Annapolis to Herndon - am I crazy? (homes, to live)

[vicki_c]

OK, I know I don't want to hear the answers here, but indulge me...

I'm probably going to be offered a very promising position in Herndon. I live near Annapolis, and will not be moving for a variety of reasons. Am I crazy for even considering this?

I have already worked out a part-time telecommuting option, 3 days in the office 1 week, 2 the next, so I wouldn't have to drive it every day. Is this definitely a 2 hour commute each way? Google/Yahoo send you from 50 to 495 to 267 - I'm guessing there's no better magic way.

Thanks - Vicki

[memiller]

The answer to your question can probably be answered with your response to another. Would you commute to Philadelphia 3 days a week?

Once upon a time, I did business with someone who lived in Annapolis and worked in Tysons. On a good day it took her two hours. That was 10 years ago. You'll be going further, with more traffic. Will you be working 9-5? If so, I wouldn't be surprised if some days it took 3 hours each way. On the bright side, you'll be going against traffic on the toll road.

[vicki_c]

Thanks - excellent way to help me visualize my question! I'm still interested in hearing from others, but the responses (I posted on the MD board as well) are telling me what I guess I already knew! I wish I could work it out to be total telecommuting!

[claremarie]

If you can work from home, perhaps you can also work from a car. Consider hiring a car service to chauffer you from Annapolis to Herndon, and you can answer emails, make calls, review documents, etc. while someone else deals with the traffic.

[LLD]

How about some possible vanpool or carpool also?

That's a really long haul. Sometimes you do have to choose. I mean there are some dream jobs in some cities that I would just never move to. And there are some dream homes I would love then the job doesn't exist.

[Yankeesfan]

You say the job is promising, so if it's an important stepping stone in your career, it might be worth it for the short-term. If it's a run-of-the-mill job that you can do anywhere, you might be better off to keep looking. Or if it's not possible to leave Annapolis now, but will be doable in the forseeable future, than it might be worth doing for a while. But to sign on for this type of situation indefinitely, then yes it's probably crazy!

[Moth]

I personally could not do it. Maybe for a time, but sooner or later the stress will eat away at you and you could develop health issues. Then again, it sounds like a commute that is becoming more typical today.

[vicki_c]

I posted this on the MD board as well, and got similar responses.

BUT... I did a test drive this morning (Friday) and it took 1.5 hours. Parts were pretty ugly, but overall I didn't think it was that bad. I assume traffic might be lighter on Friday? Of course, that was doing it one time, not 3 days or 2 days a week. Thanks for all the inputs - interesting, the NOVA posters are somewhat less negative than the MD posters!

[saganista]

If the Herndon people were flexible enough to live with a 7:00 am start time on the days you worked, or maybe 10:30 am at the other end of the scale, it might be a big help as far as keeping you out of the worst of that commute. And, of course, you could always put up a pretty convincing plea of insanity as your reason for needing such alternative work hours. :-)

Otherwise, yes, Friday traffic is lighter, but not by tons. At least it's not August anymore. You might have made it in 75 minutes then. Then there's always a Wednesday morning in January after a suprise 3-inch overnight snowfall...

[dc b3n]

are you crazy? basically, yes.

let me ask you this - do you LIKE spending half your day in a car?