"Location, location, location" isn't the same as it was a while ago...
Berna and I took our third annual "Spring cleaning Road Trip" Sunday. To explain, on the first Sunday of each April, she and I get in the car and head out. No route, no destination. With our schedules, we often find it difficult to find an extended time where we can Spring Clean" our lives. So, this day is a chance to get away from our phones, our business, even the kids, and brainstorm on all of the things we have going on. Sunday we covered over 600 miles, and parts of 12 Counties here in Utah.
Without getting into the details of all those things we discussed, something else occurred to me. First of all was that small rural towns in Utah often look alike. Secondly, if you are a collector/restorer of American made cars and trucks, there are a ton of projects waiting for you to rescue them in and around those same rural Utah towns.
But, back the point of all this. On Sunday we covered more distance than our Pioneer forefathers did in 3 months with a handcart or wagon. It got me to thinking about how the term "commute" has changed over the years. I remember when I moved to Tooele back in 1994. At the time, I was working in Salt Lake City, and lived in Cottonwood Heights, roughly 16 miles each way. My commute was anywhere from 30-45 minutes, depending on traffic, and was always during our "rush hours".
In moving to Tooele, we more than doubled the mileage, to 36 miles each way. One would assume that the commute time would double as well. I know I assumed it, but it was worth it to get out of the crowded Salt Lake Valley. Imagine my surprise to find out that my commute time average actually decreased! It was seldom longer than 30 minutes. I was also finding myself in a much better mood when I got to work, and got home at night. How could that be?
Well, it was easier to figure out than I thought. First, virtually all of the new distance was being traveled on relatively uncrowded roads. The two lane between Tooele and I-80 was a 65mph road, with no stop lights, and I-80 is a 75mph Interstate, which is seldom traveled at less than 80mph. But, the biggest improvement in my commute was the absence of the traditional "bumper to bumper" traffic, and the stress that goes with it. In the lest few years, the 2 lane has become 4 lanes, and they've added 4 lights, but I can still get to SLC faster from Tooele County than nearly anyone living along the Wasatch Front. Stansbury Park shaves an additional 10 minutes off a commute!
Steadman's Recreation, a large motorcycle/RV retailer in Tooele, has often used as their tagline when advertising in Salt Lake City ,"Remember, it may seem like 300 miles out to Tooele, but it's only 30 back"! All of my clients that moved to Tooele and Stansbury Park over the last decade, certainly understand those words. The same concerns I had back then are actually a selling feature out here now. Combine this "commute" time with the lower cost of housing in Tooele County, and you'll understand why so many people are making the move to Tooele County!