I live in a small town that borders Boston. And although my job is technically available anywhere I am called to urban public education. My commute is glorious in that I am able to get to and from my job by bicycle year-round, aided by public bike paths for which I am so grateful! So much so that I do not plan to leave my job until retirement, even though I have considered it some years (sticking it out has made me a better employee and person) and I won’t move houses even though our starter home has felt tight with 3 teenagers. I love my commute so much. Biking gives me not only absence from traffic and parking but also physical fitness and mental well-being.
I love my bike, but I’ve never felt comfortable urban biking. A home next to a bike path is a dream of mine (the Neponset trail is at least pretty close), but using it to get to work would be amazing.
Very interesting Courtney. I remember the day we drove to pick up Mateo to go to Acoma, and you explained the naming of the streets of Albuquerque! I like grids. Easy to navigate. Manhattan was a cinch. But the Raleigh area doesn’t have grids: seemingly parallel lines intersect ( Riemannian geometry?), circular parkways intersect the same street in two places, street names change as you cross a major thoroughfare, and roads are not continuous- stopping suddenly only to reappear at an unexpected place! My father taught us to navigate with the sun but its not easy if the roads are not in a grid.
Im glad you have an easier commute to Harvard rather than Smith!!
I live in a small town that borders Boston. And although my job is technically available anywhere I am called to urban public education. My commute is glorious in that I am able to get to and from my job by bicycle year-round, aided by public bike paths for which I am so grateful! So much so that I do not plan to leave my job until retirement, even though I have considered it some years (sticking it out has made me a better employee and person) and I won’t move houses even though our starter home has felt tight with 3 teenagers. I love my commute so much. Biking gives me not only absence from traffic and parking but also physical fitness and mental well-being.
Lisa, it’s great that you have that commute, and that you appreciate how valuable it is!
I love my bike, but I’ve never felt comfortable urban biking. A home next to a bike path is a dream of mine (the Neponset trail is at least pretty close), but using it to get to work would be amazing.
Very interesting Courtney. I remember the day we drove to pick up Mateo to go to Acoma, and you explained the naming of the streets of Albuquerque! I like grids. Easy to navigate. Manhattan was a cinch. But the Raleigh area doesn’t have grids: seemingly parallel lines intersect ( Riemannian geometry?), circular parkways intersect the same street in two places, street names change as you cross a major thoroughfare, and roads are not continuous- stopping suddenly only to reappear at an unexpected place! My father taught us to navigate with the sun but its not easy if the roads are not in a grid.
Im glad you have an easier commute to Harvard rather than Smith!!
Thank you, Diane! You’ve reminded me to write about grids :). I will be “on location” in Albuquerque next week and will think about posts.