When I first started work a combination of minimum opportunities and the job of my other half meant that I commuted for over an hour each way (this didn’t include the time spent in a petrol station or taking my car for a service every few months). We then made the decision to move to a house approximately half way in between our respective places of work. This still meant a lot of money on petrol and at least 40 minutes each way (when I wasn’t stranded by flood water). So, I made a decision to look for a professional job in my (now) home town. Easier said than done, these are few and far between in Warehouseville. I now have said job, and, will freely admit that it is not the job of my dreams, much less one that uses my full potential or training. However, I am making less impact on the planet, don’t have to worry about the weather, the price of petrol or the latest shed load on the M40. Still, every now and then I have a hankering to look for another job which would inevitably involve getting back in the car.
This week I have taken my beloved to an Open University exam at Birmingham University (not ideal, but it could have been worse). We decided to go along the M42 – and I am now cured – the queue in the other direction seemed to be pretty much constant for the entire stretch, and the warning signs were up for a further queue at the western end of the motorway on the M5. I was in luck I thought – until I queued along the A38 for nearly all of the distance between to the University. All of this makes me wonder why anyone should choose to commute. It is bad for the planet, is only going to get more expensive, without a huge investment in public transport it will only get more difficult, and it takes a huge chunk out of your life. Imagine if you had an extra two hours every day (10 hours a week) to do whatever it is you want to do?