So as I was doing my ‘exit interview’ with HR, the question came up. Why are you leaving?
I simply explained that I had some property in Puerto Rico and that I wanted to work on it, and live there. I had suggested that I could help out my work team by working remote, but since that wasn’t approved, I was quitting to go start on our dream.
Click To Read My Farewell Email
She looked at me and then at the boxes on her form. “So…Other?”. I looked at the form and it had check boxes. There were selections like “career move”, “illness” and a whole host of other reasons a person might quit their job.
Me: I guess quitting your job to move to an island isn’t on there?
HR: No, no it isn’t. I guess this is…maybe retirement? Early retirement?
Me: I suppose so, but I don’t like that word. Is Jubilado a choice?
HR: What’s that?
Me: Nevermind…..I guess just check “other”.
A while ago Cassie and I were talking about retirement and she mentioned that in Spanish the word for “retired” is “Jubilado”. It comes from the same root as the English word “Jubilation”, which it would seem a more appropriate word than tired, or retired, tired again. We are totally jubilated!
It’s a good sign that you are thinking outside the box, when there is no box to fit you into.
My last day actually felt pretty good. I don’t have to worry about all the problems that were constantly coming up at work. It still feels like a normal Saturday, and maybe Sunday will feel about the same too. Come Monday though, that’s when it will feel like I didn’t go to work. And when I am in Rincón, it will really hit home. I will be home!
Love the word “jubilado” too. It’s like “Yay I don’t have to work!!” Or better, “I don’t have to work for YOU!”
What you are doing is definitely not going to fit in any box. The closest I can remember to your journey is friends in their 30s who took two years off to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. They came back to their old life, but one partner was changed forever. He now lives in Hawaii and lives in a shack in the mountains. And by all accounts is extremely happy.
Britton, dude, I LOVE the exit interview story! At least I can now be somewhat prepared on what to expect – at least, I hope – when my day comes for an exit interview. I don’t know if I’ll be witty enough to think of “Julbilado;” however, I’m confident that I’ll slip some wit in somewhere during the “process,” as I rarely ever have trouble doing that. 😀 haha
That’s sweet that you’re moving to Puerto Rico. When I saw your email, I was like “Noooooooo…. now I don’t have a 50% chance that the grumpy codger won’t get my helpdesk tickets,” because there was always the chance you’d end up working it. hahaha This company just lost a whole lotta personality! I’m totally stoked for you and your girl, though, and I really believe that people should go with their gut and LIVE their life as opposed to always following the usual path.