Having posted a long commute (2500 miles) in the other thread, I’ll post a short commute in this one. Right now I’m at home, but in another window on this computer I’m installing some software on a machine in Florida for work. It took . So is my commute the walk from the kitchen to my PC, the 3-ish mouse-clicks and 10 keystrokes it took to make the connection or the 3 inches of mouse movement it now takes to switch between being “here” and being “there”. I just switched back & forth 3 times. Neener neeener!! Wana see me do it again?? ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-commute-the-corollary-to-the-longest-commute-thread/330629/25 "2005-11-12T13:48:57Z")
Ah, here’s one where I can post something. I can walk to my current job, as it is slightly over one mile away. But I don’t because the city of Dallas is decidedly pedestrian unfriendly, especially in my neighborhood. So I drive 3.5 miles to get to work, and 1.5 miles to get home. Still, a 5 mile total commute ain’t bad. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-commute-the-corollary-to-the-longest-commute-thread/330629/26 "2005-11-12T13:51:02Z")
D’oh. I totally forgot about the _shortest_ commute I’ve ever had. When I was a kid I worked at my parents restaurant, which was just short of two blocks from our house. That’s, what, I guess about an 0.3 mile total commute both ways! ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-commute-the-corollary-to-the-longest-commute-thread/330629/27 "2005-11-12T13:57:04Z")
For two years, I lived across the street from work. It was about a 10-15 minute walk. I didn’t have a car then. It still sucked in bad weather. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-commute-the-corollary-to-the-longest-commute-thread/330629/28 "2005-11-12T14:37:33Z")
10 steps from my bedroom to my office at home, where I do most of my work. I go into my real office about once a week, which is a 10 minute drive away. On the other hand, the commute to my field sites has at times been 5,000 miles and taken 4 days. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-commute-the-corollary-to-the-longest-commute-thread/330629/29 "2005-11-13T01:47:21Z")
I live on the farm where I work. I don’t commute; I’m always here. I think I win 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-commute-the-corollary-to-the-longest-commute-thread/330629/30 "2005-11-13T01:49:25Z")
> [@Hello Again](#): > > I live on the farm where I work. I don’t commute; I’m always here. > > I think I win 🙂 > [@davenportavenger](#): > > Don’t answer if you work at home since we all know you all got the best time of it. Uh… ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-commute-the-corollary-to-the-longest-commute-thread/330629/31 "2005-11-13T02:01:31Z")
Except that I don’t work in my home. I work outside my home, in an outdoor profession, that happens to take place entirely all around my house. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-commute-the-corollary-to-the-longest-commute-thread/330629/32 "2005-11-13T02:06:20Z")
For the last year as I’ve been fundraising for my new firm I’ve worked at home. We converted the bedroom next to the master as an office when we moved out here for Lady Chance so the two of us commute about 15 feet. But I’ve got the new space set up now. So my commute will be about 2 blocks away in the business district of my town. Prior to this when we lived in DC is was 1.5 hours or so both ways depending on daily conditions. Ugh. Every time I think about that I’m pleased I moved. ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-commute-the-corollary-to-the-longest-commute-thread/330629/33 "2005-11-13T02:27:20Z")
My boyfriend used to work at a store around the corner from his apartment. Literally, around the corner. No crossing of streets necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-commute-the-corollary-to-the-longest-commute-thread/330629/34 "2005-11-13T02:33:21Z")
> [@davenportavenger](#): > > really don’t understand the mentality of those people who put up with an hour commute every day. It’s like you’re working an extra couple of hours a week, and not even getting paid for them. Its actually an extra 10 hours a week assuming a 1 hour commute each way five days a week. In some places where people live 30ish miles away from huge cities it is closer to 2 hours so its an extra 20 hours a week of paycheck free work. My commute is 0.8 miles and about 8-10 minutes to walk, 4-5 minutes by bike. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-commute-the-corollary-to-the-longest-commute-thread/330629/35 "2005-11-13T03:29:14Z")
