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Comment by lallysingh | Hacker News Reader

I did this from Northern NJ to NYC. 2hrs each way by bus. Awful. The only benefit was that you almost (98%?) always got a seat. A small laptop and you've got 4 hrs of potential productivity on your own "time" for whatever you want.

But wow, does it suck away the joy from your life.

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Did this for ~ 1 year. If you aren't driving and don't have to change buses or trains its possible to structure your life to take advantage of this personal time. While I miss that personal time, I wouldn't trade my current situation for it.

Agreed. I'm on NJTransit now but I'd still prefer to have my time back for my own full control!

NJ is currently dealing with the NJTransit summer of hell too. Trains lose power, A/C and lights get shut off (sometimes while underground in the tunnel), tracks get closed and Amtrak always get priority anyway. I lived 15 miles from NYC and it would usually take me two hours door to door.

Absolutely miserable.

Unless you ride a diesel line into Hoboken. Then it's just bigger than usual crowds to deal with.

I'm on the train now. I take a very early train in and that's pretty reasonable. Then the extra time at work and the morning hacking have me pretty well satiated hack-wise. So then it's just time to space out on video, random phone apps, or if I'm a little motivated, coursera.

did you have wifi on the bus?

Not if it was an NJTransit bus.

Nope. But that also keeps away distractions. You can pull dependent packages down at home or the office, or even over a tethered phone.

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