I may start taking the ferry in to NY again. I still have to drive, but I'm only driving to Monmouth County, vs. all the way to Manhattan. Then I get a nice 40 min ride on a boat with free breakfast and a bar.
Gas prices are so high so let me spend $7k on a Geo instead
- Thread starter Ben Ruset
- Start date
My V-8 GMC is killing me right now, but I need something that can trailer my boat and haul my family. Insuring a third car just for economical commuting may not be worth it, but a small motorcycle might. Hence, I'm considering my first bike!
That's a tough commute, Ben. My brother did that for years from Cherry Hill to NYC, and then from the Princeton area to NYC. I'm amazed that you have any time left to work on this site and explore the woods!
I work from home full-time at the moment. It has its pluses and minuses. I love grabbing a cup of coffee and a bagel and worrying about the shower later 
. On the other hand... the kids come home, and there's summer coming up.
. On the other hand... the kids come home, and there's summer coming up.
There's definitely plusses and minuses. It's always interesting when I'm on a conference call with vendors and such and there's Dora the Explorer in the background, or my daughter chasing the cat yelling "CAT CAT CAT"
Folks:
I have had the privilege of working at home for the past 20-plus years: 13 years with my own consultancy and the past 8 years with my position as senior historian for my current employer. Those in the company who need to know have visited my library and are well aware of what I have here and what I can do with the resources available, so there has never been a question of where I would work. I would not want to schlep portions of my collection around with me due to wear and tear and other reasons, so, I stay here for the most part to conduct my research and prepare my written texts. Obviously, the lack of a commute, other than by foot on the staircase, is saving me a great deal of money right now, and I deeply appreciate it! When I do have to visit a respository for research, I do, of course, receive reimbursement for mileage, tolls, etc. for the distance between my house and the given repository.
That’s not to say I don’t have distractions here at home, albeit I have learned to deal with many of them over the years. Professionally, the biggest diversion I deal with is the attraction to continue reading research sources well beyond what is require for my current research task. It is akin to sitting and reading historic newspapers on microfilm for a specific article and, the next thing you know, you are reading through every article on every page, and not just the headlines, because it is all just so darn fascinating!! Most of the time I am quite successful in overcoming the desire to be diverted, but every once in a while the allure of learning new information, combined with low enthusiasm for a particular project, will lead me astray! And then I have to make up the time expended outside the parameters of the project.
I find that having my office and library separated from the remainder of the house and high-traffic area helps a great deal. If you are out of the family loop, so to speak, and can train the kids and other family members to respect the "At Work" sign, and have someone in the house that can field telephone calls for you, then I think most professionals can conquer the distractions of working at home.
I think as gasoline prices continue to rise, many employers will begin to see the wisdom of allowing employees to tele-commute—as least those employees who have demonstrated a level of maturity and trustworthiness.
Best regards,
Jerseyman
I have had the privilege of working at home for the past 20-plus years: 13 years with my own consultancy and the past 8 years with my position as senior historian for my current employer. Those in the company who need to know have visited my library and are well aware of what I have here and what I can do with the resources available, so there has never been a question of where I would work. I would not want to schlep portions of my collection around with me due to wear and tear and other reasons, so, I stay here for the most part to conduct my research and prepare my written texts. Obviously, the lack of a commute, other than by foot on the staircase, is saving me a great deal of money right now, and I deeply appreciate it! When I do have to visit a respository for research, I do, of course, receive reimbursement for mileage, tolls, etc. for the distance between my house and the given repository.
That’s not to say I don’t have distractions here at home, albeit I have learned to deal with many of them over the years. Professionally, the biggest diversion I deal with is the attraction to continue reading research sources well beyond what is require for my current research task. It is akin to sitting and reading historic newspapers on microfilm for a specific article and, the next thing you know, you are reading through every article on every page, and not just the headlines, because it is all just so darn fascinating!! Most of the time I am quite successful in overcoming the desire to be diverted, but every once in a while the allure of learning new information, combined with low enthusiasm for a particular project, will lead me astray! And then I have to make up the time expended outside the parameters of the project.
