I lived 2.5 miles from work for 17 years. Then the dotcom music stopped. Now I drive past the old place and keep on going another 46 miles. I'm one of the lucky employed ones.

Terrible waste of time and money to have to go that far.

Unemployment, retirement or moving are not options.

Police scanner for situational awareness (of accidents, road debris, weather issues). CD player for lectures.

Bug out kit in the trunk in case I have to walk home. (it would take awhile)

I get to practice my emergency management skills making decisions about when to head home. Last xmas I left work at 10 AM (after being there 3 hrs). The interstate closed 5 minutes behind me when the final semi couldn't climb a gentle hill and totally blocked the road for 3 days.
My office-mate left an hour later than I did, went a different direction and wound up stranded in his car and was taken to shelter for the night by the police along with all the other strandees.

Unimogbert