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Post by workingclassdog on Mar 11, 2024 13:11:06 GMT
If you HAVE to get a job and that is the one offered yes I would take it. I have driven an hour each way before. It's nice not to have to currently but if I had to I would. I always tried to make that commute productive. Mostly make phone calls to mom/sister/friends.
If you don't have to take it, then I would not do it.
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Post by busy on Mar 11, 2024 13:16:26 GMT
I’m like you now. When I was younger, I did the hour commutes (for five years of that with my kids in the back seat). I’m too old for that BS now. 30 min max and even then I’d prefer less. I have several teacher friends who have left the public schools and are either tutoring or leading a micro school. Might it be time to leave the nest and go to work for yourself? Is that possible where you live? Just something to consider. You have a wealth of experience both with the littles and now the mid-grades. I bet you’re already ESL certified and could add a dyslexia cert in time. A former K teacher friend has a nice business doing reading recovery and dyslexia services for young kids in private schools that don’t offer these things. I suspect you’d do very well. There are a lot of high income people in the Santa Barbara area. I bet you could do quite well with any of these routes. I know in the Monterey Bay area, quite a lot of families decided to stick with micro school arrangements post-covid because they liked the extremely personalized attention and they have the money to pay for it. I bet it’s similar down there.
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luckyjune
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,685
Location: In the rainy, rainy WA
Jul 22, 2017 4:59:41 GMT
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Post by luckyjune on Mar 11, 2024 13:27:04 GMT
My longest commute as a teacher was 45 minutes each way, through rural areas. I didn't have the stress of traffic. I was young with no kids at home and used the time to think and decompress. The best commute I had was 20 minutes (again, through rural/suburban areas) because it was just enough time to transition from teacher to mom.
Consider the advice to think outside teaching. I switched from the classroom to a education-related job and my quality of life is 100% better. Maybe sub for a year to have the money to get by while setting up a new plan using your skills? Just something to consider.
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Post by KelleeM on Mar 11, 2024 13:29:56 GMT
My commute is between 75 and 90 minutes a day, total, on a good day. Anything under an hour total would be a dream for me. I guess I’m used to it since I’ve done it for over 30 years.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Mar 11, 2024 14:08:13 GMT
What Merge wellway and busy were saying is exactly what I was thinking. I’m sure with your skill set you could make a nice living without the stress of a long commute by thinking outside the box somewhat. A teacher friend of mine was downsized out of her job two years ago and she switched over to tutoring and is loving it. I would think with so many districts still complaining about kids not getting caught back up after Covid that the opportunities for private tutors would be huge right now, especially in more well off areas where families can better afford it.
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Post by lbp on Mar 11, 2024 15:01:14 GMT
I commute an hour each way. Somedays I hate it and some days I like the time to decompress before I get home.
I live rural so no matter where I work, there is a long commute.
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Post by wordfish on Mar 11, 2024 15:04:14 GMT
My commute is generally about 15-20 minutes each way. I look forward to it. The music is cranked up and I think about my day. It's the last time I will be alone and uninterrupted for quite a few hours. Except on Thursdays. Thursday is carpool day with my husband. He works from home 4 days a week but goes into the office, about 10 minutes from my office, on Thursdays. He picks me up for lunch most Thursdays and our go-to restaurant is quiet. Dark and quiet. I'm almost never up for a bright and loud experience. My job is pretty nuts most days.
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Post by lisae on Mar 11, 2024 23:55:49 GMT
I've never worked anywhere that I didn't have to drive at least a half hour each way. Years ago I was a contractor and drove up to 90 minutes each way but that was only one or two days a week. The other days I was at home or working somewhere within a 30 minute drive of home.
If I were in your position, moving would depend on how many years I expected to be working and whether I thought it was likely I could find something closer to home the next year.
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Post by AussieMeg on Mar 12, 2024 0:23:06 GMT
Oh no, what a bummer! I'm sorry that you have to look for another job. I have no desire to spend almost 2 hours commuting everyday. But my SIL thinks I’m being spoiled and that “lots of people do it.” Ugh, how tf is wanting a good work/life balance being spoiled? It pisses me off when I see (usually older) people berating others about wanting a better work life balance. Just because you suffered through a 3 or 4 hour commute every day, doesn't mean other people should want to or have to put up with it! I work from home four days a week, and go into the office one day a week. I hate that one day! The commute (by train) is one hour 20 minutes each way. That's over two and a half hours of my precious time wasted. (I don't know how I used to do it five days a week pre-COVID!) It would be a little bit less time if I drove, but a lot more expensive, not to mention stressful. At least I can watch TV on my phone on the train. My ideal commute would be no more than 15 minutes. But it's been decades since I worked that close to home.
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Post by annie on Mar 12, 2024 2:23:50 GMT
Fellow teacher here. I commuted 45 minutes one way for about 5 years. It's very doable. Not fun, but certainly doable. I'd say you'd be ok doing it short term - and because you have made such a good impression on your current school, surely you'd be "in" as soon as there is an opening. This likely would not be a permanent situation for you. If you love where you live, I'd do it.
(My current commute for my new school is 20 minutes one way, so much more tolerable...)
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craftymom101
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,649
Member is Online
Jul 31, 2014 5:23:25 GMT
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Post by craftymom101 on Mar 12, 2024 3:02:25 GMT
I have a 35 minute commute (each way) and I have no desire to drive farther than that. I don’t think you’re being unreasonable at all by looking for a shorter commute.
