Everyone's very fussy about the chair they use at work: after all, you spend a lot of hours sitting in it, and you want it to be just right. Amy Joyce, in today's Washington Post, relates, and writes about how devastating loss of one's chair can be. From her article:

"You spend eight hours a day in your chair. It's like a security blanket," said Denise Miller.

"I know a guy who changed five jobs within the company and took his chair with him, state to state," said Ken Tamelig, group leader for seating at Steelcase.

...Workers need something contoured to fit them and their office aches and pains. And, as many of us know, it's hard to find that perfect fit. Hence, our fanatacism.

One of my co-workers recently mentioned that she wanted to work in another Washington Post bureau, not for any sort of career development, but rather because "They have great chairs there!"

I remain confounded by how off the road to true sitting bliss most people are: since I began using a Swiss Ball for an office chair many years ago (cost then: $22; cost today: $27), I have been the happiest of campers.

These balls are recommended by physical therapists for those with back or neck problems, and were used in Europe for decades (hence the name) before making their way to the U.S., where they remain in gyms and spas for directed exercise.

Heck, why wait until you have a problem? Get one today and sit pretty. The advantages:

Low cost
No one will steal or borrow it
It's comfortable as all get out
The constant small movements you make to sit on it keep your back muscles active and strong
If you get in a really good mood, you can bounce up and down on it

So what're you waiting for? I'd recommend this one.