Keep one house as "base camp" while moving around to different cities for work?

Just curious how many of you have thought about the idea of holding on to a nice house as "base camp" (i.e. never selling it) while still moving around to different cities for jobs and renting cheap.

You might want to keep this house for many reasons:
1. You can't afford as nice or nicer house in most other cities where you could find jobs
2. You're emotionally or mentally invested in this house
3. The current value of the house is less than what you paid for it (or still paying).
4. Other reasons.

Sometimes I just feel I should make a permanent home somewhere where I could always return to if needed. I wouldn't move all my stuff again and again. If I found a better job in another city, I would just take what I needed from my permanent home and return back. Exactly what I said before -- a "base camp".