>> I really don’t get why people tolerate such long commutes. Most of the people I work with drive over 25 miles, which can take an hour in traffic.
I cannot speak for most people ... but I’ll gladly let you know why I am fine with my hour-long commute.
I live in Houston, TX.
First, I don’t like urban-style living. I don’t want to live in a high-rise, a condominium, or an apartment ... and I like having as much space between houses as possible. I like for my family and I to be as secluded as possible when I get home.
To me, suburban life is the American dream. White-picket fence, two car garage, large lawn, reasonable property values, friendly neighbors of similar incomes and values. The suburbs offer small-town living within driving distance of large-city life.
Urban homes are more expensive, smaller, closer together, in higher-traffic areas, and tend to be higher in crime, and overtaxed.
Schools. At least in Houston, the best public schools are in the wealthier suburban neighborhoods ... where the median income is high, the crime and drug rate is low, and there’s not much gang activity. Anytime someone tries to create a nice lifestyle in urban Houston, they get accused of “gentrification” and putting in non-affordable housing. Well ... I don’t want to live in “affordable housing”. So, inner-city neighborhoods have become high in crime, low in small-town values ... and simply lousy places to live.
As for the commute itself ... I don’t mind it. I drive about an hour one-way, and it gives me time to decompress before spending time with my wife and daughter in the evening ... and, it allows my lovely wife to make dinner before I get home.
I simply pop open a Coke, turn on sports-talk or music radio ... and relax.
H
Yes, there is a trade off for being close to a city (whether you work in the city, or not).
I know people who want to stay close to down town because of the city life but when it comes time to visit other couples they have to spend an hour driving out of town. Sometimes they don’t have a car because they never leave the city. They justify the higher living costs by not having a car (less freedom).
The worst are those people who move out to New Suburbia and then complain about the traffic, the lack of amenities (shopping malls & gas stations), and the lack of services.
NO2