I go by the username 'Wanderer' on a few forums, for the simple reason... I am one. I have moved quite a bit in my short(ish) life. I was chatting with my boss last year during my most recent house move, and we realized that was the 8th address I'd had in my seven years of working for him.
Well, last Friday we had a meeting to review our project, and we've set a move date.
As of May, I will be moving out of my current office building and into another one.
The amusing part of this is that, the Engineering department has been in this office suite for about 9 years. Prior to that, they'd been placed in a building for a few years... which was torn down. Now this one is being torn down... and the one they're putting us in... pretty good chances of being the next one to be torn down.
I'd laugh if I didn't know how much stuff I have to move.
So, I have to realize that, while I have lived in two states, four counties and eight bedrooms... I have always come to work in this office. I have taken the same stairs and walked through the same door for more years than I have ever kept a home address (by about a factor of four).
I was hired on my 20th birthday.
I have had three cell phone and two home phone providers.
I obtained three certificates.
I completed my Associate's degree.
I began my Bachelor's degree.
I experienced my pregnancy (woohoo! morning sickness!).
I scheduled the date for my son's kindergarten screening.
I learned about Facilities Management.
I fleshed out my educational AutoCAD experience with real-life applications.
I have met with hundreds of people, anywhere from Maintenance to Architecture to the Historical Society.
I have had four pc's, two pda's, two laptops, three projectors and two fax machines.
I have drunk a lake's worth of coffee and burned hundreds of CD's.
I have laughed.
I have cried.
I have hired a lawyer.
I have exchanged PM's on AUGI with a special someone who later became my husband.
I have received the phone calls informing me of a two dearly loved ones deaths, and those of a half a dozen friends.
I have scheduled and attended 7 Autodesk Universities.
I have met another St. Louis user and started the Gateway AUG.
I have started this blog.
I have held four part-time jobs.
I have written a CAD Standards package.
I have beta-tested and piloted at a dozen programs.
I've driven four owned cars and seven rentals to the office.
I have filled out 97 monthly reports.
I have had 100 network passwords.
I have used and maintained 4 HP DesignJet plotters and two Xerox copiers.
All... from this office. Right here.
The past eight years have seen a lot of changes in my life, of course, any person my age experiences quite a few anyway. But, I've suddenly become reflective and playing through old memories with the knowledge that the 'address' I have held the longest of any other in my life, even if just on my business card, will no longer be 'mine'.
Of course, I'll still be on the same campus, with the same coworkers and most of the same office furniture... but, still... this place has been my working home for so long, I can't help reminiscing for a little bit. Smiling on the good times, and taking five to remember the not-so-good.
One good thing is that the my new office will be slightly bigger (and we'll finally get a new microwave in the kitchen to replace the poxy one with a broken clock). ;)
One bad thing, there won't be a ladies-only restroom anymore. :-(
Once I'm in my new digs, I'll post a shot. It is pretty nice, if I do say so myself.
So? How long have you had the same desk location? Longest stretch of years?
That can't be a current picture. Surely you're not working on a single CRT monitor.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct. This shot is probably about two years old.
ReplyDeleteFor the past year and a half, I've been working with two monitors. This 20" CRT lasted for about six months into that, along with the 20" LCD that came with my new pc. Now my 2nd monitor is a 17" LCD.
That CRT was probably over 10 years old when it finally went kaput.
I've been at my current job for nearly 8 1/2 years, in the same office, at the same desk with no plans of moving anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteAt our annual company meetings, the son of our founder likes to play "who's been here the longest". He makes us all stand up, then we sit when he calls out the number of years we've been with the company. Some of the real old-timers have been here more than 40 years!
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty cool. :-)
LOL... and that sounds like a fun game. In the past year we had two guys retire who had 47 and 50 years in with the company. Of course, that was between about 30 different buildings and offices, they've seen a LOT of change around here.
At our monthly departmental meetings, they hand out pins for 5-increment anniversaries. We've got a few 20-35 year guys (one gal).
Doesn't it reassure you a bit about your company when you see that sort of longevity? :-D