Given all the recent hoop and la over the idea of creating dedicated spaces for coworking, we are more than somewhat relieved to discover that there is another “movement” out there for people who are coworking anywhere - wherever they can find wifi. It demonstrates that the idea of coworking and the human need for access (virtual, social, and caffeinated) is greater than any so called movement. It is part of the natural evolution, away from the physical and social boundaries of the workplace, towards individual and collective freedom to work as we need to and want to.

The San Francisco Chronicle has been following the movement to create cafe-like community/collaboration spaces and has a cover story on the neo-nomads stalking out free wifi and power in San Francisco. Their article gives an overview of the culture of independents working out of cafes that lead to coworking.

The move toward mobile self employment is also part of what author Daniel Pink identified when he wrote “Free Agent Nation” in 2001.

“A whole infrastructure has emerged to help people work in this way,” Pink said. “Part of it includes places like Kinkos, Office Depot and Staples.” It also includes places like Starbucks and independent coffee shops, where Wi-Fi — wireless Internet access for laptops and other devices — is available.

“The infrastructure makes it possible for people to work where they want, when they want, how they want,” said Pink, who is based in Washington, D.C. Pink said numbers are hard to pin down, as the Census Bureau does not count independent workers. Using available census data and private surveys, Pink estimates that one-fifth of the workforce, or 30 million out of 150 million people, are working on their own”.