We have a 2 1/2 year old mix about 17lbs. We have had him since he was 6 weeks old and he was crated for the first 2 years. He is now out all day with free roam of the house. We are teachers and often gone for 9-10 hours, but he has never had a problem holding it this long before. We also take him to daycare twice a week so he gets out with other dogs and for excersize. Recently, when we come home we have been finding that he has been peeing in the same spot right by our bathroom door/wall. It is just a little bit, but noticeable and always in the same spot. It doesn't seem like enough to show that he couldn't hold it, but we are not sure why this has suddenly started happening. Is he mad that we are gone?

I would get his urine checked out for something like an infection.

2 1/2 years is about when a male tries to assert himself. It's worse when he hasn't been fixed. Since he goes to daycare I assume he has. It sounds like he's marking his territory right where he smells other males, i.e. the bathroom.

Edit: by other males I do mean human males

I would definitely want to rule out infection, but as Catsmine said this is about the time where they are reaching adult hood. So he could be asserting his dominence. You can always try crating again, is anyone able to get home on lunches to let him out, or is there a time in the day where you could sneak out for 1/2 hour? Like free periods?
A lot of people say that animals don't feel the emotion spite... I am torn on that debate.
So if I were you, I would begin to crate again, as long as someone could come home to break up the time he is spent in the cage. (as long aS he comes home with a clean bill of health)