On 2 Oct, 2017, a BBC Why-factor program on “How to live small” had one final expert commenting on the (long-term) benefit of bigger home vs shorter commute. If you can’t afford a big home close to your workplace, you can choose one of..
- move further out to a big enough home and … hope to get adjusted to the longer commute
- move to a smaller home close to work and … hope to get adjusted to the reduced /living space/
His research measures the short and long term effect on people’s well-being. In the long term, the long commute is far more detrimental than smaller living space.
The /uplift/ is short-lived when we moved to a bigger home, but the benefits of shorter commute last much much longer.
Hongkong and Japan residents live comfortable, satisfied lives with (way) below 100 sqm of living space for a family of 4. On the other hand, NY commuters readily cope with 1Hr+ door-to-door commutes. I think folks who grow up in NY(or Japan) learn from (majority of) other people to accept long commute (or tiny homes). Some individuals in NY(or Japan) would struggle against the commute (or home size). These voices might dominate the internet, so each person has to decide for herself “priorities” and “tolerance”.
People (as in affluent Hongkong and Japan) can get used to living in smaller space, but it’s much harder [2] adapting to long commute, according to the researcher. They said over 20Y you will still hate the long commute the same as on Day 1. I see and feel that long commute eats into family time, rest time, study time, exercise time, hobby time, outing time…
Our adaptability to smaller living space is much higher than our adaptability to longer commute.
[2] remember Rahul and see my bposts.
— [[Thinking, fast and slow]] says something similar. Before a big purchase (a car or house) we hit the Focusing Illusion and exaggerate the lifetime boost to our experienced well-being (xpSelf). However, a few years after the purchase, we seldom think of it. Our U-index ( or hedonimeter ) would show that long-term “boost” is rare.
In contrast, a shorter commute would improve our U-index for decades, because the commute continues to be a “focus” every morning and every evening. It draws attention everyday.
— eg: Shuisheng’s mansion .. (Serangoon Garden) requires a car (or more) as commute pain relief, but how about parking, ERP? If he has to park at office then that’s another huge $cost.
His 8 family members would all need a car to go anywhere, since there’s no amenities within walking distance.
Therefore, I think the best commute in Singapore is “living close to public transit”.