(This comment is from my point of view and is about me. It is not about you. It's OK if people are different! I am not trying to force you to feel how I do.)

Like the parent, I also really like my commute. It's 40 minutes, each way, on the bus. I also use it to read. There's a library right next to my office! I'm going there this afternoon before I grab the bus. It's great.

When I was forced to work from home in 2020, the commute was actually one of the things I missed the most. You're correct that I could have just spent 40 minutes reading each day at home. But I didn't! I looked at my phone or cleaned the house or started work early or something. Having the forced structure is what works for me, to enforce different "parts" of my day. I catch the bus at 7 AM. I read for the 40 minute ride. I get to work around 8. I catch the bus home at 4 PM. I'm home around 5. It works for me.

Working from home didn't, I felt lost and bored and frustrated and actually had some breakdowns near the end of it and ended up going back to the office before I was vaccinated, which was kind of scary but better than waking up crying. I don't know why that's the way I am, but it is.

(Thanks for reading this comment. This is a reminder that this comment was from my point of view and was about me. You may feel differently than I do! That's OK.)

And i fully respect that and i think your option to work on site should be granted. Also i appreciate you focusing on your preference and not seeking to fill in voids with other people. To be fair i do like reading and working from home allows me to do it more often. If there is a book i need i simply order it and have it delivered to my door - more time saved for reading. But that is what _i_ prefer and this debate should be focused around what individuals want and expect from all this without impacting others. Naturally all of this should be beneficial to employers as well because you know work is not charity. But an employer benefits from your being more productive at home or at the office then it should allow for whatever maximises their investment in you.

> this debate should be focused around what individuals want and expect from all this without impacting others

I don't see anyone in this thread doing otherwise.

I agree, this thread is more considerate than others. But some arguments for returning to office work imply having others return. In your case you have your own routine that doesn't rely on others changing theirs. But those who wish to return to onsite so they can socialise imply that everyone else needs to return. I mean who are they going to socialise with? Walls? Desks? Similarly those who can only convey their message to an audience thats in their immediate proximity imply that everyone else should return so they can sit and stare at whiteboards together.

Other people who also want to be in an office. My current WFH-friendly job has about 5 people who come in to the office most every day, and many others who drop in once a week or so.