The End of the Great Commute

My experiment has ended. Would I call it a failure? Not necessarily. For those of you who need a freshener, I started a great commute back in September that lasted through December. Each day, I pulled myself out of bed in San Dimas to make it to Beverly Hills by 9 am. The 2 sometimes 3 and once or twice 3.5 hour commute to work became part of my life. It became who I was. I suffered tremendously those four months. I will not sugar coat it.

Of course there were days in which I didn’t mind it. There were days that I got home by 7:30. There commutes where I heard a lovely or crazy story from the passenger bumping into me as we rode along Wilshire blvd.

But for the most part, it was terrible. I gained weight, not because taking public transportation is bad for the body. I would say it’s a lot better than driving myself. I gained weight because I had no energy to exercise after work. On the weekends I just wanted to sleep. I got home and became the TV-addicted-american that I strive not to be. I’m still getting over the habit of turning on the TV whenever I finish my work for the day.

On the other hand, I saved quite a bit of money. I didn’t pay for rent because I am living at home. Most of my paycheck went to student loans and buying Christmas presents. It cost $13.00 to get to and from work each day… not cheap, but better than the $26 I would spend on gas.

Now I am freelancing from home for TakePart. I’m enjoying being at home and not having to wake up at 6:30. I enjoy being at home in time for dinner, in time to go on a run, in time to catch the BCS championship game. I enjoy not dreading tomorrow. I enjoy not running after the bus to make sure I get home by 7:45. I enjoy not having to duck out of meetings or cancel plans. 

Is this situation perfect. No. I miss being around co-workers. I miss being in a work-environment. But sitting outside in my backyard and listening to the birds chirp as I edit isn’t half bad. I consider myself lucky. 

What did I learn from my experience commuting? I learned that I never want to have a commute longer than an hour again. I learned that taking the bus through downtown LA isn’t that scary. I learned that sometimes taking the bus through downtown is scary. More people take the bus in LA than I would have guessed. There is a majority of minorities on public transportation. I learned that the Westside is just too crowded for me. I re-learned every day that there is a major disparity between the rich and the poor in Los Angeles and in this country. I learned that the Occupy Protest was just kinda gross. Finally I learned that you can get just about anywhere with public transportation- it just might take a few hours.

Would I recommend it? No

Would I re-do it? No

Am I thankful to have had this experience? In a way

So now I work from home. My commute takes a roll out of my bed and lifting myself into my desk chair. I sometimes walk to the library or to starbucks to do my work. I have a lot more time to edit my own projects. I have time to exercise! I’ve gone on 2 runs and bike ride in the past week. I have a positive attitude that helps my relationships. I have time to think. to pray. to love. 

I have time to write my last blog post. 

Thank you for going on this journey with me. I’m sorry if I came across as a pessimistic troll. Maybe I was one for 4 months. But it is 2012 and it may be the last year we are all alive. So lets live it up. Stop commuting to that job you hate. Find somewhere closer to home. Move close enough to work so you can bike. Freelance from home. Do something creative. Hang out with friends more. Take care of your body better. And smile.

Godspeed,

Phil

November, November

I realized something about my commute… maybe something that I have realized before. But I have accepted it. 

I have realized that getting used to my commute doesn’t make it better. Before I started this adventure, I thought to myself, ‘If I could just get through a month, maybe I’ll get through the worst of it and actually like doing this.’ After a month I was still suffering pretty much every day of the commute. 4-5 hours of sitting on buses, subways, or in traffic isn’t as glorious as it sounds… haha… 

That was sarcasm.

I still thought that maybe after another month… just maybe if I made it to November, then I wouldn’t mind it. 

But it’s November 3rd now. and Commuting from San Dimas to Beverly Hills sucks. And I realize that I am having a really hard time with it. 

Another realization about this experience and myself:

Usually I’m the type of person who is very conscious about the decisions I make. I live the way I want to live. I do what’s best for me and those around me. If something is wrong, I change it. There are a lot of people in the world and particularly in our country who suffer and just live with it. Whether it is a long commute or working late hours or not having enough free time… people are unable to change and figure that ‘it’s too hard to change’ or ‘everyone else is a workaholic.’ 

But this is false. And that is one thing wrong about this country. We are made to believe that in order to succeed, we have to suffer. And then we are taught to believe that we have to buy things to be successful, we have to get a new iphone and a new car… and to do that we have to work long hours. we put our jobs in front of family and friends…

when there have been studies that show having 7-8 hours of social activity in your life per day are key to living a happy life. 

i could go hours talking about this country, happiness, etc.

My point was that usually if something is wrong/off in my ‘life situation’ i change it. But this time, I’m not changing it. I can’t change it. I need to pay off loans. I need to save money for that. Apartments are too expensive for me. There is definitely a gap between my ‘ideal life situation’ (which is very low compared to most American’s dream life) and my current situation.

Saying this, I still believe that I can find that magic spot. I believe that there is a place that I can live, a job I can have, that is harmonious with all the other aspects of my life. The search begins in December. Whether it is for a new apartment or what, I’m not sure. 

I guess that’s it for now.

Peace

Still truckin’ it… well I mean busin’ it…

Every day is an adventure. Yesterday I actually got a seat on the bus heading home, which was nice. But yesterday morning it took 45 minutes longer to get to work than usual- leaving me lifeless, frustrated, and in not-the-best mood. 

It’s almost been 2 months of the great commute and I’ve kind of figured it out finally.

-I hop on a bus in San Dimas (Yes Foothill Transit and I got back together again)

-I hop on a new bus in downtown

-Going home I hop on 1 bus, then a subway that passes the Wiltern, then one more bus.

I thought that once I figured out the system, it wouldn’t be so bad. But it is. Last week was fine because it was my birthday and the entire week was a little bit ‘happier’ than normal.

But this week it is back to the grind. Back the norm. And it is getting old. Fast. 

Gonna start looking for an apt. back on the West side for December. I’m going to Chile for 2 weeks in November so there’s no point in renting for a whole month if i’m only going to be there for two. So wish me luck for these next 3 weeks as I commute to work by public transportation.

Peace

Drive (outta this place??)

No not the movie. I’ve been drivin’ to work lately. More out of necesity rather than choice. I had to drive to a shoot on Tuesday morning in Simi Valley (apparently there is traffic on the 210 at 5:30 a.m. if you ever want to know). Then I drove to work the next day.

The problem I am having with driving/taking public transportation is that I’m getting used to it. Sure it’s great and all that I’m not surprised to get home at 8:00 pm every night anymore. It’s great not really minding driving in traffic for 4 hours every day (when I drive).

The problem is that, no one should be commuting for 4-5 hours a day. It’s ridiculous. It’s absurd. There is something wrong with this picture. I remember telling myself as a kid that I’d never commute longer than 30-45 minutes to work. Unfortunately I grew up and got a job and got student loans and life was thrown at me.

I am glad that I’m getting used to it though because who knows how long I’ll be in this situation. I don’t want to be paying off student loans when I’m 50. So perhaps I’ll live at home and commute for another 5-10 years so I don’t have to do that. Maybe I’ll win the lotto. Maybe I’ll get a huge bonus. Or maybe I’ll burn out, jump ship, and move to another country leaving this 1% country behind.

That latter option is looking more promising each and every day.