12/22   I'm considering a job in the south bay that would mean ~2:15 commute by
        BART + Caltrain with minimal layovers.  I'm thinking I can get a new
        laptop and unlimited cellular-internet and make the commute time a
        reasonable facsimilie of how I spend many evenings.  The big downside
        is I'll have *much* less time to spend with my (live-in) girlfriend and
        my non-computer-based hobbies.  Am I completely insane for considering
        this arrangement?
        \_ I did this for almost a year.  The most important thing is to work
           from home one day a week; I can't describe how much this helps.
           (And you need to negotiate for it before you accept the job.  It'll
           be way harder otherwise.)  It's also nice if there are people you
           can carpool with occasionally instead of taking BART.  Anyway, it's
           tolerable for at least six months, but don't plan to do it long-
           term.
        \_ I did this for almost a year.  It really, really helps if you can
           work from home one day a week.  (And you need to negotiate for it
           before you accept the job -- it'll be way harder otherwise.)  It's
           also nice if there are people you can carpool with occasionally
           instead of taking BART.  Anyway, it's tolerable for at least six
           months, but don't plan to do it long-term.
        \_ Where are you commutting from and where are you commutting to?
           If you tell us someone may be able to offer a quicker route
           by car.
           \_ It should be about 1:30 by car but I don't like driving and can't
              use a laptop while driving.
        \_ you could become crazy aerobic workout on train guy!
           \_ The key is to get a co-worker to take the same commute and become
              the crazy kung fu battle workout on train guys.
        \_ Why not just move?
           \_ GF just bought a house right next to BART (good commute for her)
        \_ I commute ~1 hr each way on daily basis.  I really hate it when I
           get the urge and have to use the bathroom during my commute.
        \_ Bragging on soda the fact that you have a (live-in) gf?
           \_ That's bragging?
                \_ This is soda.
                   \_ he lives at his gf's house, no less. what a man.
                      \_ Pff. I pay rent.
                         \_ What a man! I bet she can't wait until you
                            stop being a sponge.
                            \_ What's that?  Oh, that must be the sound of
                               somebody talking out of their own ass.
                               \_ I'm not the pathetic loser with the
                                  2 hour commute paying rent to live in
                                  his gf's house.
                         \_ It would be more impressive if she let you
                            live there for free.
                         \_ Oh.
        \_ I did this once for six months to go work for Taos. I gave it
           up and took a 15% pay cut to get a reasonable commute and my
           life back. I guess it depends on what you think your time is
           worth, but for me, spending 8 hrs (work) + 5 hrs (commute)
           really was not worth it. I got up at 7AM, didn't get to work
           until 9:30, left at 5:30 and got home at 8PM. I was too
           tired and hungry to do anything but order out and then
           crash. When I switched to a job at HotWired, my life
           improved immeasurably. Taos even offered me a 30% raise
           if I would stick around, but I decided against it. -ausman
           \_ Wait a minute, you gave up a 45% raise so you wouldn't have
              to waste time commutting? Couldn't you have just rented a
              nicer place closer to Taos for a 45% raise? Did momma raise a
              fool here?
           \_ Right on! I used to commute and life is so much better now
              that I do not. I recommend the OP find a job closer to home.
              \_ This was before wireless internet though, so that changes
                 the equation quite a bit. I spent most of my free time
                 surfing the net and it sounds like this guy does, too. -ausman
        \_ extra hour of free time on daily basis is extremely valuable to me.
           it will hit you after a while.  so, don't do it.
        \_ Don't be a fool. The commute will ruin your relationship. Even
           with the laptop, you're burning time better spent doing something
           you really like.
           \_ http://partypoker.com
                \_ the point is that you can do that on the train commute.