Salvation, suburbs, and a warning for recent law-school grads

In Sunday's Washington Post, these two very interesting pieces appeared:  First, this article, "Driven to Extremes," about the increasing number of people in the D.C. area who are commuting more than four hours a day -- drawn by "cheaper housing and better pay", but "at what price?"; and this one, "Breaking Free of Suburbia's Stranglehold," about some families who have "simplif[ied] [their] [l]ifestyles in [q]uest for [m]eaning [t]hat [c]onstant [h]ustle [o]bscured."

Together, these articles offer some needed caution to our new law-school graduates.  Sure, many of these talented and blessed late-20-somethings will go live in hip urban neighborhoods in lively and interesting cities (and bill several hundred hours each month), and so will not -- at least, not yet -- face the kind of trade-offs and challenges described in these articles.  But, before too long, many (most?) will.  My advice?  Start thinking now about cultivating a life that is not going to put you on a trajectory toward four-hour commutes, strained marriages, drive-by parenting, and a dis-integrated life.