Power to you but I absolutely hate open offices. They’re often loud and it’s easy to get distracted by random conversations.

I know people fantasize about these “random conversations” leading to innovations from overhearing, but that hasn’t been my experience at all; instead because it’s so distracting a lot of people would just wear headphones all day.

I would so prefer an office. Ideally something that allows me to play music at a reasonable volume without headphones, use my mechanical keyboard, and have my own desk that I am not neighboring up against someone.

As it stands I work from home so I actually have that, which is why I am dreading the eventual RTO. If I could get my own dedicated office at a company, I think I would have way less desire to WFH.

You love noise, interruptions, and a lack of privacy?

I like being able to work at the office because then I don't have to pay for electricity and internet, although commuting is bad for my ecological footprint.

I will never support forcing RTO on people who prefer WFH, nor the opposite (unless dire circumstances mandate it, like a pandemic or other natural disaster).

I can tolerate open offices, but prefer plans with private spaces which make it easier to go into and maintain full focus mode.

I've never done pair programming, but I imagine I would like it, if me and my colleague use my computer (set up how I like it, Dvorak layout and everything) for my part of the programming and we switch to my colleague's computer when it's their turn.