I gave notice today at Google. My last day will be July 29th, for various reasons. Conveniently, that is also my birthday :). What a nice birthday present!

I've gone back and forth about this in my mind and with Shannon for several months now, ever since seasteading took off, trying to balance the $ & benefits at Google vs. my burn out and lack of passion for the work there compared to seasteading. The main thing that has held me back from leaving is the feeling that I "should" be able to handle both jobs. The work at Google is not enormously difficult and the hours aren't crazy, so I feel that I "should" be able to finish my time there, even while my mind is swimming through oceans of possibility for transforming the world via floating cities.

But shoulds are bogus, and the truth is, I can't. I can't focus on Google and be productive while this incredible opportunity is there to be worked on. It took me awhile to admit it, but it's true, and so I have to leave, so that I can build a life around my passions. Many people are content to just collect a paycheck, but I am not one of them. At least, not when I have the opportunity to work on something that gets me so excited I sometimes have trouble sleeping when I think about it.

Another reason for leaving early is that I'm burnt out from the last few years of job+family, and all the medical issues in our family (dislocated shoulder, my sleep apnea & multiple surgeries, Tovar's prematurity, Shannon's bipolar). I just don't have the energy left to handle all of that and 2 jobs. (Sounds like common sense when I say it, but it was hard to admit - I guess I have high expectations for myself).

I will be taking what Tim Ferriss would call a mini-retirement. I will continue working as Executive Director of The Seasteading Institute, and I will slightly increase my time there, as well as significantly increasing my time spent on finishing the damn book. But I will also be taking some of the extra time to destress and de-clutter my life. In general, I will be trying to align my life better around my five focus areas. This will mean more travel[1], more exercise, more reading, more gambling, more family time, and less stress.

The semi-vacation portion will be for 3-6 months, then I plan to ramp up to full-time on seasteading.

I will be having a combination birthday (I'm turning 2^5) and mini-retirement party either 7/26, 7/27, 8/2, or 8/3. It will probably involve boardgames, rock band, booze, and perhaps a pirate theme. (Since our community is now named Tortuga, pirate themes will be common around here). Let me know if you have a strong feeling about one of those days.

We were joking at work today about leaving a company being like breaking up with someone. "It's not you, it's me." "Can I change something to get you to stay?" "Maybe we should just take a break and then see how we feel".

I'll miss the people, the food, and the talks the most. Also the identity of being "A Googler". I mean, I do have my own strong identity, it's not like I derive my whole self-image from work, but still...it's been nice to have a job that everyone I meet recognizes as being fun and cool and prestigious. And it is an amazing company that is doing (and will continue to do) amazing things. (Also a big company that sometimes does stupid big company things.)

But really, it's not about size or amazingness but about alignment with my passions. Which are about increasing human freedom and taking a stand for the individual against abstract collections, for voluntary association instead of coercion. It was great fun working at a crazy cool place like Google on other people's ideas when I didn't have a good outlet for those passions, but now that I do...it's time to work on my own ideas.

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to having a more relaxed lifestyle for a few months, and then making crazy shit happen :). It's better for me, and better for the world.

[1] For fun, gambling, and to see friends. Tentative plans are Northeast: NYC/KoP/BOS and Northwest: SEA/POR/VAN. LA/Vegas for sure. Longshots include London, Paris, Brazil, Iceland, NZ/AUS, and Biloxi.