Not sure how most people think about the places they work. Work can be difficult, stressful, tiring, and frustrating. It can also be rewarding, challenging, stretching, motivating, and a sense of family.

In human context, a family (from Latin: familiare) is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. – Wikipedia

Let me think about this.  We work, at the least, 8 hours a day times 5 days a week times 12 months a year (minus days off).

8 x 5 x 12 = 480 hours

You could be spending most of those with a team.  That can bring about a family.  At least the “affinity” part of the definition.  Leaving brings my thoughts back to the time spent at work.  Most of my time was on the Client Architecture team (four years almost to the exact day).

Especially, over time you develop deeper relationships with co-workers.  For example, my wife teaches piano and soon one co-worker is bringing their kids for piano lessons.  Maybe you sub for tennis with another co-worker.  Maybe it’s playing games at a New Year’s Eye party.  It could be just eating lunch with the team most days.  Pretty soon co-worker starts to turn into friend.  The conversations are deeper and more real.

I know our life is drastically going to change going forward for the next two years but I really enjoy looking back at my time and thinking about all the great memories that happened.

Today the team organized a farewell ping-pong tournament along with a time for ice cream and cake.  Note: Surprise of the day… Marsha == incredible at ping pong!

Such a great day for the last one.  I really do hope our paths cross again some day.