My stepdaughter lives in New Jersey and worked in Manhattan. Pre-pandemic, she spent a very rushed hour to hour and a half going to and from work by New Jersey transit train, NY subway, and walking. If a train was delayed or out-of-commission, she had to figure out a different way to get to work or get home.

While visiting her and her husband, I commented on how hectic her mornings and evenings are but she shrugged it off, saying she was used to it.

Since mid-March last year, she's been working remotely from home. Her company announced a few weeks ago that everyone was expected to report back to the office in September. After months of not living on a hamster wheel, she couldn't image returning to work in Manhattan. She found a job in New Jersey, 20 minutes from her house. I am so pleased that she made that decision.