This morning at 9:30 am I met with the folks at Personnel Security, answered a few questions (like, did I have a weapons permit or a camera permit and similar), handed over my badge, and was escorted out of the building. It’s now over for real.

Driving back to Pocatello I considered how I feel about all of this. There’s definitely a feeling of freedom, relief at no longer having to get up at 4:30 to meet a vanpool at 6 and drive for an hour to work, and feeling of anticipation for what will come next.

As I got ready to close my company-issued MacBook Pro for the last time (a very nice and very functional computer), there was a bit of a feeling of regret that I wasn’t going to be doing much Python scripting, or web development, or database development because there is so much that the department needs to have done. They’re in the process of hiring replacements as my manager was able to turn my departure into requisitions for two people (not that I was doing two people’s work; I’m pretty sure that I was being paid enough that they could hire two people at little increase in cost), one of whom will be an intern. It’ll be nice employment for both of them.

There is also a kind of a sense of loss of family. I’ve been working closely with a great group of people. They’re intelligent, competent, funny, weird, human. Some weeks I’ve spent more time with them than I have with Nina. I shall miss that association. But that emotion isn’t as strong as I thought it might be, mostly because of the huge feeling of anticipation for the next thing!

One thing finished, something new at the doorstep. Life is very good.