Goodbye Times Square

Yesterday an announcement came at work that we will not be going back into physical offices until *at least* June 2021, and probably later.

That's six months later than projected.

Also, we are moving downtown in the Summer of 2021.

This means I will never work from 3 Times Square again.

It's done. This part of my life is over.

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Through the years I have wondered many times how and when I will leave Times Square.

I have been scared during many, many layoffs that I always survived through an evolution of three companies in one place.

I wondered if I would leave on my own or if I would be part of layoffs.

Daya has visited building throughout her entire life, from the childrens' holiday parties the company used to host, until earlier this year in high school. She was 5 1/2 months old when I started work at Reuters.

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Today after the eye doctor I went to get the rest of my personal items from my desk.

I walked over from the doctor's office.

The city is so different.

It isn't empty like it was in March, but it's just a fragment of what it was pre-covid.

It feels completely different with no office culture, empty restaurants, and no tourists.

Rockefeller Center

The TKTS sign announcing there are no shows.

Times Square feels weird and different.

My work home from May 2006 to March 2020

Last Elevator Selfie

My badge doesn't work on the floors anymore.  I can get through the main turnstiles but they have turned off floor access to everyone.

I'm so glad I went those 2 previous times; no appointment was needed, no one cared, I did what I needed to freely.

Not this time; I had a security escort the whole time which was very weird since I am still an employee.

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My last desk.

I started on the 21st floor, went down to 9 (or was it 8??), then spent 10 years on 15, had that dreadful desk on 3 that I said NO to, and came back up to 21.

Full circle.

This is the last dedicated desk I will have; when we do go back to the office no one will have a permanent desk anymore, and it will probably only be at most 3 days a week in-person.  I have been expecting this for a long time; the trend already started a couple of years ago in London.

Goodbye desk, goodbye 21, goodbye 3 Times Square.

It's been a good almost-15 years.