Thanks very much for the support.

One good thing is that our project managers understand that some people will not want to make the move, and they've already said they will try to find other projects for them to transfer to. (No guarantees, but they'll try.)

I'm willing to give it a try. Google maps says it is a 20-minute drive from my home to the new place with no traffic. During rush hour their estimate is around 40 minutes. This is not my ideal but ~45 minutes is my upper limit for an acceptable commute. The big issue will be the days when a traffic incident completely shuts down one of the major roads in the area, because this tends to stop traffic everywhere. And bad weather will also affect my commute more than it does now. (BTW driving is my best option; mass transit would take an hour each way before adding in frequent Metro screw-ups, and cycling is not a good choice due to the distance. Plus I'm not a big fan of cycling in bad weather.)

I've also found a small park with restroom facilities near my current office, and I think it might do as a new starting point for my weekly bike rides. Of course I could also look for different routes, but I kinda like the route I use now. It has enough hills to give me a good workout and has plenty of options for shortcuts or adding extra bits depending on the weather and how far I feel like riding. Since I will have to drive ~45 minutes to get to the start, I will probably be starting a bit later and riding more after dark, so I will get a better headlight.

I'm going to test drive the route to the new facility this weekend. Google maps shows a grocery store nearby, which is a plus, and also a Home Depot (because there's ALWAYS a Home Depot nearby, no matter where you go around here. Just when you think you know where they're all located, you discover a new one.) I don't actually need to shop at hardware stores all that often, but most HDs sell things like cleaning supplies and closet organizers and stuff like that, so I might be able to make use of it by picking up stuff there that I would normally get at a more general big-box store like Target.

It will be interesting to see who stays with the project and who decides to quit rather than move. I work with some good people. If the really good ones stay, it will make me more willing to stay. And those who leave will become leads for new jobs if I decide I'm just not happy with the new setup.

One advantage I have over some of my coworkers is that I know the roads in the DC area pretty darn well. I actually lived in DC when I first moved here, in two different neighborhoods; I've cycled through other parts of the city; I serve as tour guide for my parents when they visit every year; and I drive all over the place to get to bike rides so I know the highways well. And I'm not afraid to drive in the city. I may not enjoy it but I don't fear it.

Anyway. We'll probably have to vacate our current office in about a month, but the new office space needs some work and will probably not be ready right away. I think I will be working from home for a month, maybe longer. So I have time to prepare.