Buffer

I was home in six minutes in Minnesota. Now, it takes me twelve to fifteen.

I realize that for many a fifteen minute drive sounds wonderful and I don’t share it as a compliant¹. But it was a change from six minutes and I wondered how I would feel about it. Would it seem longer? Would I notice the extra time? What would the traffic be like²?

I liked being close to work in Minnesota, and it provided opportunities for me to go home for lunch or meet contractors at the house. But since my return to Michigan I’ve discovered that it didn’t provide me a chance to disconnect from work—the drive was too short—and it affected my home self in ways I didn’t recognize at the time.

Now, my route home starts on the outskirts of town, but nearly two-thirds of it is down less populated roads surrounded by forests. It’s easy for me to be calmed by the swaying trees and the sense of separation the minor distance affords, and I arrive home having (mostly) left the work mind-space behind and feeling relaxed. I cannot go home for lunch, but there are several parks in town that I can visit where I can sit by a lake or marina, or walk the banks of a rushing river. Not a bad compromise!

It is a longer drive, but I’ve found that I like it. I’m thankful for my new transition between work and home.