Out of Office Experience

always use this address: https://mail.google.com. It'll make checking your email more secure. Without this extra layer of protection your emails can easily be intercepted and read by wifi snoops.

Lastly, go into your account settings. Under General > Browser Connection click on the "Always use https."

For more info check out Why You Should Turn Gmail’s SSL Feature On Now and Gmail HTTPS Doesn't Protect Account, New Setting Does.

Update
Be sure to check out Wired's Wiki on how to secure Gmail, Yahoo Mail and Hotmail.

In a place that offers free wifi, let's say a cafe or burger joint, where do people with laptops flock to the most? You'll find that they sit themselves at a table near an electrical socket.

If you're lucky enough to be at such a spot but unlucky enough that you find that both sockets are taken, what do you do? Wait for the other guy to finish charging his laptop? Wait for him to leave?

What if you had an extension cord with more than 1 socket with you? Now you can both share and everyone will be happy.