Looking to move to Reading area - tired of work, work, work just to pay bills (Allentown: homes, best school districts)

[CosmicWizard]

I know it's all objective, but 2 or 3 hrs of commuting seems like an absolute waste of time and resources. I currently work a stress free 40 hr a week job, with a 15 minute commute each way in very light traffic, nonetheless I feel like all I do is work-work-work. I can't imagine working a 10-12 day, 6 days a week, on top of commuting an hour or more in heavy traffic each way. I never heard of anyone on their deatbed wishing they would have spent more time on the job. Commuting is part of the job....and you don't even get paid for it. In fact, it costs you money, and you're wasting fuel. Even if it's not a financial strain to buy the extra fuel, you're consuming more than your fair share of resources. Live close to where you work.

If you think your life is work, work, work right now, living in Reading and working in Philadelphia will be jumping from the frying pan into the fire. To free up more time for living your life, live as close to work as possible. During the year I spent in Seattle, I never owned a car. The public transportation system very adequately took care of my transportation needs. That won't be the case in Reading. You will however gain a little bit ( but not much ) of sunshine comapared to Seatle. Both Reading & Seatle are below the national average for sunshine, so you'll feel right at home in that regard!

Seattle:


Reading:


One option to consider is the small college town of Kutztown, which is located about midway between Allentown & Reading. I'm guessing that each city is about 20 miles from Kutztown. You should be able to find employment in Reading or Allentown. Good luck whatever you decide.

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by JDUB2002

Yeah, and unfortunately with the all the new people still moving to the 'Main Line' area and also looking to work in Philly it will only get even worse. Something seriously needs to be done with 422 & 76 in the area. Either expand it to 4 lanes on each side, or another highway needs to be built or better mass transit options.

I agree completely. Traffic congestion on the major highways are getting worse by the year, and funding keeps getting denied to building the long-awaited commuter rail running from Philly to Reading along the 422 corridor. That should be a PRIORITY for SEPTA and lawmakers if we plan on keeping our region functional when it comes to transportation. If not, commutes are only going to get much worse.

[JDUB2002]

Yeah, from what I have read, funding is not so much the problem. SEPTA owns a good deal of the rails, BARTA owns what is in Reading, and Conrail owns the rest. Conrail only deals with frieght. They do not want to go in the the passenger rail service because of all the liabilities involved with it. In my opinion I would think the money to be had would outweigh those concerns but I guess not.

I think it is ridiculous we live along one of the largest rail lines in the country and there is no passenger service between two cities 50 miles apart.

[JDUB2002]

NewAgeRedneck - I agree with your theory on not overworking, unfortunately you could have identical jobs in Philly and in Reading, and the one in Reading will pay 20K less then the one in Philly. Some people just can't live without that difference in their income, especially people who are recent graduates from overly priced universities.

Thus has come the practice in living in a less expensive area while commuting to the area that pays what you need. I for one don't want to have to do a ridiculous commute the rest of my life, but I think for some it is a requirement atleast for some years.

[CosmicWizard]

Personally, I'd rather have the extra 500 hrs a year that I'd gain by NOT having to commute back and forth from Reading to Philadelphia everyday. $20K ain't worth the hassle to me. When you factor in the costs of commuting, the gain is far less than $20K.

The rapid development of India and China will continue to drive the price of oil higher and higher in the years ahead. Another force driving up oil prices is the US dollar losing value relative to other major currencies. In the very near future there wil be no financial incentive to commute long distances to work because the cost of doing so will more than offset the higher salary. Although I hate the high price of gasoline, I am pleased with the prospect that even higher prices will force alot of people to do less driving and cut back on resource consumption, traffic, and pollution.

Play it smart and live close to work.

[JDUB2002]

Exactly, its not worth the hassle to YOU, or me for that matter. But for some its not about saving hours its about making enough money to be able to pay all of their bills. When that is the situation there isnt a whole lot of choice, everyone is not in the same boat.

The real solution is alternative forms of energy not cutting back driving, that just isnt going to happen. Hydrogen cars are the future for vehicles and solar energy has come light years in efficiency. Some major companies are even covering entire new factories with solar energy panels, that now can power all the electric needed for the entire complex. Honda has a hydrogen car already out, and not some weired looking thing that goes 20 MPH, it looks just like a nice new Honda and does like 140 MPH, i believe they are only available in a few areas of CA right now because those are the only places that have stations to refill them. Honda was also in the final stages of a home DYI kit that would let you refill the car's hydrogen using your tap water.

