10.21.04

Death to the Hell-Spawn Commute

Posted in Home Life at 8:01 am by Beau

I remember back in the day when Jeff and I moved from the city, I made mention to Sparky how we were going to utilize and capitalize on all the time spent in the commute to and from the city. Four hours each day to discuss politics, listen to books-on-tape, learn a new language, and just really live. Sparky, in his practical cynicism gave it a week before the commute became four hours of a lot less utilization and capitalization. He was right. It became obvious the only way to sustain a two hour-one way commute was for one of us to sleep through most of it, so our daily routine settled into me driving in the mornings into the city while Jeff slept for most of the ride and in the evenings, I’d sleep from the GWB until the Port Jervis exit off I-84. About the most political thing we’ve done so far is buy an XM satellite radio to listen to CNN and music from the 70′s. Neither of us speaks a new language though my goy-yiddish continues to expand but only because I frequently mutter, ‘Oy’ under my breath from sheer exasperation at other drivers or the weather or the the back up at the tolls getting into the city.

But we’ve persevered, regardless. Most who know we drive such distances daily for our jobs just shake their head, but we’ve done it for the last three years, surmounting multiple commutes throughout the winters that have stretched upwards to 6 hours, getting us home in time for bed only to have to be up the next morning at 4am to hit the road back to the city. We’ve done this almost without thought because it was important for us to get settled into Bashert and our lives outside the city, to take advantage of a mortgage and a regular life that isn’t so hustle-bustle and draining like it is in Manhattan.

It was the winter last year that finally did us in. Our hair is graying from the thought of having to drive through one more NY winter so we started talking last summer about getting a winter sublet back in the city, to be able to crash a few days during the week and as is our way, we’ve evolved that idea into signing a year’s lease this morning for an affordable one-bedroom in East Harlem to have a city crash pad for the week. All the sudden we’re back in the city though our home will always be up in the country. And for as much as I’ve spouted off to people after moving out of the city years ago about how I don’t miss I thing, I’d be lying to say we’re both not excited to be back, to have four hours a day for ourselves to do with as we wish. I’m scheduling quilting classes and Jeff’s looking for a gym membership and all the sudden, our world seems a little bit brighter and a little bit more livable. We’re definitely moving forward by getting back to the city.

49 Comments

  1. J.Go said,

    October 21, 2004 at 8:43 am

    Congrats on the lease! You are so going to make the best city on earth a little bit better. I think you’ll convert those four hours into some really fantastic adventures. Happy for you.

  2. Wayne said,

    October 21, 2004 at 2:55 pm

    Hrm, stumbbled here by accident.. is that banner… uh… your toon from City of Heroes?

  3. Jay said,

    October 21, 2004 at 4:39 pm

    And what about the cats?

  4. stephen said,

    October 21, 2004 at 5:02 pm

    I honestly don’t know how you held out so long. Nicky and I do the trip once a week and I feel tired! Anyway, I am very happy for you guys. Maybe we can get to hang out more often. Yipee!!

  5. Beau said,

    October 22, 2004 at 6:59 am

    The cats are commuting in and out of the city with us. We’ve been preparing them through lots of catnip and coersion to become accustom to a much smaller stalking space. On the plus side though, they’re going to only be alone 8-9 hours a day instead of the usual 14 AND they might have mice to play with. We think it’s win-win for everyone.

  6. Stephen said,

    October 22, 2004 at 12:40 pm

    You know Beau. Before my wonderful future brother-in-law came along and volunteerd to watch our house when we go up-state, I was going to bring my cat and dog up each week. The Vet told me to buy a carrying case (my cat has never been out of the house) and take her on car trips. Make each trip a bit longer each time. Maybe that is a good idea.

  7. Lee said,

    October 24, 2004 at 3:03 am

    EEP! I SWORE I left a comment here a couple of days ago! Maybe it got lost on the Major Deegan.

    Anyway, congrats on the apt. I always wondered how you managed to survive commuting into the city without landing up in a padded room at Bellevue. I swore to myself years ago that if I ever moved back to NYC, I’d only live in Manhattan since could never see myself commuting into it. I occasionally check out the traffic reports on WINS’s site and it still gives me the willies.

  8. Sparky said,

    October 31, 2004 at 7:17 pm

    Oh. My. God. Do oyu know what this means? Dinners! DRinks after work! Movies! Access, goddamnit! I get to see see you once in a while again — YAY!

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