Retirement: Adieu, Farewell, GMOOH!

On May 26th, 2026, I retired. I had been working full-time for about 40 years. I have had jobs in High Tech for 45 years. Finally, I have had jobs for about 55 years. I think it is time to retire from the day-to-day grind that is working.

When I started working full-time.

• There was no Web, but there was an Internet, though.
• Cell Phones? At least 10 years away, for early adopters.
• The Soviet Bloc and Soviet Union existed, along with the Berlin Wall. We were minutes away from destruction, guess that hasn’t changed much.
• WYSIWYG was starting to be something folks talked about.
• EVs? You mean like a Golf Cart?
• AI, Vibe Programming, Blogging, Influencers, etc., not even a glimmer in anyone’s eyes. OK AI was starting, but it was a long way off.

What is next? I am effectively on vacation for about 8 weeks, and then my retirement starts.

What have I learned?

• Time passes faster than you can possibly believe. Tomorrow is not just another day; it is coming fast.
• I have lived a privileged and lucky life in all respects.
• Very few folks are indispensable; your job is your job, not your life.
• Do not invest too much in your employer. Do not put too many eggs in one basket.

What won’t I miss?

• Commuting, especially in Ottawa. Yes, I have listened to countless audiobooks (more than 500), but I can find better ways to enjoy them.
• Standing next to someone while I urinate. I’m including this observation in case you think this is AI-generated.
• Micromanaging, anal-retentive leaders. If you don’t trust the folks who work for you, change the team, or go somewhere else. If you can’t trust folks, you shouldn’t be a “leader”, just do it all yourself.

What will I miss?

• People have always been the best (and sometimes the worst) part of my jobs.

NB: I will continue here, don’t worry, good reader.

GMOOH -> Get me out of here!!!!