My current job has taught me the following mantra:
Work is something you do, not someplace you go.
I'm a Java developer. I work ... currently out of my basement. In the spring, it was out of my den, but then it got too damn hot up there once things started turning warm. So I retreated to a cooler location.
I am employed as a permanent full-time employee at my company. When we need to have meetings, we usually do it via [link|http://www.goteamspeak.com/|TeamSpeak]. This was after trying Skype and some other aborted VOIP software that didn't have a Linux client -- and therefore didn't fly with yours truly.
I started as a consultant with this company in February (2005.) For most weeks through mid-May, I was in the office (along with the rest of my teammates) about 2-3 times a week. April and May were when we were testing the different VOIP software choices. Once we got up on TeamSpeak, we stopped showing up at the office. We can talk real-time with each other using our microphones and speakers. We hold team meetings, and have even showed this software off to some of our clients. All are intrigued.
Since mid-May, I've been to the office exactly five times. Three times to interview potential cow-orkers. Once to help a new employee get started and all set up on his first day. And once for a company-wide meeting.
I'm sold on this concept.
Yes, you miss out on some of the information flow that happens when you live in a cube farm. Pair programming is rather impossible to do. However, our usage of VOIP software brings some of that information flow back to the table. The advantages, I feel, outweight the drawbacks.
The company is located in Naperville, Illinois. We just hired a second person who lives in Madrid. Spain. Someone just started last week who lives in Madison, WI. This business model greatly expands our potential pool of employees. I see little reason to have to "go to work" -- meaning travel to an office -- anymore.
[Edit: tyop]
