Funemployment rate rising

[flwyd]

Yesterday I announced that I am leaving Google through the Voluntary Exit Program offered to my division. I don't think I've cried this much in one week since I was a kid. I hadn't been intending to leave just yet, and I'm going to miss a lot of people and activity very dearly. But my tenure level means I'll get nearly a year's worth of salary to not work, which sounds to me a whole lot like a year of paid vacation.

I know that I was pretty well regarded at Google (I've made more memes than any human at Google, and I've got a colorful reputation in the Boulder office). But I didn't expect over 1,700 people to follow the link to my farewell essay in the first 24 hours. I've gotten dozens of email and chat and meme comment replies to my message, and my farewell message seems to have resonated with a lot of my colleagues. It makes me cry and smile at the same time.

When Google's first large-scale layoffs happened in January of 2023, I was pretty upset. All these people suddenly disappeared, and I couldn't say goodbye to them. And imagining what I would feel in that situation, I would be totally distraught to leave without being able to tell everyone what was on my mind and share a moment with each other one last time. I doubt I'd get a better opportunity to leave on a high note, so here I go into the unknown. In 2009 I quit my job with a plan to travel for the summer, which was a great experience. This time I haven't had any time to make plans beyond what I already had in place—I'm driving to Burning Man on what would be my last day—but after 15 years at a high-growth tech company I've got enough time to both plan some adventures and then have them.

As time goes on, I'll share some more reflections about my time at Google, the changing techno-social landscape, and whatever else is on my mind. For all the Googlers who are now following me via RSS, welcome to my blog and keep doing excellent work.

Comments

[threemeninaboat]

That's incredible, what are you going to do for health insurance?

[flwyd]

That's a good question; health insurance is my biggest worry, and the most likely forcing function for getting back in the workforce. Kelly may be able to get coverage through work, and we priced out some marketplace plans that don't seem too terrible.

It's rather unfortunate that it's easy to get health coverage by working 90% time if you take 4 hours off per week, but not if 90% time is working for nine years and then taking a year off.

[ckd]

I never got to work with you, but appreciated many of your internal contributions both official and otherwise.

Keep being awesome.

[willow_red]

Good luck with this next stage of your life! Change is never easy. If you ever want to chat with someone who's been in unconventional work situations for the last 14 years, drop me a line. Or if you want to swing by and check out how TBP is doing after all these years.

Do you have a good heat pump contractor to recommend? I'm one dying furnace away from full electrification of my house and have mostly been collecting terrible experiences with contractors instead of viable quotes.

[flwyd]

I don't have a heat pump contractor lined up yet, unfortunately. The time I was going to use for "schedule home energy research and scheduling" this summer got eaten up by "prepare to quit my job" instead.

Definitely let me know about any interesting TBP events. I enjoyed the district conference alumni panels the last couple years.

[willow_red]

Will do. As for the heat pump, I highly recommend you get an Energy Smart advisor if you’re in Boulder County. It’s a free service, and they’ve caught a lot of contractor shenanigans that I might have missed. They also have the latest on any rebates, tax credits, etc.

[(Anonymous)]

Read go/tstone-farewell and enjoyed your writing style enough to copy and paste the link to this site (respect for the lack of a hyperlink .. make 'em work for it).

Clearly VEXIT is new new BREXIT and maybe someday I'll get that offer and follow the same path. I too may need a creative outlet for my musings, but I may just abuse LinkedIn for that.

Be well, pace yourself and keep those Neil Sedaka references fresh.