Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Yes, the city commute has its pros and cons. I also read a lot of books over the years. Also just got to look out the window and see some things one would never see on the roads. The sun rising behind the ESB from the Bergen Line going through the Meadowlands in October and all the birds and hawks in the wetlands. The sun rising over the Raritan Bay from the NJCL train (and the wetlands there, too. Saw deer swimming one day, saw egrets, great blue herons, even a green heron once.)
But you do have to build sort of a mental cocoon around yourself when packed into commuting vehicles with so many people and when walking through busy terminals, and after many years, it can take its toll.
One amusing clue for me was that I am a six-foot-tall woman, hitting this height at the age of 14, so I've been subject not only to the usual unkind and/or just plain stupid remarks all my life because of my height, I noticed way back in my 20s that when walking through train or bus terminals, men would look up at me, then down at my feet, then back up at my face with a sort of half-open gape-mouth look when they saw I was wearing my commuting sneakers, not high heels. It was amusing and something I got used to over time.
But by the time I hit my fifties, it became tiresome, probably as a bellwether of how the commuting itself was wearing on me. I found myself mumbling "WTF are you looking at?" when men did this, and eventually, I wasn't mumbling anymore, but looking at them right in the face and saying it out loud. LOL. It cued me in that it was time to think about retiring.
When I saw this original question I thought "That's an EASY one" I've worked in both and going a few towns over in NJ is a zillion times easier and cheaper and faster than going in abd out of NYC anytime.
Much depends on details of the job too. Some jobs gove you much leeway about reporting in and working remotely and that makes a big difference too.
Salary difference obviously is a concern. I commuted by bus to Manhattan in my 20's and at the time NYC was open so it was great. I don't know what goes on there now post coof. I would not want to work in Manhattan if I was older and had family in NJ or suburban NY.
When I saw this original question I thought "That's an EASY one" I've worked in both and going a few towns over in NJ is a zillion times easier and cheaper and faster than going in abd out of NYC anytime.
Much depends on details of the job too. Some jobs gove you much leeway about reporting in and working remotely and that makes a big difference too.
I never trust these things, but supposedly, the Manhattan one has a permanent schedule of 3 days in the office and 2 WFH. I’m not sure about the Watchung job, but I know their CEO is very against remote work.
I remember all the Triple X movies on the marquees. "Seven Into Snowy" stands out in my memory, LMAO. Pimps outside the PABT waiting for runaways. I had a nodding acquaintance with some of them once they realized I worked there.
I never trust these things, but supposedly, the Manhattan one has a permanent schedule of 3 days in the office and 2 WFH. I’m not sure about the Watchung job, but I know their CEO is very against remote work.
Is the pay the same? Everything else being equal, the 2 days WFH on the Manhattan job is a HUGE perk. Commuting 40 miles each way daily sounds more exhausting AND expensive with these gas prices. But of course, you could always move.
Go to the city. Driving stinks. Plus, getting to any major highway from Bergan County will get you caught in rush hour traffic. Also traffic going against rush hour traffic is NOT as easy as you think in Union County. After a couple of months of commuting into the city, you will just zone out and not even realize what was happening.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
