Last Friday was my last day of work. For three months. Then I resume working in California. So my status is “not quite retired.”
I really intended to resign. I had my resignation letter typed up and in my hand. But on the day I planned to hand it to my boss – just over four weeks ago – I learned that another member of our very small group was also leaving. As losing 40% of her staff at the same time would be quite a blow to my boss, I started searching for ways to soften the impact.
Well, we knew we were wintering in California, somewhere south of San Francisco. We knew we had to work at least half the year to make ends meet. The home office is in Silicon Valley which is… south of San Francisco. Hmmm…
I didn’t think the company would go for it, but when I told my boss that I had to leave Massachusetts in September for at least 3 months, I offered the option of a leave-of-absence. That would simply many things for us: we wouldn’t need to scramble to find something to do, I wouldn’t have to take a big pay cut and benefits would extend indefinitely (though we would, of course, have to pay for COBRA during the LOA). But then COBRA would extend for 18 months after I really did retire, which would get Jett much closer to her Medicare eligibility.
Much to my surprise, the company took the offer. So I am on a three-month LOA. I will resume working December 10.
Of course the company benefits, too. They don’t have to buy me a gold watch.