Drive Time

I recently started a new job in the suburbs. I had to buy a car and now I have roughly an hour commute to work. and back every day.
This commute was very intimidating and a huge concern and consideration to me as I was debating taking the job or not.
I'm a big fan of public transportation, I don't take it as much as I should, but I always liked the taking the train to work on the rare occasions that I actually was in the city. For all it's problems, the CTA is very reliable and inexpensive given the service it provides.
After a week of this commute, I feel like my fears and concerns were a bit unfounded. I've actually liked the commute so far. For one, on a good day, if I leave early, the commute really is only 40-45 mins. Only about 15 longer than my train commute was. It's definitely more stressful to drive then it is to ride a train but that brings me to my next point. This week I've been listen to NPR, both to and from work and I've been loving it. Now I know it can be considered "elitist" radio. But it's both informed and inspired some good thinking in the car. World affairs, the economy, and the social discussion that the radio provides is so different than what television or the newspaper does. Elevated but tangible, direct but in many ways interactive. It has been fantastic and has turned what I've feared to be dead time into something valuable and worthwhile.
Things can clearly change, ask me in 6 months if I still feel the same way and it will probably be very different, but for now I'm really enjoying the drive.


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