Severed

It sometimes amazes me how quickly momentous things can happen, even when little things still seem to take forever. Just a few hours ago I was officially severed from work. Originally it was supposed to happen tomorrow, but to keep the paperwork a little simpler (I was on a 4x10 schedule, so my schedule said I wasn't supposed to be in tomorrow) they moved it up to today. So, in the blink of an eye, I went from counting the days to counting the hours. Now, I'm at T+ hours, as they would say in rocket science land.

But, even though my last day has already happened, my going away lunch with my coworkers doesn't happen until Monday. I'll also still be around a few more days as I arrange the movers and the various service disconnects. Oh, and find a place to live once I get to Boston. The small things.

Paper Work

So the paperwork accepting my new job is officially in, my resignation is officially in, and I've been un-WARNed. Because more than 50 people were affected at work at the same time I was, the California WARN act went into action. Over a month ago I got a WARN notice saying that I had 60 days left and then if I hadn't found a new position I would be severed from the company. Well, they didn't say severed but a severance package is all about severing.

Anyway, because at one point during those 60 days I received a job offer from another group at work, that meant I was no longer eligible for severance. So I'm not going to get my seven weeks (one per year of service) plus two weeks on top of that. Instead I'll just get a last pay check with my accrued vacation cashed out. Actually that adds up to quite a bit since I have been a bit slack with taking time off. Also, I actually earned most of the vacation time at a much lower salary grade, so many of those hours I will be paid out at 40% more than I earned them.

I also got a hold of the moving service and started that rolling. Only a few more big things to take care of, and then all the little things.

Oh, I also ordered cards. Personal cards so I can give people my contact info without having to scribble an email address on the back of a receipt.

Resign

I find the double meaning of the word resign oddly fitting for my current situation. I have submitted a letter of resignation, and have resigned myself to the next phase of my life. Of course, saying I'm resigned to my fate is much more melodramatic than the situation actually merits.

I have been in California for nearly two years now. Actually, I believe tomorrow will be the two year anniversary of my time in California. I understand how some can find living in California an attractive proposition, just as I understood after living in Texas the appeal it had, neither place is for me.

So, I'm moving to Boston. Well, I'll be working in Cambridge but I plan to live in Boston. Much as when I was in college I went to school in Cambridge but lived in Boston. As my sister reminded me, those were the times in my life when I've been the happiest. I think it is the age of the city, and the youth of the people. Of course, I'm also the odd duck who enjoys cold windy weather.

Anyway, since I'm going to rather frantically accomplishing little things like canceling my cable, forwarding my mail and moving a few thousand miles, I thought I would start a blog to keep people who might care up to date on how the move is going.

Also, as a caveat, since this is being posted in the Public domain, I won't be posting updates such as my new address, except to say that I have found one. I hope that this will help reduce the amount of email forwarding as my news travels to friends and relatives.

-Peter