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rickmer
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,130
Jul 1, 2014 20:20:18 GMT
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Post by rickmer on Mar 12, 2024 13:25:20 GMT
i would commit to 30-40 mins each way, if there was no traffic. i live in an large city and they have chopped off an artery that comes from the highway to my end of town, turning *everything* into a nightmare if i have to head west at all. since i live east of downtown, most stuff is west of me...
even 20-30 mins each way in ridiculous traffic would wear me down at 5 days/wk.
i was doing every second wed about an hour each way (well actually one hour there, significantly longer home if there was a sporting event or concert). luckily, we are now doing one day onsite at client per month which is about 20 mins away and that counts as an "in office" day.
as a hockey mom, i spend a fair amount of time driving and traffic is the WORST. i don't want to do any more than i have to.
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Nanner
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,984
Jun 25, 2014 23:13:23 GMT
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Post by Nanner on Mar 12, 2024 13:34:28 GMT
I travel about an hour each way and have for the past 35 years. Not much longer though, because I'm retiring at the end of the year.
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wellway
Prolific Pea
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Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
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Post by wellway on Mar 12, 2024 14:05:24 GMT
I have no desire to spend almost 2 hours commuting everyday. But my SIL thinks I’m being spoiled and that “lots of people do it.” Ugh, how tf is wanting a good work/life balance being spoiled? I wondered if SIL is worried about the impact on her, if I'm remembering correctly they share a house. Maybe she's not ready to deal with more changes. OP, you gave up a life in another state to help care for your brother. It's time for decisions that have you at the centre.
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Post by katiescarlett on Mar 12, 2024 16:21:09 GMT
Almost my entire work life (35 years) I have had a commute of around 45 minutes each way (1.5 hours a day). I never minded it much as I listen to audio books on my drive. I've always loved to read but I use my spare time at home for photography and scrapbooking so reading got lost until I started audio books so it made the time not seem wasted.
However in 2022 after DD graduated high school, we downsized and moved to our lake house which is a 1.2 hour trip each way and it's just too much. I still do audiobooks which I really enjoy but it gets me home too late. My boss has started allowing me to work from home 1 day a week which helps.
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mimima
Drama Llama
Stay Gold, Ponyboy
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Jun 25, 2014 19:25:50 GMT
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Post by mimima on Mar 12, 2024 17:06:44 GMT
My husband commutes about an hour, though it is often more due to traffic. It seems really rough to me, though I am spoiled by a in-town commute. I like the idea of doing online teaching, if you are able. Hugs to you, seaexplore
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Post by cmpeter on Mar 12, 2024 18:13:01 GMT
I’ve been fully remote for more than 20 years, I couldn’t do more than 30 minutes.
Pre-2020 DH was driving into the city daily and it was between 30-90 minutes depending on traffic. The gas was a killer too. He bought an electric car and then went remote with Covid.
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Post by papersilly on Mar 12, 2024 18:14:43 GMT
i'm familiar with the areas you mentioned. you are not being spoiled. i wouldn't commute 2 hours each day. california traffic is a bear and i would hold out for something closer. i'm sending you positive thoughts that something closers comes your way.
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Post by Linda on Mar 12, 2024 19:33:13 GMT
I've been out of the workforce for a long time but I remember having a 1.5-2 hr BUS commute each way for several years - it was exhausting and I was in my 20s back then.
When we were househunting back in 2020, one of our considerations was not increasing DH's commute. We succeeded very well and it's now less than a mile door to door and he could walk or bike if he wanted. Means he can come home for lunch or if we have contractors he wants to talk with (I'm always home to let them etc...). It also means that if he has to work late, he can come home or go pick up dd and go back to work easily.
I hope you can find something with a reasonable commute that is a good fit for you.
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Post by Linda on Mar 12, 2024 19:39:04 GMT
I'll second the idea of looking at outside the classroom options - I have one friend who tutored for years - her speciality was high school math/science but I know I see loads of people in my area looking for elementary school reading/math tutors. Another friend switched from elementary ed to corporate trainer probably 25 years ago and hasn't looked back.
another option might be subbing in the schools that would be feasible to work at - they'll get to know you which'll make it easier to get hired when there is an opening and you could always tutor after school if you needed more hours
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Post by flanz on Mar 17, 2024 22:45:43 GMT
A friend of mine also got tired of her drive when she was teaching third grade special education, she now runs homeschool groups. Kids who are struggling in reading, or math etc will come to her and get instruction. She loves it. love the idea .... wonder about liability issues.katybee - I'm so sorry to read this news. I knew you were loving your new position and school, at least at the beginning of the year. It is a GREAT district as far as I can tell, and has been historically. I was sad to read about all of the teaching positions being cut locally. I'm one who alway thinks/says, "keep the teachers and aides, let go some of the admin!!" There's waaay too much __________ (can't think of the word or phrase) at the top! Best of luck to you as you figure out next steps.
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Post by kamper on Mar 17, 2024 22:53:45 GMT
I drove about an hour for about a year and a half. The last 6 months I carpooled with someone who lived in my neighborhood. I was making good money (as an engineer) and would have continued if I didn't have a crap boss.
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scrappinmama
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,894
Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Mar 17, 2024 23:11:50 GMT
First, I'm sorry about your job. That really stinks. My response is probably slightly tainted because I'm a former Californian who had a 1 hour+ commute when I lived there. And that was using the train (Metrolink). Now that I'm out of the state, I find myself complaining when my commute is more than 15 minutes. Lol.
If you absolutely must have a job and know there are mo options close to you, then you know choices are limited. You may find that you have to take a job with a very long commute. But you have to factor in what comes with that. Your quality of life will not be the same, wear and tear on the car and on you. Less time to enjoy life after work, etc.
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