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Nope. I'm lucky in that I have dedicated home office (ie. bedroom that we don't need for a bed), but I absolutely don't get sick of it. It's much better than ev

Nope. I'm lucky in that I have dedicated home office (ie. bedroom that we don't need for a bed), but I absolutely don't get sick of it. It's much better than even the dedicated offices with a door I've had at some previous jobs. It's comfortable, private, has a window, its climate is controlled by me, it's decorated the way I want (in my case filled with retro computers, my electronics workbench, artwork on the walls, etc). And when I get stuck, or have a hard time focusing, I can get up, go talk to my wife or son, play with my dog, lay on the couch for a bit, go for a walk, etc. Heck, even the 4 walls are painted colors I chose! I've worked from this room for the past ~9 years, since we've lived in this house, and won't complain at all if I work here for 9 or 39 more.

CamperBob2 4y ago
I could've written your post myself. Every time I see an article about how Apple or some other company is planning to wind down their work-at-home policies and mandate office attendance, I'm tempted to stand up from my desk or workbench, walk over to my window, open it, and simply experience ten or fifteen seconds of fresh air in a peaceful, wooded neighborhood setting. Maybe once or twice a week, I do just that. It's a basic exercise in gratitude. At those moments, I remind myself that the ability to work at home in a comfortable, quiet, well-equipped environment is an extraordinary privilege, one that I must never take for granted. My fellow engineers who have to drive, bike, or ride a bus to the Brobdingnagian toroidal panopticon in Cupertino are absolutely among the industry's elite. The best of the best, both respected and envied by their peers at other companies. Most years, the majority of them likely outearn me handily... as they should, because many of them are better at their jobs than I am at mine. I wouldn't trade places with any of them for ten times their salary, and I've told recruiters as much. I actually feel sorry for those poor souls. Commuting is for suckers and open office plans are for livestock. The progressive companies that will eventually outcompete companies like Apple for engineering talent have most likely already been started in other peoples' garages, spare bedrooms, and basements... where they'll remain.

CamperBob2 4y ago

I could've written your post myself. Every time I see an article about how Apple or some other company is planning to wind down their work-at-home policies and mandate office attendance, I'm tempted to stand up from my desk or workbench, walk over to my window, open it, and simply experience ten or fifteen seconds of fresh air in a peaceful, wooded neighborhood setting. Maybe once or twice a week, I do just that. It's a basic exercise in gratitude. At those moments, I remind myself that the ability to work at home in a comfortable, quiet, well-equipped environment is an extraordinary privilege, one that I must never take for granted. My fellow engineers who have to drive, bike, or ride a bus to the Brobdingnagian toroidal panopticon in Cupertino are absolutely among the industry's elite. The best of the best, both respected and envied by their peers at other companies. Most years, the majority of them likely outearn me handily... as they should, because many of them are better at their jobs than I am at mine. I wouldn't trade places with any of them for ten times their salary, and I've told recruiters as much. I actually feel sorry for those poor souls. Commuting is for suckers and open office plans are for livestock. The progressive companies that will eventually outcompete companies like Apple for engineering talent have most likely already been started in other peoples' garages, spare bedrooms, and basements... where they'll remain.