My comment and alternate implementation: http://franklinchen.com/blog/2013/02/15/why-flatten-a-tree-when-you-can-just-traverse-it/

I have a very short commute (less than 10 minutes each way if I drive; 20 minutes if I run), and deliberately so. It is unimaginable to me to lose time from a long commute (and the emotional and mental stress is even worse, not to speak of inhaling poor air and being physically inactive). Obviously, there are huge trade-offs involved, but my priorities are clear and I don't complain about the down sides of living in the city very close to work. Everyone has to make their own choices. The problem is that I think a lot of people are deluding themselves about how tolerable a long commute actually is.