Do We Spend Too Much Time in Our Cars?

Has the way that we have constructed our living space created an isolation as we commute daily to our work? I, think so! Sometime back it occurred to me that maybe one of the reasons for the depth of thought and creation of philosophic discourse pre-automobile was that on horseback travel was a time intensive endeavor. During those trips, which due to the existent dangers of travel was made with companions, there was time to develop and converse upon philosophical points.

Today, aside from obscene gestures (the bird, the bird, the bird is the word ) to someone who cuts us off in traffic, there is little philosophic discourse.

But I use my car time wisely, I debate with myself and plan smartass things to say, LOL.

I have a commute time on the short side of the national average, but still an hour and a half to two hours a day. So, in a week, I'm spending close to half a day just going to and from work. Call it an even half by adding in the running around I do after work and on weekends. So, in a week, I have 6 and a half days to do stuff.

I also spend another 2 days of that week asleep, so I'm down to 4 and a half days of the week left to me. But there is work, which is another 2 days. 2 and a half days, out of 7, I have for non-work related purposes. Knock off the time for personal hygiene and eating, and we're down to less than a day and a half.

Man, I could use those 12 hours I use for commuting!

I live two miles away from home, mostly rural non heavy traffic driving. If I get a job that I've been interviewing for, I 'll have a bit longer commute, about 10 rural miles both ways.
Before we moved and I got my license, my husband drove me a half hour to work. We had some pretty good talks. That was sort of nice. We do tend to talk the entire time though still whenever we drive any distance together.
If you feel lonely on your commute, perhaps you should try to carpool if you could. If you have a long commute and a coworker lives nearby or on the way, that makes sense. You both save money on gas and have companionship.

to encourage or even require driving.

I'm really conscious of this after living without a car for ten years. Now that I live in the Twin Cities and have to drive at certain times, I still try to minimize my car time by consolidating trips and, for example, on Sundays when I have to sing at both morning and afternoon church services, not going home between times.

not to mention that by the time I make the car pmt., pay the insurance, and the gas, I spend almost as much as I do on my rent...it's unbelievable!