For those who commute West.....please come in and help!!

I have been working in a LI public school for 4 years. I absolutely love it and feel so blessed to have been working so close to home all these years. However I will be excessed again this year (as I have EVERY year) due to budget cuts. I have been lucky to have been called back but this upcoming year is the worst and it looks like I will not be called back.

Anyways there is a job opportunity over an hour away (with no traffic) in Brooklyn that has arisen. I live in Patchogue. How do you deal with the commute? Does it affect you emotionally, financially? DH and I were planning on starting a family (TTC) this summer. I can't imagine balancing a huge
Commute like that.

Please share your experiences.

Re: For those who commute West.....please come in and help!!

First of all I am sorry to hear that you might be excessed again.

I commute from Hicksville to Brooklyn (Canarsie) every day.

The amount of time it takes me varies based on time of year but in general it's 1-1.5 hours going in and a little worse going home - sometimes up to 2 hours.

Prior to this job - in my old career - I had almost always had a lengthy commute so I thought I was used to it. However, with a family and the responsibilities that come with that, it's tougher than I remember.

It takes its toll for sure. Financially it stinks, but you just have to factor it in. I was unemployed for about 1.5 years before I finally got this job so I didn't notice the cost as much as I would in your situation. For you it'll be like a pay cut.

For me even though the commute home is longer, I don't mind that as much because I am going home to my family. The commute in, however, can be tough because sometimes I'm tired when I get there but I know I have the whole day ahead of me.

All this, though, is from Hicksville. You are coming from much, much further and to be honest, that commute would have a serious impact on your quality of life.

If you want to FM me the location of the school I can help you figure out how long it should take and if the LIRR is an option for you. I wish it were for me but I work in this little pocket of Brooklyn not well connected to the trains.

For those who commute West.....please come in and help!!

I wouldn't be able to handle that commute. I go from W Islip to Queens every day and I can't imagine having to go any further. The commute sucks. It sucks on the way in and even though I know I am heading home, it sucks on the way home too. It's just horrible no matter how you look at it. And I made the mistake of judging by my interview commute in the middle of the day with no traffic. What a mistake. 40 minutes with no traffic. At least an hour and a 1/4 to 2 hours pending traffic.

Re: For those who commute West.....please come in and help!!

I commute from centereach to ozone park. It isn't that bad at all. My school starts at 7:25 and ends at 215. In the morning it takes me usually an hour and on the way home as long as I leave by 230 also an hour. Once it hits 3pm my time in the car hits 1.5 hours. I also have a Prius so I can go in the hov lane which is a huge help. I have 2 kids and am pg with my 3rd. I feel like my family life doesn't suffer at all. I used to teach in manhattan and take the train. It was 100 times worse than what I have now.

For those who commute West.....please come in and help!!

I live in West Babylon and commute to Richmond Hill. It's not that bad because I leave early in the am and early in the pm. I also carpool which makes a HUGE difference. DH lost his Long Island job and commutes to the Bronx. While he likes his school the commute is soul sucking. He's at least an hour in and an hour and half home. But he is happy to be secure. He's hoping to find a carpool as well to just be able to unwind sometimes on the way home.

Re: For those who commute West.....please come in and help!!

Thanks ladies...... I don't know what to do LOL I am going to consider it, make the drive out there one day to see how it really is and then decide.

For those who commute West.....please come in and help!!

That's a long ride. I drive from Seaford to East New York, which is as far east as you can get in Brooklyn, and it takes an hour in the morning, and a little over an hour in the afternoon.

Re: For those who commute West.....please come in and help!!

I commute from Ronkonkoma to Flatbush in Brooklyn everyday.

The morning I leave by 5 am and it takes about an 1:10 mins.

I don't leave Brooklyn till 4:30 and it takes me 2 hours to get home.

If I could leave by 3 o'clock, my communte home would probably be closer to my commute to work in the am.

I won't lie and tell you I love it....it kills me to be in the car that long, but I need the job so I have no choice to travel a long commute.

For those who commute West.....please come in and help!!

I'm a teacher with an hour commute (live and work in L.I) but I also have a very weird schedule (I work in a private school and I'm there until 5PM, 3 days a week).
It's tough, and I envy those who work 5-10 mins from their job SO much. But for me its worth it and manageable. I get frustrated with the traffic, but you get used to it. I love my job that in the end, i'll take the long commute if it means I get to work at my school.

Also, I always remind myself as a teacher I get my summers off and holiday vacations to spend wtih my DS. It helps me get through the longer days.

Re: For those who commute West.....please come in and help!!

I commute from Ronkonkoma to midtown daily. Some days are harder than others. I do work on the train and sleep sometimes. DH also works in the city so we sometimes come home together. Sometimes the commute gets to me. I get up at 430 and don't go to bed till 10 or 11.

Good luck!

Re: For those who commute West.....please come in and help!!

I was commuting from West Babylon to Canarsie about 2 years ago and it was horrible, the belt is such a crappy road.

The last 2 years I have been commuting from West Babylon to Jamaica, and most days it isn't too bad, about 45-60. I now carpool, which makes it better!