23 Earths

So, I did the Ecological Footprint quiz. And I failed. Really badly. It would take 23 Earths to support my lifestyle, if everyone on the planet lived like I do. Gack.

23 Earths! That boggles my mind. It's just so staggering. Impossible to contemplate. Impossible to imagine that I am squandering so many resources. And almost impossible to contemplate changing. I'm such a wuss.

My big problem is my commuting and my gas mileage. 40 miles a day in a van that only gets 22 mpg doesn't cut it. But how do I fix that? This is where I weenie out. I could find another job. Actually I'm working on that one, but we all know that jobs for librarians don't grow on trees.

Or I could .... dun dun dun! Take the bus.

Now, this alternative would be a lot less daunting if I didn't have this issue, that my boss insists I stay at work until 5:30. That one stricture brings my bus choices down to a very narrow few. Like, one. And that one would have me spending an hour on the bus, getting to work a half-hour early, rushing to the bus at 5:30 for an hour-plus commute home. Leaving the house at 7:45 instead of 8:30. Getting home at 7:00 instead of 6:15. 11+ hours a day spent getting to and from work and being at work.

And here's where I have the tantrum because I JUST DON'T WANT TO DO IT!!!! WAAAH!

I don't want to surrender so much of my day to my commute. I'm used to that convenience factor of being able to hop in the car and go, and maybe I have to fight a little traffic, but door to door is 45 minutes on the outside, usually less.

SIGH.

I think gas prices may make the decision for me, though. Already it burns my soul to pay so much at the pump every week. What I could do with that 40 bucks...

So, we'll see. Maybe I'll get this job at Johnson County Public Library and cut my commute in half. Or maybe I'll join the ranks of the Bus Riders. Something's gotta give.