I'm in my mid-30s. I have been working remotely for 3 years now, after switching employers (so I have never worked with my coworkers in-person).

Remote work is grand. I am a fundamentally anxious person with so much less to be anxious about, having no real interactions with people at work.

I'm also not a social person. I have my husband (we met during grad school), but I have no friends and my family is not very close. I'm not just saying that - I think I have talked to my parents fewer than 4 times in the last 5 years. Nobody texts and I don't reach out either. My adolescence was kind of messed up due to some family conflicts and I didn't build any strong connections then and now I'm older and I just don't know how.

I'm realizing that although I don't have many close relationships in my life, I sorta miss having work acquaintances, because I don't have much social need but I do have some, and although I can't make deep friendships some easy work exchanges help me feel less alone in the world. I also am feeling like every day is exactly the same at home and I am getting scared at how the last few years have flown by and I haven't grown or changed at all. I am really confused about all of this though. I don't want to give up remote work because it has been glorious not feeling stressed all the time, but I also am getting really depressed, like my routine is comfortable but also a trap.

I would have to change jobs if I wanted to be hybrid/ in-person. I'm afraid a hybrid employer would force me to come in certain days and there would always be the fear of more and more in-person days being required. The jobs in my field are all probably a 1 hour commute away too so I might even have to consider us moving to be closer. It's a lot to consider and I don't know what to do about it.

I want to hear what you think. What is your work arrangement like and how does it work/not work for you? Can anyone relate to my struggles here?