I suspect @
ScottCommutes is asking for commiseration or something. I can offer it. I lived in New Jersey for 26 years. I had to drive to work most of that time, unfortunately. I can relate to the sunrise and sunset problems. But I never wished I lived on Long Island. I developed the ability to see with an excess of sun in my eyes.
I live just below 14 St in Manhattan, and I commute by subway on some days and by bike the other days. No car, yahoo! Riding along the Hudson River, most days, I have a strong headwind in the morning. And very often, the wind shifts in the midday, and I have a mild headwind in the evening. I'm thin, and that means wind challenges me more than hefty riders (higher surface area to mass ratio). I asked a big friend of mine how he deals with strong winds on his commute, and he didn't even know what I was talking about. He complains about hills.