I work in the city (northern Metro Detroit) but get to live in my vacation home (10 acre farm in a rural area 50 miles north of Detroit).

I’ve always been able to arrange my time so I manage to avoid rush hour. Current position (six years) is 48 miles one-way, and I can consistently do this in 60 minutes or less. Due to my position in life (late 40’s, kids out of the house, wife working) and a focus on some career development, I’m working 5:30 am – 6:00 pm M-F (my choice) plus the commute. This beats the traffic in and follows the traffic home.

I’m driving a 2000 Ford Focus. Had 69,000 miles when I bought it 5.5 years ago. Now has 232,000 miles. (Just keep changing that oil!) Gets 30-32 MPG, so it is currently costing me about $11/day just in gas. (Would love to get a turbo diesel when this gets replaced.)

Telecommuting is not an option for regular work hours, but is an option for anytime outside regular hours.

The commute in is usually spent catching up on news (radio). The commute home is “unwind” time, listening to music, books-on-tape (mp3), running errands, etc.

Home time is spent enjoying the stars, walking the dog, raising apples and grapes and chickens, enjoying the silence and fresh air, smelling fresh-cut hay, occasionally getting snowed in, and regaling city-dwelling co-workers with stories about well problems, using tractors, splitting wood and heating the house with a wood stove, no cable TV, etc. No neighbors closer than 500 feet away. Also – no home-owner’s association or subdivision rules!