Early morning Paso Robles view from my RV desk
My last week of work is complete! Well, for the short term. If you read my previous post, you know that I’m switching companies mid-trip and last Friday was my last day with my previous employer. I wrapped things up from Paso Robles, CA. In the mean time, I’ve built in two weeks (before I start the new gig) to explore Lake Powell (Arizona/Utah) and the Grand Canyon. In this weeks post, I’m going to chat through the logistics of making “the switch” while on the road, as well as reflect on a few interactions I’ve had that have reinforced the WFA lifestyle.
Gloria and I taking a selfie in front of Lake Powell
I think most job departures are bittersweet. We leave an environment that is familiar, with people we have created personal relationships with, for a completely foreign situation and new people. At the same time, it is exciting because we are starting something new and (hopefully) aligned with our goals. I believe that the important part is that we acknowledge the personal connections and set the foundation to maintain them after we’ve left a company. That is exactly where I spent the majority of my time last week. I did my best to connect virtually with as many individuals as possible, exchange contact information (not difficult in today’s world with LinkedIn), and make sure that each person knew that I cared about our relationship. With that being said, lets be real, I may never talk to some of them ever again. Others however, will be lifelong colleagues, friends, or both.
Our “NOE” mugs outside in Paso Robles during my last week of work (Click the picture to purchase a mug!)
The other (and much more technical) side of this transition is equipment. Someday in the future, us “WFAers” will operate from our own device (phone, laptop, tablet etc). But in the current world, we generally need to do so via a company device. So Friday afternoon, I packed up my laptop, keyboard, mouse and any relevant cords and headed over to a UPS store, so I could send it all back. I must say that UPS made this extremely easy. They packed everything up, in a specialty laptop box and took payment from my company over the phone. It was a seamless process. My new company probably has the larger challenge, as I have provided them with my location for shipment, based on when they send out the equipment. Fingers crossed that it makes it to me AND is delivered on time.
Work transition aside, as I close this chapter in my corporate career from the road, I have to reflect briefly on the past six weeks. Specifically a couple interactions that have reinforced the WFA lifestyle.
Beautiful day in Palm Desert
One afternoon in Palm Desert, CA, I was doing the final walk-around on our RV, so we could head to San Diego. It was 75 degrees and sunny, with a small breeze and the palms were swaying a bit overhead. It was a beautiful March day for this New Englander. I caught the eye of the group staying next to us and a man said “Hey there, travel day?”. I told them yes and where we were headed and they said “Oh are you on vacation?” (my license plate is from New Hampshire). Of course I explained our situation and how we were managing to be where we were (they exclaimed “we need to find jobs like that!”). It was then that I realized how truly unorthodox our trip was (at least to a large part of the world). We had officially combined “vacation” with “work”. We were one-in-the-same, truly working from anywhere. I know this isn’t a new concept. There are US citizens working from Bali as we speak (or they were before the pandemic). But to actually DO it and be successful at it…created a pretty proud moment.
Family picnic next to Lake Powell
Another moment that hit me was more recent. We’re currently camping on Lake Powell and yesterday we walked down by the water to have a picnic. The remoteness and scenery of Lake Powell is jaw-dropping. It is a man made reservoir, created via the Glen Canyon Dam and sits on the Colorado River. The mountains, buttes and rock formations that protrude from the water are incredible. Selima and Kailah had walked down the long, red sand beach to the water and I stayed with Gloria up on the bank. A man walked down beside us, headed for the water. I would say he was between 70 and 75. He had his palm sized digital camera at the ready and was snapping a few photos at the panorama that lay out before him. Watching him, I couldn’t help but imagine what he was thinking. I thought it was either “man I’m glad I worked hard enough to be able to see this”, or “man, why did I wait so long to come see this”. Either way, it absolutely reinforced what we’re doing. Technology has allowed us to change the way we work and in many cases, the pandemic forced the use of that technology. We’re able to use it to see Lake Powell 40 years before our friend on the beach.
Cheers,
Kyle
Office and technical gear links:
Moonbeam Noise Dampening Curtains
Connection Gear:
30 GB usage Verizon Jetpack MIFI 8800L
30 GB usage 5G MIFI M2100
30 GB usage utilizing my iPhone as a hotspot on the “Get More Unlimited” plan
Current usage trend: 4-5 GB / work day (I spent a lot of time chatting via video while I was preparing to leave my company).