Did you only visit New England? Because in most other states, the drive can take quite a while, as in hours between cities. And there’s not much to see or do at a random gas station or rest stop while you enjoy a beverage, so you may as well bring it along and get the journey over sooner.
My man was commuting from Monterey to San Francisco. Every day. Basically spent five days a week in a cycle of drive-work-drive-sleep. Absolutely insane.
Hearing that makes me sad. Must be better alternatives, right? Work from home 4 times a week, take public transportation, or worst case move/find new job. Maybe not options for everyone but I personally would never bear to sit in a car that much.
Not at the time, not for him, really. I mean, neither of us work there anymore. I’m not talking about office work. We were marine mechanics, working on big diesel engines. The job doesn’t support city living (unless you’re in a shared apartment). I was the only one in our crew who lived in the city.
There are thousands of similar situations in any expensive area, necessary jobs that don’t pay enough for their location.
I live in a small town located in an old growth pine forest. It’s quiet here, the air is fresh, there’s parks and recreational facilities. I own a house, I have some land, I have my very own wood shop. I’m near my family, I’m familiar with this area.
I work in a city, where there are offices and factories and millions of customers. There’s always something going on, constant hustle and bustle. It’s always noisy and a brownish grey haze constantly hangs overhead. There are no homes for sale, but apartments for astronomical rent, where having your own kitchen isn’t a given, let alone a workshop.
Distance from my home in the forest to my job in the city: 75 miles as the crow flies, 90 miles by highway. Speed limits from my driveway to the parking lot at work vary from 25mph in my neighborhood with frequent stop signs to 70mph on the open highway, 55mph is a typical average overall speed. Takes about 1.5 hours to make the trip one-way assuming I have no other errands or other detours to take.
Wow at that distance I would take the train, bus or other public transportation, because then I could read a book, or even better work and write those 3h off and get some of the time back.
Came up recently… cupholders in cars. You really have to drink in the car while driving?
Did you only visit New England? Because in most other states, the drive can take quite a while, as in hours between cities. And there’s not much to see or do at a random gas station or rest stop while you enjoy a beverage, so you may as well bring it along and get the journey over sooner.
No but we gotta put the drinks somewhere when we go get drive-thru
I mean its not only american thing.there are cupholders in european cars… or there were cupholders. At least My father 2001 Audi has it.
I’ve had coworkers with 100+ mile commutes–200 miles a day. A cup holder seems far less silly when you’re spending that much time in the car.
Wait wait, why are you spending that much time in a car?
My man was commuting from Monterey to San Francisco. Every day. Basically spent five days a week in a cycle of drive-work-drive-sleep. Absolutely insane.
Hearing that makes me sad. Must be better alternatives, right? Work from home 4 times a week, take public transportation, or worst case move/find new job. Maybe not options for everyone but I personally would never bear to sit in a car that much.
Not at the time, not for him, really. I mean, neither of us work there anymore. I’m not talking about office work. We were marine mechanics, working on big diesel engines. The job doesn’t support city living (unless you’re in a shared apartment). I was the only one in our crew who lived in the city.
There are thousands of similar situations in any expensive area, necessary jobs that don’t pay enough for their location.
I see, thanks for the explanation. Hope both you and him some day find jobs which allows you to free up your time.
Edit: or you know, whatever you value
Thanks! I’m happy to report that I have, and last I checked, so had he.
Because America is huge and spread out.
I live in a small town located in an old growth pine forest. It’s quiet here, the air is fresh, there’s parks and recreational facilities. I own a house, I have some land, I have my very own wood shop. I’m near my family, I’m familiar with this area.
I work in a city, where there are offices and factories and millions of customers. There’s always something going on, constant hustle and bustle. It’s always noisy and a brownish grey haze constantly hangs overhead. There are no homes for sale, but apartments for astronomical rent, where having your own kitchen isn’t a given, let alone a workshop.
Distance from my home in the forest to my job in the city: 75 miles as the crow flies, 90 miles by highway. Speed limits from my driveway to the parking lot at work vary from 25mph in my neighborhood with frequent stop signs to 70mph on the open highway, 55mph is a typical average overall speed. Takes about 1.5 hours to make the trip one-way assuming I have no other errands or other detours to take.
Wow at that distance I would take the train, bus or other public transportation, because then I could read a book, or even better work and write those 3h off and get some of the time back.
I always have water and some times coffee in my car even for small commute. Cupholders are standard in any car in Europe as well?
Yeah but most people never use it, or put other Stuff in it.
I drive an older Benz and there are no cupholders anywhere.
Sounds awful
I had a 1.5 hour one-way commute to work before the pandemic.
Yeah I would often bring along a beverage.