This was my commute yesterday.
It felt like this.
On good days, this is the traffic flow. There is nothing more exciting to a road warrior commuter than the color green.
It is Friday and summer in Minnesota. The morning commute will be-should be fairly good because of all the three day weekenders that are part of the Minnesota mix each Friday. The commute home on the other hand, will probably still be a mess as these same people, or the ones that didn't take the day off, head North, South, East, and West towards cabins and resorts, and boat launches. Road construction is particularly awful this year, with many major highways and freeways with one or more lanes shut down. I won't be part of that today. I am working remotely from home. I'll blissfully put in my 8 working hours from the comfort of my home, and fit in a few loads of laundry, dinner prep, and perhaps a little baking. I'll wrap up sometime after 5:00, close the computer, and my commute will be done.
We avoid most of the cabin traffic as well. We live close to our family lake place, just about an hour, and as it gets to be a long weekend for me, we usually just go up either Saturday night after DH is home, or early Sunday for the day. Occasionally we have a sticky traffic spot on Sunday night, but can by pass the interstate with a slightly longer, but more scenic route going through small towns. When it is our week at the extra cabin, we'll spend more time, but then it is just my family and DH's mom. I enjoy her company when it is not so overwhelming with the extended family.
This weekend is our towns annual summer celebration days. I only partake in small doses, so will perhaps go listen to the live music and eat some treats while DD#2 and friends wander the carnival tonight. There will be a huge craft show, which I like to attend for ideas and browsing, and more treats, but no buying as we are trying to declutter-not add more kitsch. I'll do that tomorrow morning. There is an Amish family that sets up a huge over a fire kettle to make truly delicious kettle corn each year at the craft fair. It is a once a year treat for me. I only like their kettle corn. We may or may not do the fireworks Saturday night, though there is a good walking path over the Mississippi bridge and I think I would enjoy an evening walk with fireworks overhead. Pup would need to stay behind-the 4th of July was too much for his ears. Traffic though will be a stop in at our small town and getting from point A to B will be a challenge. I like that I don't have to go anywhere if I don't want to, but the options are there should we choose. Traffic, an inevitable part of my life. What's up this weekend in your part of the world?
I'm going to work out of the office this morning. It will be quiet in the office anyway, leading up to a three day weekend. I have a mid-afternoon meeting, but this will allow me to miss about 15 minutes worth of traffic by not driving peek rush hour. In the next few months, I will be adding more and more telecommuting days, so I decided today to plant my self in a local Dunn Brothers and test out a coffee shop as my remote office. While mostly I intend to just work from my own home, sometimes I need a little extra noise and stimulation, besides a better cup of coffee than I can make at home, to get my mind really producing.
Veteran remote office worker friends have their schedule almost to a science. My friend A, who worked for years as the Executive Director of a start-up non-profit, spent at least 50% of her job on the road, and was always in a green light go mental state. She would have crashed if she tried to work from home more than a day a week. She coordinated her coffee shop offices with other meetings and appointments she needed to fit in, but essentially had three main hubs, one in St Paul, another in a Minneapolis neighborhood near her home, and one near downtown. She would purchase her muffin or scone and a large cup of dark roast, and be set for the morning. A family member, L, who works in publishing, remote offices in coffee shops in or near book stores, preferably independent versions of both, for her office.
I won't be of the ilk that A or L are, but I am trying to see if this works. Not to miss an opportunity to research, that is, be nosy about my people watching, I decided to scan the shop. Most people are coming in and out very quickly, beverage in hand, and I can see a drive through four deep with cars. Inside, there is a trio of women discussing life and 31 Bags, and passing around samples of what I think looks like Tastefully Simple catalogs or flyer's. I know the bags, in fact am carrying one now, and I know that is what they are discussing because each woman has a couple with them, and one commented to me while I was getting my cream, "Did you know 31 has a bag with almost the same pattern as your shirt?" I get it. This is a home shopping, small business owners, networking brain trust. There were two other men with laptops typing away, when I came in, but both have since left. I see a couple students and a few tables with people just talking.There are still ample empty tables and the fireplace area is free, so at present I don't think I would be overstaying my welcome working here an hour or two. It is still too early for the mommy crowd that I have noticed on other days, and at other coffee shops, that seem to congregate mid-morning.
My large coffee was $2.56, quite pricey when I can brew a moderately, but not nearly as strong, good brew at home. I left the change in the cup, making it $3.00. I have awesomely fast Internet speed. I like that. It is pretty good at home, but I find spotty patches and glitches still occur even after the upgrade. I'm in a relatively sunny spot by a window and can gaze out and see green, but mostly I am seeing cars driving through town. I managed to snag a comfy deep seat chair, so using my lap as a desk. I work better this way than I do in the office, though ergonomically, I am probably doing everything wrong for my future posture. At home I have my beloved chaise, and can look out at my own front yard.
My verdict? While this might be a nice change of pace, It will be a rare occurrence in my telecommuting cycle. I think I would rather work early from home, and if I want a different scenery, schedule a late breakfast or lunch with someone. Today, since I am in the office later anyway I dressed for work. Normally if I telecommute, I'll be able to work in the comfort of whatever I feel like putting on, or even stay in my pajamas if I want, though that is not likely. I don't want to perpetuate a telecommuting stereotype. If I would work remotely, but out of my own house, I would feel like I still need to dress as if going to work, though it is a work casual environment. Who else out there combines home offices with coffee offices? What are your reasons for doing both, or are you a predominantly coffee commuter?
Anniversary Giveaway
Only 8 more days until I tick the box on my to do list that says, Start and Maintain a Blog. I wasn't going to consider it a done deal until I made it one year. Remember to add a comment if you want to a chance for a Minnesota package giveaway. By the way, Dunn Brothers is a Minnesota based company, and may be featured in the basket, though I am not receiving any gift, benefit, or sponsorship from the company. I mention for trivia value, and enticement to enter! Did I mention, you can comment on any post between now and before 9:00 a.m. Minnesota time to enter? Now I have.
