Welcome home millennials! There is nothing better than coming home from a long year at school and settling back into your parents' home. The sun is brighter, the food is better (possibly), the bed is comfier, and the commute is--well--longer (if you're from good old Long Island that is). For the third summer in a row, I will be taking the infamous LIRR commute every morning. So here are 5 things every commuter knows about the daily trek.
Location Location Location
Your stop on the LIRR is representative of your entire train ride experience. Chances are, if you're further than the third stop on the line (aka you get on at Great Neck or after), then you are not getting a seat on the train. So grab a railing or the edge of a seat because, contrary to popular belief, the LIRR can be a little rickety.
The Monthly Train Pass
The monthly will soon be your new best friend. The ticket is good for unlimited rides for that calendar month, which saves you both time and money. If you're going to ride like a pro, you may as well look the part too, no?
Express.
Nothing beats the express train going to or coming from NYC. You can get to your destination in 35 minutes, which flies by with a good book or the right playlist. Once you go express, you'll never go back.
Ask Around For A Book Recommendation
Every commuter knows that you're going to need some excellent summer reads to get you through the summer. I'll start you off with the following: The Night Circus, Opposites of Loneliness, The History of Love, and anything written by Toni Morrison (I just took a class on her and am forever changed).
Learn Some Deep Breathing Exercises
Unfortunately, there is no way to avoid foot traffic once you arrive at Penn Station. So in order to maintain your sanity, in addition to your faith in mankind, learn some deep breathing exercises. If you are a commuter you know that the morning commute can aggravate even the most patient person in the world. So do yourself a favor: keep calm, put your headphones in, and walk on.
10 weeks really does fly by so try to enjoy your summer, despite having to deal with, what often feels like, a treacherous commute. There are worse things in the world.
