In a week, I promised a person most dear to me that we would get together in NY. She flies across America to enjoy a few days there. I only have one specified day, a day trip not done for several years. My transportation options are numerous. Drive to and park in Manhattan. Drive to a suburb that accesses either PATH or NJ Transit, park at the station, then enter Manhattan by regional rail. Amtrak connects my city with Manhattan, though for a steep fare. Bus options also exist from my city. I could take regional rail to Philadelphia, then a bus with frequent departure and return times from there to Manhattan. Or with senior discounts, I could take regional rail all the way from my town to Manhattan at a steep discount but parallel steep inconvenience.
My master teacher's imprint emerges. John, of blessed memory, taught his fellows to list all possibilities that will solve a challenge, even the unrealistic ones. From these, the best option emerges. Since having surgeon remove a thyroid solves most thyroid conditions, that needed to be on John's sort through list, even if not accepted medical practice for the particular thyroid problem. I approach transit in a similar manner. The goal: visit the young lady I most want to see, getting there and back on the same day.
Considerations:
- Cost/Value
- Personal Effort
- Time Flexibility
- Logistics
- Foreseen Annoyances
It has been my good fortune to reach my Golden Years financially independent. Even the most expensive of the options, round trip Amtrak for my wife and me, will not materially affect my personal financial position. Their Senior Discount exists only nominally, though. Getting to the train station and back is straightforward. They have a parking garage across the street. Downside other than cost, would be the schedules. They don't run that often. The commuter train to NYC has business travelers with expense accounts. The extra $25 per ride is the cost of doing business at peak times, a pittance to what the traveler would be paid for doing his or her work. Off-peak fare is less, but it delays my time with my guest. Getting home would pose the same considerations. On the up side, once en route I can basically relax next to my wife in a comfortable seat, occupying myself in any number of ways with what I can carry in my cross chest travel pouch.
Driving offers flexibility. My wife would function as the passive passenger, amusing herself with crosswords or radio or chatting with me. I have to pay attention to the road. GPS has immensely simplified road trips. I can deal with the highway, but the optimal exit that gets me to the NJ commuter train is not obvious. I also have to deal with local roads once nearing my destination, find an unfamiliar parking lot, probably pay electronically, and walk to the commuter rail station. By now I have some experience paying for parking at kiosks. Costs include the hidden one, my gas tank filled the day before, usually about $30. Turnpike tolls about $30 round-trip. Bridge toll home $6. Parking estimates seem to be about $25. Commuter rail across the Hudson River is nominal. I could drive into Manhattan. For my trouble, I would incur city driving, more expensive and less available parking, and a bridge toll. Between hassle and expense, leaving the car in NJ seems the better option.
There are buses from my town. A single bus line does not serve round trip at the times I would need to travel. As a result, I would have to park in the garage near the Greyhound station in the morning then walk about ten minutes through some seedy blocks to get to the Rockleigh bus on time. The bus lets passengers off in a difficult part of Manhattan. However, I have taken this bus a few times. It provides a pleasant ride. For the return trip, which may approach dark on arrival home, I would have to take Greyhound which stops near where I park my car. Fare, about $35 per ride.
Two other options that I would consider if traveling alone, though not with my wife and not with the need to meet a special person in NYC. I have a Senior Rail pass that lets me ride to and within Philadelphia for free. I could take that to Philadelphia, paying a nominal $2 parking fee at the rail terminal. Then take the city bus or subway to the bus terminal, which would get me to NYC. These buses leave frequently at mostly convenient times. They seem to charge about $17 per ride. There are downsides to safety and convenience. I would have to time the commuter rail schedule to the bus departure schedule, leaving me enough time to get from train to intercity bus by SEPTA city transit. The bus stops are now in different places skirting Center City, mostly places where crime poses a significant concern, particularly if returning after dark. And I would need to make sure I get back to the commuter rail stop in time for the final train that brings me to my home station. A suitable adventure for me, not suitable for an important day trip.
And for roughly the same price, I could use my free pass to Philadelphia, transfer to a line to NJ Transit in Trenton, which would no longer be free but not expensive, and then use a Senior Discount on NJ Transit to NYC. I would have to get home. Schedules are limited, but on the return trip I could take a bus to Philadelphia, taking advantage of their frequent departures, and complete my trip home by SEPTA. That I do myself when I want to convince myself that I can do this.
At my son's college graduation, Mayor Bloomberg told the class to seek four elements in their personal initiatives, words that I put on my whiteboard the next day, where they have remained in my line of sight for 17 years.
- Independence
- Honesty
- Accountability
- Innovation
My travel options offer an expression of all of these. My ability to sort out options. A sense of what is suitable for one circumstance but not for all circumstances. Responsibilities that I have for my wife's comfort and to spend time with my West Coast Visitor. Setting priorities of safety, convenience, and value. John z"l would be pleased with the ability to reason that he insisted I acquire. For this trip, time with the people who count the most takes priority. For another trip, traveling alone, my ability to explore something novel that I've not done before might become the overriding purpose. I've not yet chosen my preferred travel option for this trip but I seem willing to spend a little extra for somebody else to operate the vehicles while my wife and I have a minimal hassle and optimal time with our special visitor.
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