| Commuting to work is a modern phenomenon | | | | more value for the dollar. There has been, |
| that began in earnest just after the Second World | | | | however, a price to pay. Commuters lose this |
| War and the development of Levittown, that | | | | block of time each day, they become more |
| community of houses that looked all the same | | | | stressed as the time increases, they fall to |
| and supplied housing for newly begun families of | | | | physical illness because of the commute, they |
| returning soldiers and their wives. To find tracts | | | | become separated from the daily flow of the |
| of land to build these developments, Levitt moved | | | | family and friends, they start work already |
| out of the city proper and into the countryside, | | | | stressed and find it affects their output. |
| close enough for the automobile to bring workers | | | | The mother commuter has added the additional |
| into the city to work, but far enough away to | | | | burden of the commute to her other work. She |
| build on cheap land. | | | | continues, in most households, to be the |
| Families, looking for a better life, moved to these | | | | homemaker who runs the house and cares for |
| houses with all their "modern" conveniences and | | | | the health and welfare of the family. |
| space for the children to play. It was the late '40's | | | | WHERE IT'S GOING |
| and the '50's, so mother stayed home with the | | | | No doubt the long distance commute will stay |
| children and father went out to work, driving the | | | | with us. But an interesting thing has happened |
| family car to the city. This became the aspiration | | | | along the way - the home worker. Some people |
| of all young couples. | | | | are starting home businesses to avoid the |
| As the needs and wants of these young families | | | | commute, to save expenses and become more |
| increased, mothers began to work, first , in | | | | involved in the household. Others have worked |
| traditionally female jobs such as nursing, | | | | out arrangements with their companies so that, |
| secretarial and teaching, close to home and | | | | thanks to the computer, at least part of their |
| available if their children, who were now in school, | | | | work time is done from home. The trend is for |
| needed them. | | | | this to increase. There is even a bigger push |
| Another exodus occurred as housing again | | | | among women to find a way to work from |
| became expensive. This time, widespread | | | | home. |
| ownership of the automobile allowed the father to | | | | But before you make a decision, do be aware of |
| commute to the city to work. Mother stayed at | | | | the pros and cons of working from home. Some |
| home, isolated from adult companionship for very | | | | find it difficult to separate work and nonwork and |
| long periods of time. | | | | feel like they are always working, or at least on |
| Finally, mother joined the commute to higher | | | | call all the time. Others find it difficult to remove |
| paying employment and the long distance | | | | themselves from the activity of the household to |
| commute was complete. | | | | get their work done. Still others complain of the |
| Today, the commute goes on. Cars, trains, buses, | | | | isolation of working at home and of missing the |
| planes, ferries-all bring the commuter to and from | | | | interaction of the workplace. None of this is |
| work. The commute has been a great boon to | | | | insurmountable, but they do need to be |
| people, not only has it allowed them to choose | | | | addressed. |
| where to live, but it has allowed them to work in | | | | To read about clematis integrifolia and clematis |
| more lucrative jobs while buying houses that have | | | | jackmanii, visit the Clematis Care site. |