For me it's always been the opposite: Stuck with so many people around, always talking, always things going on and draining me. No way to focus.

Remote work was a godsend. I started working remote in 2015 and never looked back.

I'm right in the middle.

By the end of the COVID lockdowns, I was ready to RTO, at least as least hybrid. Just to get out of the house and see people other than my wife and dog during the work week.

But, half of my team (plus my direct boss) is remote and couldn't come in even if they wanted. So, all meetings are still on Zoom. But, at least for the half who are here, I can get some water-cooler gossip and face-to-face 1-on-1s.