Tale of two worlds: I work in Irvine, she works in Pasadena. What to do?? (Long Beach: apartments, house)

[JohnnyLA]

Soo...

My wife and I are thinking of trying to make the best of our situation and want to buy a house that is (relatively) equa-distant commute for both of us which is to Irvine and Pasadena. She has a business that is unmovable and I need to stay at my company for at least 3-5 years.

We seriously considered South Corona for the price but from what I hear on other sites and here it would be hell commute for me and for her (besides the heat, yada, yada) Correct?

Coastal cities such as Long Beach/HB/Seal Beach are ok for me (Irvine) but would be hell for her?

There are the only options that we can think of:

1) House in Yorba Linda/Brea - I take the 241 S toll. She goes north to 201W. (She's willing to take a hit on commute since I've been driving to Irvine from Pasadena for the last 2 years).

2) Get something in Fullerton - Both take the Metro opposite ways but she has to take another to Pasadena,

3) West Coastal City living (HB/LB/SB) as above

4) Say screw it and both get apartments in our respective cities and commute 2x a week to each other's place and on weekends.

We are relatively younger, will not have children, and saved enough to afford a mid-size home somewhere like YB.

What do you all think?

[missionhome]

Originally Posted by JohnnyLA

Soo...



4) Say screw it and both get apartments in our respective cities and commute 2x a week to each other's place and on weekends.

Don't consider this unless you want to join the 50% of marriages that end in a divorce. Not that you will end up divorced for sure, but living apart puts a major hole in a marriage.

[Huckleberry3911948]

haiku to the commute marriage
the glue is so very weak.
are they married? they think they are
marital sleepwalkers

[NaplesRes]

Long Beach is great. And if you're willing to do mass transit, the blue line goes to Pasadena.

[Chatteress]

Originally Posted by NaplesRes

Long Beach is great. And if you're willing to do mass transit, the blue line goes to Pasadena.

Actually, the Blue line goes to 7th/Metro station downtown which requires a transfer to the Red line to Union Station then Gold Line to Pasadena. If her office isn't walking distance from any of the Gold Line stations, then she would need a bus as well. That would take approx 2 hours commuting just with the three trains alone.

[Chatteress]

Originally Posted by JohnnyLA

Soo...

My wife and I are thinking of trying to make the best of our situation and want to buy a house that is (relatively) equa-distant commute for both of us which is to Irvine and Pasadena. She has a business that is unmovable and I need to stay at my company for at least 3-5 years.

We seriously considered South Corona for the price but from what I hear on other sites and here it would be hell commute for me and for her (besides the heat, yada, yada) Correct?

Coastal cities such as Long Beach/HB/Seal Beach are ok for me (Irvine) but would be hell for her?

There are the only options that we can think of:

1) House in Yorba Linda/Brea - I take the 241 S toll. She goes north to 201W. (She's willing to take a hit on commute since I've been driving to Irvine from Pasadena for the last 2 years).

2) Get something in Fullerton - Both take the Metro opposite ways but she has to take another to Pasadena,

3) West Coastal City living (HB/LB/SB) as above

4) Say screw it and both get apartments in our respective cities and commute 2x a week to each other's place and on weekends.

We are relatively younger, will not have children, and saved enough to afford a mid-size home somewhere like YB.

What do you all think?

The 2nd option isn't too bad as the Metrolink trip is approx 35 minutes to Union then she can transfer to the Gold Line which would take her between 20-30 minutes depending upon which station in Pasadena she gets off at. This is very doable especially if her office is walking distance from any of the Gold Line Stations.

Metrolink: http://www.metrolinktrains.com/schedules/ (She can use either 91 or Orange County Lines to get to Union Station)
Gold Line: http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bu...images/804.pdf

[NaplesRes]

Originally Posted by msconnie73

Actually, the Blue line goes to 7th/Metro station downtown which requires a transfer to the Red line to Union Station then Gold Line to Pasadena. If her office isn't walking distance from any of the Gold Line stations, then she would need a bus as well. That would take approx 2 hours commuting just with the three trains alone.

thanks for correcting me. didn't realize you had to connect in downtown.

[missionhome]

I'm thinking Fullerton is a good spot too.

Both of you can ride Metrolink or you could actually drive from Fullerton to Irvine in about 25-45 minutes (depending on traffic).

You wife could take Metrolink to Union and connect to the Gold Line. Hopefully her work isn't too far from a light rail station though or a bus goes close enough to her work.

[JohnnyLA]

[quote=msconnie73;8244927]The 2nd option isn't too bad as the Metrolink trip is approx 35 minutes to Union then she can transfer to the Gold Line which would take her between 20-30 minutes depending upon which station in Pasadena she gets off at. This is very doable especially if her office is walking distance from any of the Gold Line Stations.

I think she's only 5-10 min. walk from one of the stations (business is near Los Robles/Del Mar Ave.)

This sounds like it could work out. Thanks!

[uptown_urbanist]

I think the Gold Line trip is going to be closer to the 30 minute range at best (and possibly a little longer); the train slows down a lot going through some of the residential neighborhoods. Still, it's a nice ride (nice, clean trains, and she should be guaranteed a seat going in that direction - I used to get lots of reading done during my morning commutes!), and it sounds like she's open to a possible 30 min+ Gold Line ride.