shake-up

Jun. 22nd, 2006 03:27 pm
entelein: (rain)
[personal profile] entelein
Since [livejournal.com profile] thajinx's visit here last week, I've been intensely aware of how easily I could slip back into the doldrums. Having a whole week of adventuring by bus and train and cab, with very little rushing between, going to places that sparkle and glimmer, having someone there to laugh with or just sit in comfortable silence with, well. It'd just be too easy to let things be bleak in the aftermath, you know?

Changing my work commute has been one little thing I've done this week to keep me on my toes.

See, here's the thing: in the morning the routine is to walk out of my apartment building door, turn right, and head to the street. At this moment my head whips sharply right, and I will squint. My vision is still good, see, but I squint because that's what people do when they scan the vanishing point for one particular boxy shape with a yellow lighted display along the top. The boxy bus shape that either means a) run like hell for the earlier stop, b) run like hell on wheels to the later stop, c) stand there and weep for terrible timing, or d) stroll amiably to either stop, thankful for a well-mannered start to the day.

The bus itself is all manner of pushing and shoving and meaningful glares at the putzes WHO WON'T MOVE BACK, when they can CLEARLY SEE that there are people mashed up against the front doors WHO HAVE PAID THEIR FARE AND ARE TRYING TO GET TO WORK, TOO. There are the people, who, when arriving at the Big Stop That Nearly Everyone Vacates At, will get up super-early and pretend as though they are the only person getting off there. And then it's the mad, mad rush off the bus, down two sets of stone steps to the tunnel, through a fare gate, and then down another flight of steps to the train platform, where many of us jockey for position, or make a mad dash for the nearest open doors, as the trains don't really wait for anyone. Not during rush hour.

Once inside the train, it's musical chairs for the best/only seats, and then a long, rumbly ride to the elevated track (and the elevated salaries), where laptop bags poke you in the side and preening girls look vaguely scandalized at having to share a car with the blue collars. And then, underground, rattling and fast and more and more crowded.

The exodus of the train leads to a mad dash for the escalator (or stairs, if the escalator's broken), and then out the gate, and then up some more stairs.

And then, I power-walk a half mile to my office door.

By the time I get to work, I'm feeling a bit worn.

And then! I sit at a desk all day. Inertia. Mmm.

Reverse the mad dash home, but add tourists.

So, this week, I've been taking two longer bus rides. I get out of the house a bit earlier, and I can doze a little, or do some reading. It's been really nice.

This morning, on a whim, I took a different second bus (several lines run down the same street, as it's near the lake, so many streets narrow and converge here), and it turned out to be one of the best ideas ever. I was on Lake Shore Drive, gazing out to my left at the lake. The water was dappled and silvery, with light yellow patches where the sun was breaking through the clouds. The lagoon looked peaceful and green, and the pieces of Michigan Avenue I could see through the gaps of buildings along the river were as pretty as a postcard. Actually, a lot prettier, cos it was real, and I was right there, watching the sun gain strength over everything. The bus was air conditioned, about half-full, and the commuters were quiet, almost meditative.

I alighted at a stop a mere quarter block from my office door. No rushing. Right on time.

Date: 2006-06-22 09:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] atdt1991.livejournal.com
I would totally dig that.

I'd really dig any process that involved some time -not- driving to get to work. *s*

Date: 2006-06-22 09:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] entelein.livejournal.com
I really like not ever driving anymore, even though having a car would be useful.

Date: 2006-06-22 09:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] atdt1991.livejournal.com
*nod* My next city will have public transport, I am certain.

Date: 2006-06-23 12:07 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] anton-p-nym.livejournal.com
It's not a bus; it's a 48' stretch limo that happens to be shared with a few people. (Except for lacking a wet bar. Or sometimes an empty seat.)

