Community Chat

[Reba055]

If I was still working, I'd rather dig a ditch and live in the boonies than deal with rush hour traffic, lol. 

[onewhiteSparrow]

I got tired of the hellish freeways..... going to work and returning home.    I went out looking for a nice house close to where I work and where I could stay off the freeways;  if I wanted to.... and drive across town to the office.   It takes me only 10 minutes to drive to work, and return home at night.  

That is working with my private world and keeping it calm.

[BlingQueen022]

You do what ya gotta do.  That's how I deal with it.  It's life.  I can't change it.  The traffic doesn't get to me, but the arrogant aggressive drivers in the lousy DC area does. Thank goodness this is my last winter of driving to work.  

[Blahblahvampemer]

Tinkrbl44 wrote:
Reba055 wrote:
Waiting for someone from LA to weigh in 😜😜
Well, here I am ..... and for the past 20 years I've been in SALES in LA ..... and in my car and driving all over the place.

Here's my advice ..... You must make peace with the commute.

If you can't find a good talk radio station, or a favorite music station, then there's books on tape .... or my personal favorite ...... comedy albums! I buy a bunch of slightly used comedy CDs every year on Ebay for an average of $4-7 each and they're worth their weight in gold!!! I always arrive home in a great mood after listening to Jeff Foxworthy, George Carlin, etc etc etc.

When I used to shop in Atlanta, I ran into a rather large number of people who lived out my way but commuted in for even part-time jobs. One mother of five loved her commute, and she called it "me time."

[RainCityWoman]

Yes, Seattle traffic is gridlocked much of the time. Light rail is not yet finished, nor is the Sounder train expanded yet. I choose surface roads most of the time over the freeway. I also try not to be out there during peak gridlock times. I used to drive 54 miles a day on the freeway to get to work. That was horrendous, even though I was leaving at 6:15 a.m.

[fourpaws56]

lol, there are more deer on the road than cars where I live...

[cotton4me]

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@MaggieMack wrote:

@cotton4me, I feel for you. When I lived in the Bay Area, I got so sick of commuting, it was one of the reasons that figured into my move to the Midwest. One night during my commute, I had a guy get out of his car on the Bay Bridge in stopped traffic, walked directly toward me pointing a gun in my face. That will wake you up! Fortunately, traffic started moving again. Then there was the time a CHP officer pulled me over . . . To ask me out on a date. Should have reported him, but he WAS cute. 

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______________________

@MaggieMack - How scary!  I'm glad you no longer have to worry about commuting.   I hope you're enjoying the Midwest. 

If I could move I'm not sure where I would want to go.  Now that I'm retired I no longer have to worry about rush hour traffic.  When I was working one of my commutes was 1 1/2 hours each way so a I spent a total of 3 hours a day in the car.  I'm sure it would be much worse now. 

[ritasNo1Fan]

I 've lived in downtown San Francisco since the '70s.  Have always been able to walk to work (California & Kearny) almost the whole time I've lived here.  Alot of  Drivers still use cell phones. Traffic Cops dont seem to care.  Yikes!  And most of the pedestrians are also on cell phones.  Rude A-wholes.   So I avoid tourists' hot spots.   And crowds in general.  It's rough...It's time to move.  I have learned what the finger salute means and I use it alot.  Things have changed 100%.  It's lost its charm.

[Laura14]

@gidgetgh @Blahblahvampemer I live in Gwinnett and it's been on our ballot at least three times since I've been around in recent years.  The problem is that they do it during one of the small local elections that no one takes the time to get out and vote in so it goes down in defeat every time. Plus the locals won't let it pass because they are afraid of it because of this supposed crime issue.  

The entire city of NY lives near a subway station and it is one of the safest cities in the world.  It's just not true.  I would ride next to a Marta rider rather than a NYC subway one any day of the week, safe as it is most times of day.  In my opinion, you guys don't know what a nice system you have and won't even give it a chance.  Your reality because of your traffic issues is that one day you are going to have to go there and take the leap of faith and get with the rest of country.  In fact, it's past time.

And there is no way (and this is from Gwinnett) that the people that take cars to Hartsfield get there before me even with my one hour plus drive to my closest Marta station.  I pay $2.50 and I get dropped off at the airport check in counter in 30 minutes and pay Marta $8 parking rather than the $16 the airport wants.  You can not drive North Gwinnett to Hartsfield in close to two hours even off peak.  

Stop being afraid of your fellow human being.  All of us are just trying to get where we want to go and make a living.  I am a small petite white girl who rides the Marta system alone even at night when I'm downtown for concerts or other events.  I'm still alive and unharmed and have lived to type about it.  Maybe I should get myself a t-shirt.   

[gidgetgh]

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@Laura14 wrote:

@gidgetgh @Blahblahvampemer I live in Gwinnett and it's been on our ballot at least three times since I've been around in recent years.  The problem is that they do it during one of the small local elections that no one takes the time to get out and vote in so it goes down in defeat every time. Plus the locals won't let it pass because they are afraid of it because of this supposed crime issue.  

The entire city of NY lives near a subway station and it is one of the safest cities in the world.  It's just not true.  I would ride next to a Marta rider rather than a NYC subway one any day of the week, safe as it is most times of day.  In my opinion, you guys don't know what a nice system you have and won't even give it a chance.  Your reality because of your traffic issues is that one day you are going to have to go there and take the leap of faith and get with the rest of country.  In fact, it's past time.

And there is no way (and this is from Gwinnett) that the people that take cars to Hartsfield get there before me even with my one hour plus drive to my closest Marta station.  I pay $2.50 and I get dropped off at the airport check in counter in 30 minutes and pay Marta $8 parking rather than the $16 the airport wants.  You can not drive North Gwinnett to Hartsfield in close to two hours even off peak.  

Stop being afraid of your fellow human being.  All of us are just trying to get where we want to go and make a living.  I am a small petite white girl who rides the Marta system alone even at night when I'm downtown for concerts or other events.  I'm still alive and unharmed and have lived to type about it.  Maybe I should get myself a t-shirt.   

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I never said anything about being afraid. I've taken Marta (rail) many times.....when I need to go where it goes, but 99.9% of the time I drive (including downtown) because it's easier, traffic and all. I live in East Cobb. Gettng to Marta and taking it anywhere isn't the least bit convenient for me. Atlanta metro is so sprawled, that Marta is never going to be the convenient, easiest way for most to get around.  Work aside, if I need to do ANYTHING in my daily life- grocery, drug store, mall, doctors appointments, etc., I have to drive to them. It's just the way it is. 

I feel for you on the Gwinnett to Hartsfield trip. Cobb to Hartsfield is no prize, but better than Gwinnett.   Besides the traffic, I hope you like it here!