Need To Move To Philadelphia
Wednesday, January 15th, 1997Dear [Boss],
Well, now that you’re listening, I have a proposition for you . . .
We’ve talked already about the social difficulties faced here in Miami Township by those unable to drive a car. With buses so sparse, cabs so expensive and unreliable, and soliciting transportation from friends so awkward and undesirable not to mention generally ineffective, I’ve been more lonely and sad living here than I need to be. Going to night clubs, restaurants, and the like, on a Friday / Saturday night is generally unthinkable. Busses stop running too early and I’ve been stranded at such places for hours because no cabs were available to come get me when I was ready to go home.
Most folks look forward to their weekends. But due to essentially absent weekend social activity, created by these circumstances, I dread them. Then, there’s also the problem of very few vision impaired people in this area with whom to share war stories, and to relate. Don’t misunderstand. My friends here at [work] have been extremely kind and helpful at getting me where I need to go, listening when I need to talk, Etc. But hard as they try, people just can’t relate to what it is like being impaired unless they’re impaired themselves.
And, even after close to nine years here, I still have not learned to ask for help without agonizing over it beforehand to decide whether the trip is REALLY warranted, and wondering if I’m asking for too much. Independence is so deeply internalized in our culture that I fear I’ll never learn to ask for this kind of help comfortably. It’s just not the same as being able to go where you want, on your own, without having to impose on others and fit your life into their schedules. Immediate, drastic change is dictated.
Therefore, [Boss], I wish to leave the Dayton area as soon as workable, and move to Philadelphia, PA. There, the busses run much more often, there are orders of magnitude more of them, and they go to most locations all night long. Lots more cab companies, with subways and trains to boot, and Philly has a much bigger community of handicapped individuals with numerous carriers offering affordable point-to-point transportation for them as a result. There’s even a free service that will take you to doctors’ appointments and the hospitals, post haste. Also, it seems more acceptable socially, to be a non driver in Philadelphia, since so many people besides the handicapped rely on mass transportation in their big-city life styles. Finally, with Dad being chronically ill, frequent, quick trips home will likely be necessary over the next few years. No problem in Philly as there is a train that goes daily from there to my home town in under 5 hours for under $100. In light of all this, I believe I’d be much happier living there than here, and a more effective employee besides.
This is by no means a letter of resignation. [the folks here at work] really [do] care, and [have] treated me very well over the years and I wish to continue working for them, and you. The proposition is that you allow me to continue my current role (or others), from the Philadelphia office (or my futuristic Philadelphia residence). Of course, we’d require further face-to-face discussion on orchestrating this move if you believe it feasible.
So how about thinking about it and let me know when you’re ready to talk. I believe that this is quite possible with the level of technology employed here at [work], and would demonstrate that telecommuting is not only possible, practical, and desirable, but also an extremely effective and manageable way to “get the job done.”
As usual, thanks much for listening.