While I understand what you are saying - Short commutes and not making forward progress lead to short term happiness - not everyone agrees with you. Growing up

While I understand what you are saying - Short commutes and not making forward progress lead to short term happiness - not everyone agrees with you. Growing up, I lived closer to where I worked... I'd walk or bike to work. Getting older, I moved around and anything I've done in the longest time requires "long" commutes (30-60 minutes each way). I've been on both sides and am fine with either. Given a slightly modified set of circumstances, I would probably pay a bit more to shave an hour or two off my commute... the added time and lessened stress (so many bad drivers on the roads... more time to play CoD...) would be worth it. I am lucky enough to live on Family Property - so the economic benefits of having zero rent/mortgage can't be understated (and is a major reason I commute) but it does come at an expense in time commuting.