Week 1

The average American commutes 45 minutes each day to and from work. Twenty minutes in your car each way, not so bad. A few years ago, I read an article about those on the extreme upper end of this range, including one woman who lives in the Poconos of Pennsylvania and works in New York City. Choosing to raise her children in a more rural environment compels this woman to bus daily to the city for a grand total of 4 hours. That's 4 hours on the road, not working, not sleeping, not spending time with her family.

While I appreciate the desire to raise one's family away from the frenetic and blithely superficial concrete jungle that is New York City, having spent a week commuting for 2 hours a day back and forth between Hopkins in Pacific Grove and my incredible temporary abode in Santa Cruz, a pristine mother-in-law suite generously provided by Kristen Ruegg, a post-doc in the Palumbi Lab, Eric Anderson, and their lovely 1.5-year old, Zoe, I do not envy the aforementioned commuter's plight one bit. At the moment, sunset is around 5:30. I generally get to work at 9, meaning that I left work after dark every day this week. When you're spending 2 hours a day in your car, some other activities naturally get sacrificed. For me, apparently, those things were cooking myself dinner (cereal was on the menu quite often this week) and exercising. These 2 activities are exactly my favorite 2 things to do in life.

In other words, while I wouldn't describe my first week on the other coast as miserable, I've not been the happiest of individuals.

But, I things are looking up. Today, I received word that what is quite possibly the greatest apartment I've ever seen is mine for the renting. It's at 126 Forest Avenue in Pacific Grove, California. It's a 2 bedroom with a balcony jutting off the second floor, abutting the living room, with a pretty clear view of Monterey Bay. The apartment is a stone's throw from the Pacific and perhaps a football punt away from downtown Pacific Grove. The building is also all of 1 mile from Hopkins.

My commute will soon be decidedly shorter.

Of course, when I move in, I'll be living a rather spartan life for a while. I've got zilch in the way of furniture or pots and pans or a vacuum or any of the other the stuff of normal everyday life. At least I'll have a view.