The 9-5 Experiment

Always eclectic, my new experiment is in commuting and the 9-5 work day. A glorious experiment I have been able to put off for 29 years now. So, it's about time I try it, I suppose. Here are my observations so far.

-Working 9-5 leaves little else in my day--especially with a commute that makes it more like 6:30-6:30. This is lame and makes me wonder if the 9-5 life is worth living in the long run.

-I've gotten used to getting up before 6 am fairly quickly although historically it's been near impossible.

-I'm being trained to sleep in moving vehicles.

-I'm getting some good reading done.

-I love the sun. I miss it.

-Sometimes my soul spontaneously cries out "I want to live!" while waiting for the bus.

-According to the book I just finished commuting is a detriment to happiness and physical health.

-I've become more aware of the positions of the sun and moon.

-I'm becoming a connoisseur of spam and bus drivers.

More on that last point:
This morning on the bus, I realized that I am starting to be a bus lover. I'm seeing things, noticing shades of difference between this and that seat, this and that driver. Yesterday my morning bus driver who has a kind smile and slight nod when I get on was replaced by a beef cow. Nothing but meat behind the eyes. I didn't think much of it yesterday, just headed back to my seat with the extra leg room, opened my book, and eventually folded my arms and took a nap. But this morning, getting on and receiving again the kind look and half smile, I realized I have a rare morning bus driver indeed.

Not only is he kind, he knows how to drive and take corners. A skill not found in every driver. Yesterday on the way home our bus driver was being trained. It was her first run down to Provo from Salt Lake. She didn't even know about the no talking to the driver while driving rule because she chatted the whole time. Mostly about how driving buses in California is better than driving buses in Utah. Honestly, she was talking about how their buses have this or that high tech addition, how their highways make more sense, how this or that regulations is more logical.... Now, I can accept when Californians brag and act superior about their beaches, their redwoods, their Trader Joe's, their In-n-Outs, but their buses? Is there nothing they won't brag about? Where does this superiority complex/little-man syndrome come from?

A wise man said the deepest rivers make the least noise. If that's true than California's awesomeness is a painfully shallow river. Except it's not. I've been there. It's a great place. A couple days of beach living makes me regret my entire Utah childhood. Maybe the non-beach-livers feel like they should live in a great state, but don't get the benefits, feel gyped, and have to take it out on others. Maybe they're unfulfilled with paradise, but since it's paradise can't complain and so have to belittle other places. I don't know. But I may just have a doctorate dissertation in there somewhere.