Tikkabik

So I spent the day Monday at a series of professional development courses given at one of our corporate offices in Framingham, Mass. The training was fun and useful, but I found it remarkable for an entirely different reason: In my five-plus years of employment, it's the first time I've ever had a reason to visit those offices.

IDG, in general, is a famously decentralized business. While each business unit must render unto Caesar what it is Caesar's and share the benefits of a shared corporate existence -- retirement plans, good medical insurance, a set of common standards and practices -- they are essentially run like fiefdoms, each with very unique cultures and personalities. (That was reinforced yesterday when I spent the day in the company of editorial folks from our IT-centric publications. The lone "Mac" guy stuck out like a sore thumb.)

Having said that, I'm at least familiar enough with our corporate HQ in San Francisco that I know how to get there and could help someone else find their way there. So finding myself outside one of the Speen Street buildings yesterday struck me as a slightly surreal moment.

I'm just as happy that this is the first time I've had to go in: I was up well before dawn to get there in time and had to drive two hours (mostly at speeds well above the limit) to get there. The idea of having a four-hour commute -- even occassionally -- leaves me cold. And my heart bleeds for my Bay Area coworkers who have commutes that long, or even longer, in some cases.

One thing about working from home: I've gotten really used to just walking down two flights of stairs to get to the office.

Plus, in my office, pants are always optional. Even for guests, if you're thinking about stopping by.