Commute With Me! Letter Writing Swap

This is a swap for all those commuters out there!

I came up with the idea for this swap during my long daily commute. I spend anywhere from 2.5 to 3 hours a day in my car. Depending on traffic, and time of year/day, it can take me anywhere from an hour to an hour-and-a-half to get to work every day. I live on one side of the Metro Area and work on the other. I’m always looking for new ways to pass the time and to entertain myself. I haven’t found any carpool buddies yet, so I have to be my own carpool pal. I do so wish I could craft and drive at the same time…..

This swap has two parts to it.

For the first part of this swap, you will be writing a letter to each your partners, minimum of two pages (typed or handwritten, your choice, but it must be legible), telling them all about your commute. And yes, you can send the same letter to both partners.

You’ll tell them your mode of transportation (car, carpool, bus, taxi cab, train, subway, bicycle, own two feet, etc.) and how long it takes you to get to and from work. You’ll also tell them about your route, what types of businesses you pass, the sights you see, the people you see, street names if you want. And if you ride a form of public transportation or are part of a carpool, tell us about the people you ride with, about the driver/operators/fellow passengers. If you drive by yourself, tell us about the inside of your vehicle or something. Whatever you think will really help your partner to see and feel your commute, almost like they’re right there with you. Sights, sounds, heck, even smells! Be as descriptive and detailed as you can!!

The second part of this swap will be to send your partner one small item to help make their commute a little more interesting or entertaining. Think small and simple, something that might fit in a 6x9inch mailer envelope (or smaller), lightweight, and less than $10 in value. This could be a mix CD of great driving music or an audio book, a car air freshener that your partner might like, a little toy or stuffed animal they could keep on their dashboard or in the back window, a decorative sticky note pad or small notebook and pen (for making notes about swaps while in rush hour), tea or other hot beverage mixes, a stress-ball, chocolate or other candies, anything little that might bring a smile to a weary commuter’s face! Be creative and check your partner’s profile for ideas of what they might like.

And hey, you don’t have to have a traditional commute to join this swap! Maybe you work from home, so your commute would be the trip you take from the bedroom to the kitchen to your desk in the morning (include getting family up and ready, food made, phone calls, walking the dog), whatever, be creative. Maybe you’re a stay-at-home parent or you just don’t work outside the home. You still have a daily commute I’ll bet (places you go everyday, or at least three times a week). Maybe it’s getting up and getting everyone ready for the day, then driving kids to school or taking your dog to the dogpark. Then you go on errands. Consider that your commute and tell us all about it!!

The Rules: This is basically a letter swap, but, because it does involve sending a small item as well, which could have a small monetary value, I’m going to have to require a rating of 4.5 or better, and no recent “no-sends� (in the past 4 months). If you have some older no-sends, I’ll be looking into them and will let you know.

This is an international swap

I am giving you plenty of time to sign up and then a couple of weeks to send. This way you have a chance to really observe your commute (something many of us may try not to do most days) so you’ll be able to write a more interesting and detailed letter. And also so you’ll have time to get together your small items for your partners.

Have fun swapping!