I'm about to undergo a job change that will lengthen my commute and I'm curious how you guys might navigate it.
Currently, I'm living in Everett, WA. I'm mid-20s and single. Commuting about 15-20 minutes (10 miles) each way to an office. I live in Everett because I enjoy it and I was able to buy a great condo last year on the cheap. Mortgage, escrow, PMI and HOA dues are around $700/month. I drive a small pickup daily that gets around 25 MPG, and I bought it with cash years ago for a pittance. I make around $60k annually at the office job, have ample vacation, and I'm probably only there 35 hours a week. Been in this job full-time for around 3.5 years, but been at the company in some capacity for 9.
I'm sick of working in a cubicle, and am on the short list to start an apprenticeship with the electrician's union in Seattle, likely starting next month. Starting wages, not including any possible overtime, will amount to about $40k the first year, and then go up about $10k a year until I'm a journeyman after 5 years of the apprenticeship, clearing six figures with ease. They work off hours to prevent us from being in Seattle rush hour (the fourth worst in the nation), but even without traffic, my commute could increase to 45-60 minutes and up to 45 miles each way. Luckily, I will likely be working four 10-hour days.
Standard advice is to move closer to work, but Seattle home prices and rents are too damn high. Average 1BR apartment is over $1400/month, and don't even get me started on purchase prices. But I'm also not too keen on the increased cost, pollution, and time spent on up to two hours a day driving back and forth to work. I could possibly rent my condo out and clear up to a $500 premium over my cost of ownership, but I just moved in and kind of like the place. Will likely do this for a little while then reassess in 6 months.
What would you do?