I like to have separation between my living, working, and social spaces.
When I was in college, I didn't like I living in the dorms because I felt like I was always at school. So, I moved a few blocks away into the college neighborhood. That feeling didn't really go away. I moved a few miles away and the 20 minute bus ride to and from school gave me the separation I was looking for.
I now live about 5 miles from work and 7 miles from where most of my friends live and socialize. A lot of people think it's weird, but its a heck of a lot cheaper and I have the separation that I desire. The 15 minute drive to and from work and social stuff is great.
Most people I know would rather live/work/socialize in the same area. They also prefer to have smaller, minimal houses. I have a bigger house than I really need because I like to have separate spaces for separate activities/mindsets. For example, I have two office-type rooms. One is a more minimal room where I browse the internet, program, and play games. I keep this room clean so I can easily focus my mind without distractions. The other room is where I work on electronics and other projects. It's very messy as I leave tools and in-progress projects laying around.