Na na na na...
Hey hey hey...
Goodbye!
Today was my last real day at work.
I am freeeee! :D
But it also feels odd... bittersweet. I don't think it's really sunk in yet.
Overall, the situation has worked out even better than I imagined. I'll be on paid vacation for the next two weeks. Then I'll begin working part-time at home. I'll have an income stream but no stress or commute or being stuck in an office for 9 hours a day. Perfect!
I had hoped to slip out quietly -- I'm uncomfortable being the center of attention -- but I wasn't entirely successful. The Board of Directors happened to be meeting yesterday, and they called me in to express their appreciation. Today, several of my coworkers took me to lunch. This preempted another group of coworkers, who say they'll take me to lunch sometime in the future. I received cards signed by many people, and several stopped by to say "good luck" and "see you later." It was nice to hear all the positive comments from everyone. :)
The lunch was amusing. I can count on my fingers the number of times in the past 4.5 years that I've gone to lunch with a coworker. Then when I'm leaving, suddenly everybody wants to take me to lunch. ;)
The lunch group consisted of five mothers and two women who want to have children relatively soon. They spent pretty much the entire time talking about pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood -- topics that don't pertain to me in the slightest. So I sat there eating my food, saying nothing, inwardly amused at the fact that I don't fit in even at my own lunch.
Wow, childbirth conversations over lunch? Sounds a little stomach-turning! I wouldn't have found that a fun conversation either! Hopefully in the future you will be able to work with people you have more in common with!
ReplyDeleteI'm not squeamish -- I've even helped deliver puppies and kids (baby goats) -- but I'd rather not hear about childbirth over lunch. :P
DeleteAnd did they even notice how quiet you were? :D
ReplyDeleteNope! I even started reading one of the books they'd given me as a gift, and no one noticed.
DeleteAt least you know the reason to why you guys haven't had lunch together in all those years before :)
ReplyDeleteSometimes it would sting when everyone around me would go to lunch together without inviting me, but now I think I'm glad they never invited me.
DeleteHow exciting, about the starting a new career path, not the birthing conversations. ACK! My friends are starting to have/have children and when we get together that's all they talk about. I like kids, just not for me!
ReplyDelete30-something women who aren't interested in motherhood are definitely in the small minority. And it can be hard to find a polite way out of the baby conversations. At least in this case they were simply ignoring me. ;)
DeleteI keep hoping all my friends will regain their non-kid-based interests in 18 years or so... then we'll have something to talk about again.
DeleteI'm really happy that you've been able to leave your job, have a holiday and then start working from home. No stress or inconsiderate colleagues! It sounds like they are all suffering from baby brain! I can't believe that they didn't notice you weren't talking and try to change the subject to include you.
ReplyDeleteI thought someone would notice, but 15 minutes went by... then 30... then 45... with no break in their conversation. I never knew that cloth diapers and morning sickness could be such enthralling topics.
DeleteYay Bane! what a great outcome!
ReplyDeleteYay indeed! :D It has worked out brilliantly.
DeleteCongratulations on obtaining your sweet, sweet freedom. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI'm a 30-something childless woman, who works in an office and has a mowhawk, so I feel your pain! I hope someday I can make art my full-time gig. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI never really fit in with my peers, but the gap grew significantly when I reached my 30s. What matters to me is that I'm where I want to be. :) Thanks!
DeleteI do have children but I think it's a boring subject to talk about specially when there is so much other interesting things. I talk about children with those friend who wants to talk about it. I think their behaviour was rude, but women in that state in their life can be a little narrowminded ;).
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you could take that step to quit work. Your descision is so inspiring. My boss is a nasty control freak, but as he has been away travelling at work it didn't bother me much until now, when hes back. I don't have another job yet....
My last two bosses were on the opposite end of the scale, leaving me adrift with no guidance whatsoever. Asking questions didn't help at all. One would invent an answer to avoid admitting he didn't know everything. The other would give me inconsistent answers - telling me on Monday to use method A, then telling me on Tuesday that method A was wrong. There are a staggering number of bad managers in the workplace. :P
DeleteI hope your work situation improves soon.
Wow that's a really big step, that's really inspiring-- I mean it!
ReplyDeleteI gave off a little chuckle at the end there... that's an awkward situation that is all too familiar hehe.
I suppose I could have been irritated, but I'm so used to being the odd duck that I just found the situation funny. :)
DeleteHa - this sounds like every office lunch I've ever been to. :) I always dread them. Still, it's so nice that they went to the effort to show you that they appreciated you, and to wish you well!
ReplyDeleteI didn't want to go, but of course I acquiesced to avoid being rude. What's really funny is that the woman who organized the lunch is the one who initiated the topic. She actually went around the table asking everyone if they had children or wanted children, launching the discussion.
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