Where do you work?

"So, you new to Collingwood?"

"Yup. I just moved here in January"

"Cool. Where do you work?"

I have this conversation a lot. People like to know where you work, it helps them understand who you are.

I usually respond with the standard "I have a home office" because it's an answer that requires little explanation and it makes people comfortable. I have tried "anywhere I have a computer, an internet connection, and the right creative environment" but this only leads to a questioning look because they aren't really asking where I work, they are asking, "Who are you?". We assume a lot about a person based on their career choice.

The thing is, in my opinion "where do you work?" is often an interesting question. This morning I'm sitting at my dining room table with a cup of coffee, my wife and two boys are running around doing their usual routine and I'm just part of the scenery. Other than a brief complaint that I'm using the laptop, and therefore interrupting Ane's morning email, I'm hardly noticed. Later I might head downstairs to my office. Tomorrow I could work at Ian's home office or head over to StarBucks.

With OpenEdit I don't need any software. I'm not tied to a specific machine. I just need the internet, a browser, and the right work environment. The latter being very important and also very personal. There aren't many people that would thrive with the level of distraction that surrounds me at the moment. And yet it not only works for me, I've long since accepted the fact that for me quiet places are only good for one thing, sleep.

I need stimulation. Music, coffee, kids, coffee shop chatter, fresh air, or whatever else I can find to get me focused.

So, where do you work?