Do You Have A Dedicated Home Office or Work Space?

Long ago, before children, I had a dedicated home office.  For what, I don't really know because all I really did was pay bills in it.  I didn't work from home but for some reason I thought that it was just a necessity within a home.  Eventually the home office became home office/guest room and then upon the arrival of my third child there was no office.  Just an L shaped desk in my garage - covered with tons of files, papers and craft supplies.

I don't know why but I love an L shaped desk.  Mine was a beauty too.  It was beat up a bit but I think I loved it because it was a corner desk with hutch - and the hutch was removable so I could put on either side of the desk.  I think most of all I really like a lot of space to spread out when I work.  It brings me back to the days when I had a real day job, in an office, with other people.

Originally I moved to the garage because I was going to have the garage act as my home office.  Shortly thereafter I realized that all though this idea was great in theory it wasn't very realistic because I just couldn't find the time to get my blogging done and watch my kids at the same time.  So it became my bill paying desk once again and I was on the look out for a new desk that was small and would fit in the corner of my family room, in a teensy weensy spot.

The one I chose was very, very simple and luckily for me I found it on Craigslist for only $40.  It was a great desk but not my ideal.  My ideal tiny corner credenza desk had a hutch that had a place to store the printer and other things.  Unfortunately the one that I loved was one inch too big to fit into the space that I needed it to.  I must admit that my $40 CL find was pretty awesome and it did the job. I finally had a dedicated workspace that was adjacent to where the kids played.

My set up was perfect - while it lasted.  Shortly after its conception I found out we were moving.  We were forced to downsize when we moved because the homes available to rent in the town we now live in were all very tiny.  There weren't any large houses to choose from and because my husband was starting work immediately we didn't have time to sit around and wait for one.  Here is a picture of my beloved desk, all cleaned up, ready to go for its new owner. 

So when we moved I lost my office space completely.  Our garage was jam packed with the rest of our stuff that wouldn't fit in our new house so regrettably I had to sell my favorite L shaped desk.  My CL desk I kept but its completely dismantled and behind storage racks in the garage.  I am now reduced to blogging on my laptop in my bed on a laptop desk meant for college kids that are living in a dorm.  It's a far cry from the home office that I enjoyed so long ago.

I have boxes in the garage filled with items that belong in a home office yet I have no office.  I was trying to set up my dining room table, also in the garage, as a large executive type desk but that can only happen when we reorganize the garage.  So far I'm still waiting for that day to come.  Knowing my husband, hell may freeze over before it ever gets done.  So let's just say I'm not holding my breath that I will have a dedicated work space anytime soon.

Don't get me wrong, writing in bed can have its perks.  I get to watch my favorite shows, hang out with my pillow a lot and I am spending more time with my husband at night.  It still counts if he's snoring right?  But there are a few downsides to this too.  I have no where to keep my pens, paper, review items, etc...  Posts take forever to write because I have to watch tv too which is really distracting but super addictive.  Not to mention my butt and back are killing me, my posture is a wreck!  And I have to listen to my husband snoring.

Bottom line is that I need a home office.  It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  I love office stuff.  I have a kajillion calendars, post its, pens, etc... and no where to put them!  I could go nuts in an office store looking at all the cool stuff available to accessorize my home office.  I am counting down the days until I can have a dedicated home office once again.  A private WAHM space, a kid-free zone, a me time zone.

Do you have a home office?  Is it important to you that you have a dedicated space or can you just take your laptop anywhere an be happy?  Do you love office stuff?  Are you like me, where the thought of an Office Depot shopping spree gets you all excited?  Or maybe you think I'm nuts!