> [@Wesley Clark](#): > > Its actually an extra 10 hours a week assuming a 1 hour commute each way five days a week. In some places where people live 30ish miles away from huge cities it is closer to 2 hours so its an extra 20 hours a week of paycheck free work. > > My commute is 0.8 miles and about 8-10 minutes to walk, 4-5 minutes by bike. I am sure you know this but it sounds like **davenportavenger** doesn’t. People live far from work for many reasons. …My kids are 8 and 5. We live in a town with NJ’s top public schools. Additionally like so many other couples we are a 2-income family. My Wife actually make a little more than I do. Thankfully she works one town over and has a very short commute of about 10 minutes. …I cannot find a job closer to home and I am stuck with a 42-mile commute that is at least heading opposite the rest of the commuters. It takes me 40 minutes in the AM and 45-50 in the PM. …When we moved here I actually sacrificed and doubled my commute for the benefit of my wife and Kids. I hope that helps everyone understand some of many reasons why people have long commutes. Jim ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-commute-the-corollary-to-the-longest-commute-thread/330629/36 "2005-11-13T06:37:11Z")
I realize why many people have to take a job with a long commute. And I don’t think 42 miles is all that long compared to some of the other commutes in that thread (three hours? the hell?). It’s just that personally I don’t like work and I would REALLY hate having to work off the clock (which is what a long commute really is) even more. After being spoiled with my current commute I don’t know if I could ever go back to the days when I had to ride the bus to get to work. And riding the bus is WAY less stressful than driving, for me anyway. ---
**Author:** ![CBCD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@CBCD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBCD)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-commute-the-corollary-to-the-longest-commute-thread/330629/37 "2005-11-13T11:34:41Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > I am sure you know this but it sounds like **davenportavenger** doesn’t. > People live far from work for many reasons. > …My kids are 8 and 5. We live in a town with NJ’s top public schools. Additionally like so many other couples we are a 2-income family. My Wife actually make a little more than I do. Thankfully she works one town over and has a very short commute of about 10 minutes. > …I cannot find a job closer to home and I am stuck with a 42-mile commute that is at least heading opposite the rest of the commuters. It takes me 40 minutes in the AM and 45-50 in the PM. > …When we moved here I actually sacrificed and doubled my commute for the benefit of my wife and Kids. I hope that helps everyone understand some of many reasons why people have long commutes. > > Jim **jrfranchi** - I too live in a town with one of NJ’s top schools. I grew up here, and I’m raising my children here. This is a small town where everyone knows each other, and the children have a wonderful ‘free-range’ childhood. We are a bike ride away from the ocean. And our commutes into NYC are at least 75 minutes. It’s a trade-off. Our parents took on that long commute for us, so we could grow up in a great small town. And we now do that for our children. I know just what you’re talking about. ---
**Author:** ![EnderWay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d26b3c/32.png) [@EnderWay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnderWay)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2005, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-commute-the-corollary-to-the-longest-commute-thread/330629/38 "2005-11-13T23:56:59Z")
Under 5 minute wall to get from my 2nd floor Apt door to my desk at work. I walk out my Apt building, past one small store front building, then in side entrance of Building I work in. My dept. just down the hall from where I enter. Added bonus … they hospital I work for owns the Apartment building I live in and rents to only employees at a discounted rate. About 25% lower then area’s going rate. I almost feel guilty. The hospital has an ongoing policy of paying people and extra $100 , per event, to employees who make it in each time there is a foot of snow or more on the ground! ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-commute-the-corollary-to-the-longest-commute-thread/330629/39 "2005-11-14T02:15:41Z")
I just walk across the street. 😃 This will change within a year :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2005, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-commute-the-corollary-to-the-longest-commute-thread/330629/40 "2005-11-14T21:44:07Z")
The best commute I ever had was about 5 years ago. House to day job: 6 blocks Day job to Taekwondo school: 10 blocks TKD school back home: 16 blocks [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortest-commute-the-corollary-to-the-longest-commute-thread/330629.md?page=1)