Kaitlin Jorgenson has found happiness in a unique work situation that involves commuting 544 miles by plane to her job at a salon in New York City every other week from her home in Charlotte, North Carolina. The decision to move to Charlotte came after her landlord raised her rent, prompting her to seek a more affordable and nature-centric lifestyle. Although Jorgenson was ready to leave New York, she didn’t want to give up her established career as a hairstylist, so she decided on a supercommuting arrangement to maintain her clientele.
Jorgenson’s supercommute involves taking a bi-weekly round-trip flight from Charlotte to New York, incurring costs of about $1,000 a month. Comparatively, living and working in Manhattan would have cost her at least $4,000 each month, making her decision to commute financially beneficial. By making the move to Charlotte and continuing to commute to New York, Jorgenson has been able to save at least $2,000 each month, which allows her to maintain a comfortable lifestyle while pursuing her career goals.
While some may view supercommuting as an extreme measure, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic when more people have left major cities in favor of remote work, Jorgenson sees it as a strategic solution for professionals who desire the opportunities of a big city but prefer a more affordable living situation. Supercommuting offers a way for individuals to balance career aspirations with a desire for a better quality of life, exemplified by Jorgenson’s decision to leave New York in search of a more fulfilling lifestyle in Charlotte.
Jorgenson’s daily routine as a supercommuter involves boarding an early morning flight on Wednesdays to New York, working a full day at the salon, and returning to Charlotte on the weekends. She is able to cover her commuting costs for the month after just one day of work in New York, demonstrating the financial feasibility of her supercommuting arrangement. In her free time, Jorgenson works part-time at a salon in Charlotte, enjoys hobbies such as surfing and pottery classes, and values the healthier work-life balance that her supercommute provides.
Despite the challenges that can come with supercommuting, such as flight delays or cancellations, Jorgenson remains committed to her arrangement and plans to continue it for the foreseeable future. She appreciates the separation between her work in New York and her personal life in Charlotte, which has contributed to her feeling happier than ever. Ultimately, Jorgenson’s experience showcases the potential benefits of supercommuting for individuals seeking a balance between career advancement and personal fulfillment, demonstrating that unconventional work arrangements can lead to greater satisfaction and well-being.
