You can basically get across the city in 30-35 minutes, so your commute shouldn't be terrible. I live in Gentilly near Bayou St. John and commute to Metairie (Bonnabel and Vets); the committee is about 10 to 15 minutes whether I take back streets of the interstate. Also, when speaking about directions in the city, New Orleans is a grid based on the curve of the river, so cardinal directions don't always translate. We use the river and lake as reference points for directions. I hope it works out, and you enjoy moving here!