Since late 2004 I have been lucky enough to have either worked from home or at an office no farther than a block or two away from my house.

I can't stress enough how much time you will reclaim by not having to commute and the money is only the half of it. I have a relative who travels nearly an hour and a half each way to work. That works out to something like 30 calendar days EVERY YEAR.

No work-situation is worth losing a month a year to. We don't live very long - wouldn't you rather spend that time on something else?