| Last week, I reported how writers, stay-at-home | | | | the odor starts to repel the postman, you might need |
| parents and online marketing geeks had chosen | | | | to take out the garbage (just in case there is a rare |
| careers as hermits: of work-from-home hermits | | | | check in the mail). Wear your pajamas to the curb, but |
| responded, confessing that they were wearing their | | | | I suggest replacing your slippers with shoes. |
| pajamas while reading my column. Fortunately very | | | | Snowshoes are recommended in Edmonton...except in |
| few sent me photos. Here are some of the questions | | | | July and August. Don't walk to the curb if you live on a |
| they asked:Q: Is it acceptable to wear pajamas at high | | | | houseboat.Q: I feel so alone. Is that normal?A: Get over |
| noon if Nobody sees me, or am I committing a fashion | | | | it. You are part of a glorious economic movement, |
| faux-pas.A: It is totally acceptable to wear pajamas at | | | | where people around the world choose to reject |
| high noon. You can even wear them at low noon. In | | | | antiquated social norms and barricade themselves in |
| fact, you can wear them all day long. The only | | | | their homes to make $53,976 in the first week of their |
| exception is in England you must not wear pajamas at | | | | new businesses. How could you feel lonely with so |
| tea time. Pajamas and tea don't mix. The combination | | | | much money?Q: Wow. I made only $3 in my first |
| can be lethal. (See the November 2002 report: | | | | week. I bet my husband $3 that I could stay in my |
| "Spontaneous combustion among British work-at-home | | | | home office for three straight days without coming out. |
| hermits.")Q: How should I handle "casual Fridays" in my | | | | I won the bet, but I was forced to shower.A: That's not |
| workplace?A: I have replaced casual Fridays with | | | | a question.Q: OK, what if I make only $3 a week?A: |
| "formal Thursdays". Every Thursday, I take my | | | | You might have to share your pajamas with |
| daughter to the play center, forcing me to shower, | | | | Nobody...until you can afford a second pair.Q: Is this |
| shave and don formal wear. Don't go overboard, | | | | really a growing trend?A: Yes. The International Institute |
| though. My three-piece suit includes jeans, t-shirt and | | | | of Social Isolation reports that by 2055, 95% of people |
| shoes.Q: But what if I never go out?A: Then stick to | | | | will be operating a home based business. The National |
| casual Fridays. Why not make Friday the day you | | | | Organization for Studying You (NOSY) reports that by |
| wash your pajamas? All Nobody will see is the back | | | | 2055, 95% of people will be sharing their pajamas with |
| of your chair, anyway.Q: What if FedEx Guy comes | | | | Nobody...until they can afford a second pair.Q: Wow. |
| to the door?A: Tell FedEx Guy it's casual Friday, and | | | | That's a lot of pajamas. What does this mean for the |
| ask him if he really wants to see how | | | | future.A: It means the pajama industry will become a |
| work-from-home hermits celebrate casual Fridays.Q: If | | | | major economic force.Q: Do you know any good |
| I work from home, do I still need a purse?A: Of course. | | | | pajama-based mutual funds I could invest in to take |
| Without a purse, what would you carry to the | | | | advantage of this trend?A: No, but how rich can you |
| bathroom? Make sure your purse matches your | | | | get investing $3 a week, anyway?That's it, everything |
| pajamas, though. You would not want Nobody to | | | | you wanted to know about fashion etiquette for the |
| catch you with a poorly coordinated wardrobe. | | | | work-from-home hermit. One more thing: if you provide |
| Personally, I don't have a purse, but that's just a guy | | | | feedback to this article on a casual Friday, please turn |
| thing.Q: What about taking out the garbage?A: When | | | | off your web cam. |