My Circle - More on Centering

I took a job opportunity about a year and a half ago and moved. While I was choosing where I wanted to live (relative to my new job) I carefully considered my busy lifestyle. I could choose a place in the "big city" close to all of my favorite restaurants and stores or I could choose something closer to work. I also had to consider local schools.

I was very fortunate to find a home that I could not only afford, but was within 3 miles of work, good schools, and the daycare I had already chosen. 

At first it just seemed convenient and like it would save on time and gas, making it a good decision. I wasn't prepared for how it would alter the flow of my life. I didn't realize how much of my time was being spent on a morning/evening commute. 

To say that I've just cleared up a few minutes time, trivializes the impact this has had. When one of my children gets sick, I can get to them in no time at all. I can commit to school-things and invest myself where, in the past, this would have required a day off work. 

I've since added the gym (which I've mentioned) into my 3 mile triangle making it more of a circle. I'm only able to add in my fitness goals because I have freed myself from the job of making a commute to work. If I had to drive an additional 20-30 minutes to get home, we'd be getting on with our dinner/bedtime routine just that much later...making the toddler grumpy and cycling into chaos in the evening. 

We do have to drive further to get the non-everyday things we need like clothes or whole food items I can't get from the local grocer. The trade off is that this makes me more careful about my spending. "Is it worth driving to the other side of town to get?" We also usually make an adventure of it and save it for the weekends.