I commuted from Cumberland to Post Office square for a year before I cracked and took a job in Providence. It was a good two hours each way, door to door, which was a half-time job on top of my job.

Your life isn't worth this on the regular, unless the benefits are good enough that you just suck it up and tell yourself it's a week's worth of commute rolled into one day.

Honestly, do the lists of arguments for and against: this is a math problem. :7)

Weird, I also take that train (daily), but I’m always at work almost exactly at 9. Last week was weird because there was an issue with the train for several days; those getting on at Wickford had to be bussed to T.F. Green. This week there was one delay, but it wasn’t for long.

Edit: my commute on the 810 is an hour and 15 mins

I feel your pain. I did this off and on for a few years. Two hours door to door. It sucks.

To mix things up you can drive to Braintree or Quincy and take the red line in from there.

Learn to sleep on the train in those uncomfortable seats. The single seats at the ends of each car are the best. Board in Providence for the best selection! You can get free parking a few blocks away if needed.

In off seasons I used to occasionally stay overnight in Boston. Winter is best. Four star hotels for $80 on Priceline. Saved $20+ on train fares though. It added up, but helped to save my sanity.

Acela: morning schedule sucks!! Wtf.

I used to do the same rat race but found a solution.

1. Book amtrak from providence weeks in advance. The tickets are cheap, like less than an MBTA ticket. You can cancel right up to last minute. $$ goes back into your account. No stops.
2. Park in the Providence mall. If you are on east side, ride your bike, etc. That's what I did when the weather was nice.
3. I also took the MBTA in and amtrack back, etc. Just getting home fast was great.

The Amtrack trains don't run all the time, but if you can time your work and it right, you can save hours. The downside is the cost of the garage in Prov vs. free in Pawt. But what's your sanity worth?

Amtrak Train 66 leaves Providence 6:56 and arrives in Boston usually early, 7:40 am. I took that for 4 years, 5-6 days a week. Lots of commuters on that train. My boss liked I was there early and I left at 5 to grab the train home. It was worth it for me over the commuter rail.

I also live on the East Side. It took me about 1:20 door to door.

Leave house 6:40ish (because I hate rushing) Arrive about 6:45, get coffee at Cafe La France Wait a few minutes on platform. Train 6:56-7:45ish Grab coffee at South Station Walk to work 5 minutes (Fort Point) Desk by 8am

I no longer do this because I’m not 29 and childless, but it wasn’t bad while I did it. I now work downtown providence and still live on the east side. The 7 minute commute is so ridiculous.

Honestly for what you're probably paying to rent or own on the East Side you're better off just living in or around Boston.