I have recently set a goal to retire in 8-9 years and have a decent job that is about 12 miles away from my house. I also 3 kids - one school aged and two under 5. I'd really like to bike to work but I have a few issues and I was looking for advice.
1. The commute would take 45-60 minutes each way which significantly reduces my precious family time (contrasted with 17 minutes in a car one way)
2. I have to transport the younger kids to their grandparents in the morning (yay! free childcare) and all 3 of them home from the grandparents in the evening. The grandparents live about 2 miles away from our house but there is a horrible mile stretch of 55 mph narrow road with blind curves, no shoulder, and a deep ditch. I biked exclusively for 4 years in college but I am truly terrified of biking on that stretch of road by myself let alone with kids and there is no way around it.
3. There are no closer employers in my field.
Should I move closer to my work and lose the free childcare/aftercare? My husband is a home based instrument technician and is out of town AT LEAST 30% of the time, but his location doesn't effect anything as long as he's in the region. His schedule is very unpredictable and can change withing a few hours so I tend to just operate on single mom mode and any help getting people where they need to go from him as a unexpected bonus. We've looked into a more family friendly job for him but so far no luck without taking at 20% pay cut.
I want to bike to get exercise, help the environment, and save a little money. Does anybody have any ideas? I wish I had gotten on the FI train before I had all these babies. They are my precious snowflakes and I am so jealous of all you out there able to stay home with your kiddos, having already gained your independence!