I also see a value in being in the office and meeting the colleagues face to face. But I also like to have more free time and choose my neighborhood based on my

I also see a value in being in the office and meeting the colleagues face to face. But I also like to have more free time and choose my neighborhood based on my own preferences and not based on where my work is. I totally okay with traveling even longer distances for occasional meetings if I can otherwise be flexible and choose on my own. I hate the "being forced to come to the office" aspect. For me there is a high chance that I might switch companies after the pandemic to retain the gained freedom I now have. Albeit "gained freedom" might be a bit much. Since I currently have to assume that it's "back to the office" again after the pandemic, I'm not yet as free as I could be with a true remote job.