Travel distance to school - I have been fortunate

My teaching career started in Barrie Ontario.  It would take about 50 minutes travel time to St. Joseph Catholic High School, and approximately the same amount of time, return trip home in the late afternoon.  I remember the price of fuel at that time was 37- 39 cents a litre, because I would usually refuel in Barrie.  In the winter, with bad weather, it would of course take me longer travel time.
I did this for two years.  Incidentally, the first year, I was still living with my parents, so the travel time was a bit more.  The second year, Florinda and I lived in Thornhill for six years.
After, I interviewed for a job at Father Bressani Catholic High school in Woodbridge.  This interview opportunity came from a contact at St. Joseph, a colleague mentioned to me that her brother-in-law was planning to leave Father Bressani, a member of the music department, and if I was interested in reducing my travel to Barrie, consider going for an interview.  So, I did.  My travel time was significantly reduced.  When living in Thornhill, my travel time would be about 15 minutes, and with traffic, maybe 20 minutes.  Then, we moved to Maple, and my travel time to Woodbridge involved slightly less distance and so, 12-15 minutes to travel time to school.  I would travel to Woodbridge for the next fifteen years.  Then, I interviewed at St. Elizabeth Catholic High School in 2003 for the Arts Deparment Head position.  Again, this opportunity came about through connections with administrators who I had worked with and were now at St. Elizabeth.  These colleagues thought I would be a good choice to fill the role since the new RAP (Regional Arts Programmer) was about to begin, year 1.  My travel time is about 12-15 minutes each way.  Well, the return trip is usually a bit longer due to traffic.  That’s the big change I have noticed over the years - the traffic is so much more where we live!

I still consider myself very fortunate that my travel time to work has been and continues to be very nice to deal with.  Compared to many other people who spend so much of their day on the road, dealing with traffic or distance, or both.  I think it’s one of the reasons I stayed at the schools for so many years.  Currently, I have some colleagues who travel for 60-90 minutes one way!  Imagine the wear and tear on the vehicle, the cost of fuel, the emotional, mental and physical drain on our bodies!

Indeed, I have been very fortunate!