Commuting...

Living in Southern California has some very distinct advantages.  Mountains to the beach in an hour, endless sunshine.  Warm weather throughout the year.  Lots to see and do. 

However, the traffic.  Oy vey...the traffic.  I have many friends who commute and their refrains are all the same:  That damn traffic...! I have a friend that works in Irvine and his commute to home, if he's lucky, is around one hour.  On a good day. 

Thus far in my life, I have been able to avoid the dreary, lockstep Commute of the Damned.  I work in the same town I grew up in and currently live.  This has made my life, or rather more specifically, the quality of my life dramatically different from my friends.  I'm home at a reasonable hour, able to spend time with the kids by just a phone call and picking them up from their mother's house.  I could go to the gym in the afternoon if I'm so inclined.  Shopping is easy, since there are ample big box adventures within easy driving distance. 

So why, oh why, would I ever post about this wonderful setup?  I mean, after all, it comes off as bragging a bit, no? Well, in my finite wisdom, I have decided to move out of town.  After my divorce and in order to save money, I rented a room from a friend and have been living there ever since.  My main purpose has been to save money and buy a house.  That time has come. 

My other, more secondary reasons were to move to another city to avoid seeing The Ex and her minions as well as to move out of the city in which I was born.(I mean really, it's a big frickin' world and I move across town???)  For a city so large, it really is quite small.  In essence, I felt that it was necessary to find another city to stake my claim.  The result?  A beautiful new home and a commute.  In a Chevy Silverado (2008).  Not exactly a fuel sipper. 

Along with my new home, I've decided that I need to invest in an economic fuel-friendly ride.  Thus far, I have looked at the Honda Civic, a mainstay of the low-cost, high mileage culture.  Also, it's main competitor, the Toyota Corolla has been given a look.  I hate the Corolla. 'Nuff said.  The Civic is hard to swallow.  When I was a mere youth, my first real car purchase was a Toyota Celica.  It was a beauty.  White with black trim.  A hatchback, even.  Even had a phony phone antenna on the rear glass.  Yep, that's how I rolled. 

I digress.  The Accord was my second car and my almost-twenty-year-old daughter is currently driving the Honda Civic that my parents purchased for her.  So a Civic really seems like a step back in time for me. 

As such, I am expanding my search. I've decided to do some research on the Kia Forte and Mazda 3. I like both and they both have interesting features and costs that make them very appealing.  I should be commencing with the research shortly. 

As I type this, the Detroit Tigers are leading in Game Six of the ALCS, 2-1 in the top of the 7th.  Go Tigers.  It's better than the alternative. 

I'll end this by saying that I'm excited at the eventuality of "beginning" my life in my new house/city.  It's been a difficult three years, but it's time.  And my girl says I look sexy when I blog.  Ha! Who knew??