I find that having my office and library separated from the remainder of the house and high-traffic area helps a great deal. If you are out of the family loop, so to speak, and can train the kids and other family members to respect the "At Work" sign, and have someone in the house that can field telephone calls for you, then I think most professionals can conquer the distractions of working at home.
I think as gasoline prices continue to rise, many employers will begin to see the wisdom of allowing employees to tele-commute—as least those employees who have demonstrated a level of maturity and trustworthiness.
Best regards,
Jerseyman
Be careful G if you do get a bike, especially if its your first.
I have been riding motorcycles for over 33 years, most of that in the woods, with an occasional jaunt down the road on some of my old enduros.
I now have a 96 c.i. Harley and the road is certainly a different kind of place.
Something about riding on the highway makes you invisible to other people and as soon as I figure that out I will feel more comfortable.
I was reading an article in the Wall Street Journal yesterday about how gas prices have actually lagged way behind crude oil prices. However they said we should brace ourselves for this summer, as they are going to catch up. Goldman Sachs, who has been very conservative in the past, recently said crude could go as high as $200/barrel by 2009. The article said that if this happens we will see gas prices shoot up to between $6.00 and $7.00 per gallon. Wow. I live 50 miles from work, so even in my VW Rabbit that will would hurt.
The same issue had an article about Ford, who revised their projections yesterday and said they no longer expect to become profitable in 2009 because people have stopped buying trucks and SUV's. The US automakers really are turning into dinosaurs IMO. What a short-sighted strategy to pin your hopes on sales of big trucks and SUV's in the current climate. There are going to be a lot of plant closings, layoffs and pain ahead for these guys.
In the past I have tried to work from home as much as possible, but during the past year or two I have done this less. The problem with working at home is that you never really escape the pressures of your job. Since I now live out in the pines, I try to make a clean break from work whenever I can. When I'm home, I'm home. When I'm in the office I'm at work.
Regarding the Geo, well, good luck with that! I almost bought one several years ago until I did a little research and got turned off. A friend bought one about the same time and totaled it a few weeks later...
The same issue had an article about Ford, who revised their projections yesterday and said they no longer expect to become profitable in 2009 because people have stopped buying trucks and SUV's. The US automakers really are turning into dinosaurs IMO. What a short-sighted strategy to pin your hopes on sales of big trucks and SUV's in the current climate. There are going to be a lot of plant closings, layoffs and pain ahead for these guys.
In the past I have tried to work from home as much as possible, but during the past year or two I have done this less. The problem with working at home is that you never really escape the pressures of your job. Since I now live out in the pines, I try to make a clean break from work whenever I can. When I'm home, I'm home. When I'm in the office I'm at work.
Regarding the Geo, well, good luck with that! I almost bought one several years ago until I did a little research and got turned off. A friend bought one about the same time and totaled it a few weeks later...
I would LOVE to work from home a few days a week, I'd get so much more done. I hope this gas price increase spurs more interest in this sort of thing by my company. It would be very green of them, they could even spin that to their advantage. Pharmaceutical companies are often maligned, they need all the help they can get!
I just got away from my job in Richmond. I was going 86 miles one way to work. Between my monte carlo and my van that I do side work out of I was spending $550-$600 a month. I am now in D.C. and my drive has been cut in half milage wise but 30 minutes longer time wise. Last week I discovered "slugging". I stop at the commuter lot in the morning, pull up to a line of people and holler " pentagon". Two complete strangers jump in my car and now with three occupants I can use the HOV lanes. This cuts my travel time by more than half. I am thinking about being a slug myself, after talking to some riders I was suprised how reliable the system is. Some of them have been slugging it for years and have never missed a ride. It is a completely free commute. I do hate the idea of being stuck in D.C without my car though, if you have to get home in the middle of the day the cab fare would be a killer.
nope, just fill seats. You have to have three people to use the HOV lanes. Using the HOV is the difference between going 7 mph or 75mph.