I am no political guru, I don't even claim a certain party, but the sooner the world isn't controlled by the oil barrons, the better.

[Negotiator75]

Originally Posted by NewAgeRedneck

I know it's all objective, but 2 or 3 hrs of commuting seems like an absolute waste of time and resources. I currently work a stress free 40 hr a week job, with a 15 minute commute each way in very light traffic, nonetheless I feel like all I do is work-work-work. I can't imagine working a 10-12 day, 6 days a week, on top of commuting an hour or more in heavy traffic each way. I never heard of anyone on their deatbed wishing they would have spent more time on the job. Commuting is part of the job....and you don't even get paid for it. In fact, it costs you money, and you're wasting fuel. Even if it's not a financial strain to buy the extra fuel, you're consuming more than your fair share of resources. Live close to where you work.

If you think your life is work, work, work right now, living in Reading and working in Philadelphia will be jumping from the frying pan into the fire. To free up more time for living your life, live as close to work as possible. During the year I spent in Seattle, I never owned a car. The public transportation system very adequately took care of my transportation needs. That won't be the case in Reading. You will however gain a little bit ( but not much ) of sunshine comapared to Seatle. Both Reading & Seatle are below the national average for sunshine, so you'll feel right at home in that regard!

Seattle:


Reading:


One option to consider is the small college town of Kutztown, which is located about midway between Allentown & Reading. I'm guessing that each city is about 20 miles from Kutztown. You should be able to find employment in Reading or Allentown. Good luck whatever you decide.

Fantastic post! Nicely done. This is a good eye opener for me I just gave you a + vote.

[Negotiator75]

Originally Posted by JDUB2002

Yeah, and unfortunately with the all the new people still moving to the 'Main Line' area and also looking to work in Philly it will only get even worse. Something seriously needs to be done with 422 & 76 in the area. Either expand it to 4 lanes on each side, or another highway needs to be built or better mass transit options.

What would be the best highways in that case for a fast & easy commute to & from Philly?

[Negotiator75]

Originally Posted by NewAgeRedneck

I know it's all objective, but 2 or 3 hrs of commuting seems like an absolute waste of time and resources. I currently work a stress free 40 hr a week job, with a 15 minute commute each way in very light traffic, nonetheless I feel like all I do is work-work-work. I can't imagine working a 10-12 day, 6 days a week, on top of commuting an hour or more in heavy traffic each way. I never heard of anyone on their deatbed wishing they would have spent more time on the job. Commuting is part of the job....and you don't even get paid for it. In fact, it costs you money, and you're wasting fuel. Even if it's not a financial strain to buy the extra fuel, you're consuming more than your fair share of resources. Live close to where you work.

If you think your life is work, work, work right now, living in Reading and working in Philadelphia will be jumping from the frying pan into the fire. To free up more time for living your life, live as close to work as possible. During the year I spent in Seattle, I never owned a car. The public transportation system very adequately took care of my transportation needs. That won't be the case in Reading. You will however gain a little bit ( but not much ) of sunshine comapared to Seatle. Both Reading & Seatle are below the national average for sunshine, so you'll feel right at home in that regard!

Seattle:


Reading:


One option to consider is the small college town of Kutztown, which is located about midway between Allentown & Reading. I'm guessing that each city is about 20 miles from Kutztown. You should be able to find employment in Reading or Allentown. Good luck whatever you decide.

What else would you compare with Seattle to Reading? Which was more crowded and hard to get around in your opinion? What about the types of people - be open, I need to know everything.

[CosmicWizard]

JDUB2002 wrote:

The real solution is alternative forms of energy not cutting back driving, that just isnt going to happen.

We'll have to wait and see! I still say Live close to where you work.



and:

the sooner the world isn't controlled by the oil barrons, the better.

I'm with you 100% on that.

Negotiator75 wrote:

What else would you compare with Seattle to Reading? Which was more crowded and hard to get around in your opinion? What about the types of people - be open, I need to know everything.

It's a hard comparison for me to make because I haven't been to eiother place in many years. I lived in Seattle 27 yrs ago. I loved it when I was there, but I'm sure it has changed, probably for the worse in the sense of alot more traffic, pollution, and higer home prices. I grew up in a small Berks county town about 22 miles from Reading. Reading was the big city when I was a kid. I never liked Reading. I always preferred Allentown which was about the same distance from my hometown. Kutztown was always my favorite Berks county town. It's been almost 20 years since I've been to Reading, so my impressios are sure to be out of date. People wise, theres no comparison. I felt more kinship with the people of Seattle than I did with the people of Reading...but that's just me.