Working in Bavaria while living in Berlin

I've been thinking about doing this ever since I talked to someone at my job that does the same. This guy rents a modest little room down here in Parsberg, Oberpfalz during the week, and Friday around 2pm he gets off and goes home... to Berlin. At first I thought he was nuts! Surely Berlin is like... in a different country and stuff. Seems that way on the map But this guy loves it. Has the best time every weekend, and gets the best of both worlds... Bavarian charm during the week, and wild crazy Berlin nightlife during the weekend. And, since he's so close to work, there's barely a commute. He can come in early and stay late during the week. I'm starting to see things from his side.

Obviously I'm single, and young I've got a decent job with nice benefits (I work on a military base -- cheap gas, cheap food, cheap medical/dental, lots of Ami friends) so I don't wanna lose that. The thing is, after work I don't really do a lot during the week. I work normal hours, then I go home and cook dinner. I may occasionally go out to eat with work friends after work, but during the week I'm pretty much home after work and I don't feel like going out. I'm still new here so I don't have the benefit of having lots of friends to pull me out of the house. The weekends are when I'm out and about. In fact, come Friday I'm busting with joy thinking about what adventure I can get myself into. The 40 minutes I drive back home doesn't seem worth it. Why waste all this road time just to go to Regensburg when I can just go right to Berlin straight from work. I'd be home by 9pm every Friday. Or I could just park at the bahn station and take the train back home. Screw that Friday afternoon Berlin traffic Monday mornings might be brutal. Hmm

When I ask myself "am I maximizing my time in Germany" I can't say yes. Am I enjoying Germany to it's fullest living in Regensburg? Hmm... I mean Regensburg is nice and comfortable, and there are lots of young people here to get to know, but I find myself constantly looking outward for a good time (Berlin, Munich, Prague, etc). Plus 5 months ago I was living in Tokyo, the biggest city in the world, and I kinda miss that "big city" action. I know this is really stupid and spontaneous but I've been thinking about this for a month now. How much work it'll be and what the cost'll be.

I can get out of my apartment contract anytime i want, I haven't bought any big furniture yet (no couch, no tables, etc), and I haven't started any serious relationships yet in Regensburg. I've got family coming next month, so I'm thinking this August would be the best time.

In you guys's opinion, you Berliners out there, is Berlin "worth it?" Do you think I should just stay down in Oberpfalz and try to find fun here or is move somewhere in Mitte and live it up?

If it's something you want to try then just go for it. If it doesn't work out you can always switch back. I recently heard of a guy working in Dublin as a teacher, I think it is, and commuting each and every weekend to Berlin.

My wife was a weekend commuter for 3 years - 1 year to Cologne and 2 years to Hanover - while I stayed in Berlin. She didn't like it much - always worried that she was going to miss her train/flight on Friday evenings and Monday mornings.

But don't take my word for it, do a trial run and see how you like it.

Hey - you're young, you've got the stamina, WTF, go for it As the buggers said already you can always switch back if it gets too bad...

Get an account in Couch Surfing and find a place to stay for the weekend, repeat this for many weeks until you are tired or you really want to "move" to Berlin.

PS. I could take you for a weekend.

No harm in trying it. A lot of people in Germany do it - work during the week where the jobs are and then go home somewhere else for weekend.

I've done it in Europe (and UK) in the past. In hindsight, the bit that can suffer though is friendships and personal relationship - they can suffer a bit if you are doing this 2/5 thing, half the time you aren't there when your mates do stuff, or you find a nice potential partner who you can then only see part of the time. On the other hand, that may be good if you want the "footloose and fancy free" life! And the "oh, I'll get two small cheap places" may sound good in cost terms but can wane too...you may decide you want a "nicer" home life.

EDIT - Also (reminded by Deccie) remember that a lot of people doing the two home thing are actually only paying one set of costs (ie. the employer picks up the "away" travel and hotel and food and living costs). Financially, the costs can still stack up if you are picking up both sets, even if doing it "on the cheap". Don't mistake yourself for that other group, as you won't be the same!

You would not be the first. I know many folk you commute to Berlin forthe weeekend due to work from Cologne, Munich and Amsterdam. I cannot say I recommend the Amsterdamm as iti s a 6 hour drive. The others travel with Bahn or plane.