The agonies of a long commute

Sometimes, the more I know, the less I want to know. I think

that’s why I haven’t replaced the car antenna that broke last

February. Peace and quiet was restored to my drives. I could have

accomplished the same goal by simply turning the radio off, but that

is a tall order for an information junkie.

Then the Angels got white hot and I really missed the radio. I’d

turn it on and get two stations, KFI and KLAC, which was good enough

for my purposes.

On KFI, I’d get my old boss, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, who has a lot

in common with school board trustee Wendy Leece around election time.

Both are considered to have “controversial” views. Admonishing

people to spend more time with the kids we make is controversial (Dr.

Laura). Asking for the resignation of a school board member convicted

of drunk driving is controversial (Leece). Telling people to make as

big a commitment to their marriage as they do their golf game is

controversial (Dr. Laura). Voting to restrict a book that has

gratuitous sex and violence unsuitable for minor children is

controversial (Leece).

For this husband and father, there is no controversy; this stuff

is a slam dunk. But when you stick your neck out, someone is always

there to try to cut it off.

KLAC provided the Angels, although the reception was about as good

as having my daughter shout the play-by-play from a block away. Every

time I passed between two buildings, as I often do around the Orange

County Performing Arts Center, I’d get static. And if I try to roll

up my window while the radio is on, I get a screech as loud as an air

raid siren.

This weekend I am going to buy a new antenna, but it’s not because

of the Angels or to hear Dr. Laura any better. It’s because of a

tidbit I heard that made me realize how far out of the loop I’d

fallen.

A few days ago, there was a spokesperson from the Auto Club

rattling off statistics about freeway congestion, freeway

construction and commuting. Commuting on crowded freeways costs

drivers and passengers anywhere from 50 to 160 extra hours each year.

That’s time they spend just sitting in traffic. More alarming,

however, was the cost. The Auto Club estimated that the average

commute is costing the driver about $2,500 a year. That’s just the

hard costs, and my guess is that that is too low.

In real-world terms, that means that people who are commuting to a

job that pays them $40,000 a year could take a 6% or 7% pay cut, get

a job that is a stone’s throw from home and never notice the

difference.

More importantly, that person could turn road time into family

time. And along with that, the level of stress would drop

dramatically. I doubt that increased medical costs were included in

the Auto Club stats but commuters have them. They are more stressed

and they eat worse because they are often forced to eat the high-fat,

high-salt junk food found in drive-through restaurants.

Commuting costs in other ways I doubt were calculated by the Auto

Club. Many commuters treat themselves to CDs, lattes, bagels and

other items in order to make that trip bearable, don’t discount the

cost of these luxuries. Spend $3 a day on a latte, a bagel or some

other road food, and you’re looking at $60 a month.

That $60 will pay for the cable bill. One month of not commuting

will just about cover the cost of signing your kid up with the Little

League or AYSO for an entire season. Or it will cover a nice dinner

out at any of the great local family restaurants we have in the area.

In their most honest moments, some commuters will actually admit

to liking the drive each way five days a week. Most commuters drive

alone and get a couple of hours of peace each workday. They can have

coffee while it’s still hot, they can listen to the radio station or

music of their choice and the temperature inside the car is always

just the way they like it. And no one is sitting behind them kicking

the back of their seat.

Yes, I will get my antenna fixed, if only to hear things I can

pass along or catch the Angels while I am running about. Eight months

without a radio in the car. Now that’s controversial.

* STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and freelance writer.

Readers may leave a message for him on the Daily Pilot hotline at

(949) 642-6086.