Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Simple Changes

I started my new job just over a year ago.  I love everything about it.  I love its flexibility--as long as you work an 8 hour day and show up sometime before 10, no one bats an eye.  It you show up after 10 ... which ahem, I've NEVER tried ... someone just says "we were wondering where you were!"  I love the people as you guys have seen PLENTY of here.  I also love what we do.  Since most of it involves accounting and writing reports, I think I might be an even bigger nerd now than when I started.  But I do hate one thing.


The COMMUTE.

Door to door, my house is 10 miles from downtown Portland.  If I could fly?  I'm sure it'd be WAY less ... and WAY cooler.   But GETTING there?  It's a struggle.  YES, Portland has a nice public transportation system, but it FILLS up during rush hour.  So you're stuck like a sardine.  Usually amongst smarties reading the Wall Street Journal while you're reading Bitter is the New Black.  And I have to DRIVE to get to the train.  Which if I'm already DRIVING 5 miles to the train, why don't I just drive the extra 5 and be at work already?

I've tried all possible combinations and finally found one that worked.  If I got up at 4 a.m. (!) I could be at the train by 6:15 and still have a couple hours at home to putter around and have a cup of coffee.  I got to work at about 7 and left in time to catch the 4 p.m. train home.  And I could actually sit down like a civilized human being.  An exhausted civilized human being.

And that was the problem.  I was a ZOMBIE.  Who goes to bed at 8:30 p.m. except for 8 year olds and probably not even them anymore since it's summer?

Last week I finally said screw it.  I made my peace with driving in.

I don't leave until after 8 a.m.  I get to work by 9 and stay until 5:30.  I miss all of the traffic both ways and I have a few hours of sun in the morning to walk Miss Fisher, eat breakfast and ENJOY the morning which is my favorite time of the day.  It is HEAVEN. 

And I am happy.

Have you guys done something like this--made a simple change that makes all the difference in the world?

6 comments:

Bella Della said...

When I moved out to the little farm I "auditioned" routes to work for weeks. I finally settled on a pretty good one. Only problem- no matter which way I go- it's about an hour each way- 40 miles. But I don't mind. It's worth it to me. I use that time both in the morning and on the way home to chill out and think.

I am a morning person too. I get up at 5:30ish and don't leave until around 7:30am. I like to putz around in the AM.

I think I make little changes like you are talking about all the time. I can't think of a specific example at the moment, but I know that happy feeling.

Have a great day, SSG!

Ok, Where Was I? said...

How wonderful to have that kind of flexibility. I also have that flexibility, but I don't have a job, so I don't get paid. It's almost noon and I'm still in my pjs.

Big Hair Envy said...

A few years ago, my daughter and I were FORCED to find an alternate route to school/work. Our commute is about 50 miles one way. When "Gaston" blew through our area, it washed out a bridge that we used twice per day. We found a couple of other routes, but none were as quick and painless as the first. It took two years to repair the bridge and dam, but we are now back on track:)

Lys said...

Ahhh... Simple Changes - no and yes. I've made simple decisions that are life changing (esp. recently) but hmmmm.

I stopped getting mad at traffic - one of the few things you can't control.

HalfAsstic.com said...

My "life altering" things that I do different are sooo mundane. I have begun bringing H her toothbrush and a glass of water with spit bowl BEFORE I put her in bed. So it's all already done and getting her in the bed and changed and good nighted is much faster.
What can I say...it's the little things...

Bella Della said...

I only pretend to have cows. They belong to my neighbor but are so close in the field in front the house. You should hear them mooing over there. You are still welcome to come on over!