PukeGreen
Active Member
Hmm. I'd rather have my coffee at home than at SBUX or Timmies. There's something I honestly don't understand about Sbux-types: how do you feel comfortable "working" online at sbux? And can you really accomplish much? Is there a certain amount of money you've got to spend per hour at sbux? Do they kick people out if say you spend 2 hours there and buy the cheapest coffee? All questions that have puzzled me for years and I look forward to the answers!
I work from home every day, with the exception of a few meetings each month. I do 99% of my work there. However, I have these moments where cabin fever sets in and I can't stand to spend one more minute in my rather small condo. If I have a lot of work to do and can't spare time for a real break, this is when I might bring my laptop to a nearby coffee shop (I prefer some neighbourhood independent places to a Starbucks, though) and do an hour or so of work. It gets me out of the house and gives me a chance to maybe have a quick chat with another human being and feel a part of society I actually tend to get a lot of work done on those occasional outings because I'm away from the distractions of home (dishes, laundry, guitar) and then I often come home with a clearer head and get even more done.
I've never seen anyone get kicked out of a coffee shop for lingering too long, though some do seem to abuse the wireless privileges. I'm always mindful of how long I've been there, and if many tables are full I won't stay as long. If I'm going to be 45 mins to an hour I usually buy a large sized latte and a snack of some sort and make sure to tip -- this can easily run $5-6 which I think is more than enough to justify an hour or so of peace at a quiet corner table. I know some coffee shop owners don't like the laptop campers, but others advertise their free wireless -- hey, business is business. People linger for a long time in conversation or with a book, too.
Personally, I think the habits of a few oblivious idiots who overstay for 3 hours on a 99 cent coffee and spread their work out over a table for 4 -- all while yammering loudly on a cell phone -- shouldn't be held against everyone else. I hate 'em too.