This is exactly where I am at now. I live in Canada and where I am at the local market of companies is just pathetic. I generally receive recruter emails from companies in my city offering a 25-50% of what I am making at a smaller shop remotely.
I miss being in an office and having a connection to the people I work with, but I also refuse to compromise my salary, time, ergonomic home office, and flexibility to get this connection.
Where abouts are you, if you don't mind me asking? (You don't have to answer).
I'm rural just right outside Hamilton. The local market in Oakville/Burlington is sad. And right now it's not worth the commute into Toronto (used to live there).
I was getting excellent comp at Google Waterloo, but the drive was killing my body, and my soul was dead.
I miss being in an office and having a connection to the people I work with, but I also refuse to compromise my salary, time, ergonomic home office, and flexibility to get this connection.