I've been in Atlanta my entire post-collegiate career (30 yrs) and I've had everything from a "35 mile across the city center" commute to a "stumble into the home office" commute. The 35 miler was my first job and convinced me to always try to find work that was near home. The home office commute was my last job where I was a consultant on a team with members in 3 states. That gig lasted 9.5 years and allowed me time with my kids while they were growing up that I never would have had the option for if I was working a "real" job. I've been very fortunate. I remember while growing up in the D.C. suburbs, my dad would catch the Metro bus a block away and ride it into the Pentagon while he told me of co-workers who drove in from Front Royal, a 75 mile trip from the Shennandoahs. I love the mountains, but that just seemed crazy to me back then and I still wonder about the trade-offs in gas, family time and after-work time with co-workers.

Now I drive ~20 minutes to downtown and while shorter would be nice, my route puts me past the grocery stores etc. that I would have to otherwise make a special trip to hit.