Originally Posted by Whiskey4

Commuting is absolutely still a choice. Actually, the ability to commute to work is a perk of this particular industry. How many people in other jobs either have to quit their job or move to the new location when they have a forced job transfer? Millions of Americans deal with this issue every year. Plants and offices open, close, relocate, etc, all the time in other industries.

Pilots, thankfully, have the ability to jump on a plane and keep their job without moving the family should a similar issue arise.

Does commuting suck? Yes. Are job transfers and base closures difficult life changes? Yes. However, we actually have a job transfer protection in commuting as an advantage that most industries don’t provide. You want to get back your in-base QOL after a base reduction or closure? Then do what many Americans do and bite the bullet on a relocation.

My opinion comes from having commuted, then finally making the tough choice to relocate our family so I could be home more. We are saving up to relocate again to get to what we hope is our final stop here in the next few years. If that base closes though, I’ll probably be right back to commuting since that base is actually where we want to call home long term. That will be a CHOICE to commute vs. relocate again.