NextSpace (along with Cruzio) has a space in Santa Cruz. I've spent time at the Hacker Dojo awhile back (before their troubles w/ the City of Mtn View). At the time, it was a little more ... organic that NextSpace and a couple of others I've been to. That said, it is member run as opposed to NextSpace which is commercially run.

I prefer working at home myself, and know when I am being less productive and just need to take a short break. That is hard to do in an office environment (if one is a full time employee), but still possible in a less formal co-working environment. Thankfully, when I need to be productive, I can focus and get things done -- despite my cat wanting to play :)

Thanks for the term. It looks like there is one nearby, in Ann Arbor, MI. http://workantile.com/

There's quite a bit.

There's C3 in Cambridge http://www.cambridgecoworking.com/ WorkBar downtown Boston & Cambridge http://workbar.com/

Hangout places & coffee shops include Diesel Cafe, Voltage Coffee, The Venture Cafe, Microsoft NERD etc.