The drive to and from my present job is a one and a half hour round trip.

When I first took the assignment, I thought, "Oh crap, that’s a lot of driving to do every day. That’s really going to suck! quot;

However, I’ve come to enjoy the drive, and actually look forward to it.

Just recently, I accepted a position only five minutes from my house, and will be starting within the next two weeks. Now that I know I won’t be making the long commute anymore, I find myself waxing poetic about the whole thing.

So, while making one of the last of my long drives this morning, I thought up this list.

The top 5 reasons to enjoy your long drive to work.

#5- Any place you want to stop, anything you want to do, any item you may need to pick up, you will find it along the way

I drive past no less than 12 McDonalds, 24 gas stations, 9 QuikTrips, 5 hospitals, and countless other merchants and amenities.

Bail Bonds? at least 7.

Chinese Food? try 11.

Health Food Stores? 4.

Not to mention 3 libraries, 2 main post offices, Costco, Sam’s Club, a barn museum, a Junior College, and not one, but two spray-on-truck-bed-liner shops!

#4- Free-to-be-me time

You are all alone in this personal little kingdom called your vehicle. Here is the chance to be your own unique self. You can turn up the music (which I will get to in a moment) and practice singing harmony. Sure it sounds awful. But the Royal Highness of the automobile can sing badly if she wants.

You can play the best steering-wheel drums ever. Or pick your nose. Or scratch where it itches.

Nobody is really watching you; they’re too busy being the master of their own motorized domain

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#3- A great chance to listen to your favorite music, and learn about new artists.

I am totally hooked on satellite radio. No matter what your listening tastes are, they have got what you like. And, for the most part, no commercials! I am not a fan of morning talk radio, seems like those guys are just talking to make noise. I’d rather listen to Wilco or My Morning Jacket. Or Bob Dylan's ThemeTime radio hour. With satellite radio, you are exposed to artists that you just won’t find out about on commercial radio. My system displays the artist and the song, which is a big plus.

This is also an excellent time to actually listen to an entire CD of music. No, I don’t have a MP3 player to plug in, (guess I’m still old-school) I actually buy CDs. There’s something to be said about listening to an entire CD instead of an assortment of scrambled tracks.It's like the difference between reading a novel and reading a collection of short stories.

Plus, you still get to sing your heart out (see reason #4)

#2- Keep up on world events

Listen to Public Radio on your drive to work. You can find out what is actually going on in the rest of the world. The war in Iraq and Afghanistan. The conflict in Israel and Palestine. The unrest in China. Cuba. Darfur. Important things we seem to miss on the evening news, even if we actually watch it.

#1- Time to collect your thoughts and have some precious time alone

I’ve done some of my best problem solving in the car by myself. You have time to really think things through. If you know you are going to face a difficult or awkward situation, practice (out loud) what you want to say. Do some brainstorming. This is a great time to collect your thoughts, think of new ideas, and tumble around some solutions. It is a little difficult to take notes, that is one drawback.

Precious Alone Time-- This is your private time. You don’t have to do anything for anybody. Your mission is to get yourself to where you are going. It’s all about you.

Youyouyou.

Just make sure to put your cell phone on silent and subsequently ignore it, stay out of the passing lane, and watch out for crasy-ass drivers

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