Quit That Job! Entry #5 - Doing It!

My god was I nervous. A friend told me that being nervous and being excited were basically the same feeling (hi if you're reading this!). I got home from work Thursday and wrote a resignation letter. I had told friends for months that I was tired of my job. I had been looking for a new one for so long that I knew I needed a complete change rather than just immediately moving to a new desk at a new company.

So I went into work a half hour early as usual and waited for the manager...and waited. My team leader came in. I thought of seeing her first but ultimately I knew I had to go to the department head for this. I think he finally came in around 10...and immediately closed his door. Finally I saw him leave and come back. The door was left open. So I went in.

I asked if he had a minute and just let it out. "I'm putting in my two weeks notice and leaving the company." He asked if I found another job. I was honest and said no. He asked me what my plans were. I said I plan to ride my bike. I mean that's the truth. I want some time off to just enjoy the summer. I told him I plan to look for some freelance and remote work as well. He asked why I wasn't happy there. I didn't feel I could be completely truthful, but I told him some of the reasons. Basically, I have lost all creativity there. I'm tired of writing and creating training about the same subject matter for ten years. I have to try something new. He said he understood and you're only young once. He said this was probably the only job I've had. OK, I'm almost 44, but thanks again to every single manager who thinks I look like I'm in my twenties. I'm flattered that you think I appear so youthful but I have to think this hurts me in my career there. That's alright. I didn't want to make that job my career.

Anyway, they took it surprisingly well and want me to finish my two weeks there. I could use a couple more paychecks anyway. They even asked if I would come back at a negotiable hourly wage to help train whoever replaces me. That can be worked out. In the meantime, my job for the next two weeks is to create documentation outlining how to do my job. My job is creating training materials for them. This will be fun creating training on how to do my own job. I even recommended someone in our QA department to take over for me. It would be helpful to have someone who already knows what the company does.

I went and told my team leader. She seemed happy for me. I told my co-workers. I think I might inspire others to quit and pursue their passion even if only temporarily. They even want to have a happy hour for me after my last day. I'm still not drinking at the moment though. I'll have to see how that goes.

I've taken such a leap in the past and it worked out, for a while at least. But when you aren't happy you need to change things. I would have become worse at my job, feeling uninspired, while seeing that so many people I know have found ways to enjoy life. I have friends who have quit and just taken to the road. They inspire me. I am a little tied down by a dog and a house, but I still can take bike trips. I'm working on getting a roommate who can help take care of the dog. I think it will help him just to have another person around. I'm going to try taking him on weekend rides but I'm not sure how he would be for anything longer than that.

Hopefully I can find work that is more fulfilling. I want to work remotely and take my job with me to other places. I can't be tied down to an office job anymore. I don't have a family to support. I have made sure now that I won't have kids. I don't need that false sense of security provided by a full time job. I'm excited to just be able to wake up any day and just ride my bike wherever I want to go.

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