I used to commute to and from work twice a week averaging about 50 miles. Now I ride 15 to 18 miles every morning averaging about 100 miles a week.
I do not think about the morning rides as fake commuting though. The extra riding is helping with the stress, and the morning is a lot more comfortable time to ride in Florida due to the cooler air temps.
The road traffic is less, but it appears that most drivers are going a lot faster. I see a lot more people out walking and biking while I ride through the neighborhoods. Drivers do seem to be more bike-friendly. The multi-use trails are packed with people walking, running and riding bikes. Most of the trail users are not used to sharing the path with others, so I no longer frequent bike paths.
Another new thing is that almost everyone now says hello!
Be safe!