RuneScape works if I want to get into an argument. Oberin offers a nice mature environment, and Eternal Lands I’ve tried a little. Second Life I tried and ditched in disgust at the game atmosphere. All of them are free at least for part of the game; Oberin is entirely free and has the “worst” graphics.

My favorite is Oberin, but it’s Mac-only. Eternal Lands is probably my second favorite for a more mature atmosphere. RuneScape tends to have a lot of kids, so it can be a trial to play.

And of course, this blog. I like reading your readers’ comments.

I need a lot of solitude anyway, so this suits me perfectly!

I do the coffee shop thing because at least there is the sense of being a part of something. I also see friends at night and keep in regular phone contact with them.

There is always so much to do at home, what with a busy working day; housework, and cooking… really, I never get bored or lonely.

Weekends and evenings I can pop out and visit, also friends are only a telephone or email away… so there are several communication outlets.

Working from home is a real blessing for me.

Whenever I take a break I may return a call, or just call one of my sisters or brothers for a chat.

Workplace dynamics and politics is not something I enjoy.

One unexpected side effect was my tolerance for bull**** has gone waaaaay down. When you have forced social interactions at work, I think you need to allow for a certain amount of silliness to enter your life. Now that the vast majority of my social interaction is on my own terms, I’ve found myself pickier about the people I choose to see.

For seven years I worked in advertising, and when I’d come home after eight or ten hours of managing clients and navigating the intraoffice politics (which I was very bad at), I had no desire to do anything that required being around people, which was hard on and unfair to my husband. Now, when he wants to go out to dinner or go to the movies or when we have family functions, I’m up for it. Even though it’s only been nine months and was a little hairy at the start, he is glad that I made the leap into doing something that I love, that I am having success, and that our lives are better for it. (Apparently I was a bit “unpleasant” toward the end of my time in advertising. Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.)

Still, I do feel a little claustrophobic in the house. So I schedule to work at a coffee shop at least one morning a week.

I have several good friends from the old office job, and they take care of me. I meet my two best friends separately for lunch once a month, and then one weekend we have the “girls’ night,” when we can gossip and such. It’s actually been great because I can bring new stories to the table instead of all three of us rehashing the events at the office, which we had probably complained about upteentimes during the week. Former clients and vendors who are local invite me to the impromptu gatherings for happy hour or lunch, and I’m glad to go. It’s no longer a chore. And I’m building business contacts.

I also have three or four solid on-line comrades. Among us there is an understanding that should any of us need to vent or gab, just hit that IM.

The only thing I do miss is dressing up. Where am I supposed to wear my excellent 3 1/2-inch heels now and what is my excuse to keep buying them?

Kidding! Just kidding!

I drink far too much coffee because I like to spend at least part of the day in a bizzy place full of noise. I get my kids at 4-ish every day, so that breaks it up. There can be issues related to being alone, but nothing serious.

I wouldn’t trade back the freedom I have freelancing for the corporate life. I don’t think I’d adjust well if I was forced to go back. It’s only been three years, but looking back, I don’t know how I ever survived that life.

I don’t miss the politics, the drama, or the STRESS. I don’t miss having to take a ten minute elevator ride to have a cigarette. I don’t miss listening to lawyers who make several hundred thousand dollars per year complain that their holiday bonuses weren’t big enough. I don’t miss trying to keep myself awake during the late-night hour-long train rides home. I don’t miss carrying a blackberry with me to the bathroom.

There are a few people I do miss, and it took me a year or so to adjust to not starting my day with a Starbucks coffee. But I’ve learned to keep in touch by email. And I’ve learned Starbucks sells bagged coffee at the grocery store. So it’s all good.

My kids are teens now, so they basically look for my credit card. Enjoy them while they’re young. I coached my oldest for several years.

For adult/business company, try getting involved with writers groups, chambers or local small business organizations. I’m very involved with a local Enterprenuership program run by a local university, but that opportunity isn’t available to everyone.

I also go to business conferences once in a while.

- Deb

Of all the challenges of working from home, loneliness has been my greatest. I am really social and when I was in the office I worked as a Travel Consultant for 6 years. It was a great job socially! (Office politics were horrendous…)

I still haven’t exactly worked out the loneliness of being a Freelancer at home and it’s been years. Last fall I was going to go work at Starbucks for 5 hours a week just to get a dose of socializing.(I opted out of that one!)

No one I know nearby works from home. Can you believe it? I love working from home and wouldn’t want to change it, I’m not lonely every day, but it certainly is a feeling that I’m familiar with. – Lesli

At first, since I never wrote for anyone before, I was quick to take the $2.00 an article jobs. I knew that I could not jump into the pot with both feet, so I had to take is slow and steady. Now, I am making far much more money than that, and have tapped into a niche that I never knew I had. I am also creating a website for my own writing services – a task that is long overdue!

Working from home has truly been a life saver for me! As a fellow freelancer, you already know that you can esentially create your own working hours, and can work in your own comfortable environment. I do believe that a happy writer makes for a happy outcome with the work!

Thank you so much, Deb, for giving us this wonderful blog! I can only hope that our futures will be even more fruitful than our past!

Working at home actually is better than anything I could ask for. The only downside is occasionally staying up late when deadlines loom.

I’m very fortunate that my husband’s company lets him work from home so although we have separate offices, he’s always here. And my youngest is about to start half day kindergarten, so I’ve always had at least one kid around most of the day since I started writing, and with summer, both boys are around all the time!

I look forward to the day when things are so quiet around the house I feel the need to pack up and go work at a coffee house.

I also have many colleagues and former colleagues on Twitter and iChat; I can check in on them if I need a quick chat.