Seriously though, I find doing the public transit thing an exchange; sure, my commute takes longer and I have to match my schedule to the buses'... but schedule's not far off from what work dishes out, plus the commute's not that much longer; and in return I'm free to listen (and pay attention to!) the news on radio, or read a book, or(now that I have the Preciousssss) catch up on paperwork for that whole time. I'd call that a net gain. Throw in the savings on parking, gas, insurance, tires, tune-ups... yeah, it's public transit for me.

[livejournal.com profile] entelein's got a point, though, that in the non-Euclidean universe of public transit the shortest distance between two points isn't necessarily a straight line, and even if it is it's not certain that it'd be the best choice in terms of comfort or productivity thanks to mobbing. Pity I haven't figured out a system for working out the best routes... it's something that I guess you have to learn by doing wrong every now and then.

-- Steve's mind is now throwing flashes of penning Zen and the Art of Riding Transit... stoopid mind.

Date: 2006-06-22 09:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] incyr.livejournal.com
OMG, not dealing with cars in the morning/afternoon == BEST IDEA EVAR. Since I've moved, I've relied entirely on DC's metro system, and I <3 it to death. I mean, the pushing and shoving aren't pleasent, and the hoardes of people trying to cram into a train sucks, but overall, I'm loving it.

The worst thing so far has been the times when I've had to wait 30 minutes before the platform clears enough that I can actually get on a train, to go my one or two stops. This usually only happens when the weather is shitty out, otherwise I would just walk that distance, and infact do on a semi-regular basis.

The best thing, though, is being able to explore on a whim. If I want to go into DC at night before I go home, I can. I can get off at a random stop, wander around until I'm ready to go home, and then head home, without having to worry about parking or much of anything really. I've actually become much more active, which is nice, because damned if I don't need some exercise in my life. That, and being able to metro up one stop to the Whole Foods, and then walk home with a bag full of groceries for dinner that night == best thing in the world.

Date: 2006-06-23 12:22 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] atdt1991.livejournal.com
I love me the Metra. Only problem last time was that I was buying a bunch of cookie making stuff (at whole foods, I think) for my friend Diana's dorm room at GWU and we had a darned long way back with those bags.

Date: 2006-06-22 09:08 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] coffeejedi.livejournal.com
that's EXACTLY what i was talking about!
awesome!
i don't always comment because i have nothing to add, but i always admire your writing

Date: 2006-06-22 09:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] entelein.livejournal.com
I had wanted to write this entry earlier today, which is why your summary made me pleased and/or shy about it. heh. I was like, "DAMMIT, I so have that EXACT entry in my head right now!" ;)

Date: 2006-06-22 09:32 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thunderclap8.livejournal.com
he knows us better than we know ourselves.

Date: 2006-06-22 09:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ubersaurus.livejournal.com
Oh, that sounds pleasant.

The other day I just sat at the riverside and enjoyed the view. Something about bodies of water just seem to be a real good mood-setter :)

Date: 2006-06-23 06:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ubercado.livejournal.com
I drive everywhere...OMG! Heathen! REPENT! REPENT!

Date: 2006-06-23 02:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] entelein.livejournal.com
You don't have a cup-holder in your truck. It's a puddin'-holder.

Awwwwww yeah.

Date: 2006-06-23 07:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dasrokast.livejournal.com
Glad to hear stirring the pot up helped out a little bit.

Re: Queen Bee

Date: 2006-06-25 01:40 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] shad-0.livejournal.com
Apropos of nothing -- because you must be tired of hearing "OMG U RITE REEL GOOD!!!1!" from me every time you make an entry -- this reminded me that I recently attended one of those comedy-improvisation shows, and when the referee asked for a location from the audience, the response was "The Doldrums." And I think only three people in the entire room knew what the heck she was talking about -- her, me, and (fortunately) the referee, who had to explain it to the other improvisors. Sigh.

Profile

entelein: (Default)
entelein

March 2018

S M T W T F S
    123
45678910
11121314 151617
18192021222324
25262728293031

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Jul. 5th, 2025 04:50 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios