The Last Temptation of Work

Last Summer I faced a tough choice when deciding upon a departure date.

I could plan to leave at the end of 2007, thereby missing the busiest period of the year for my department and company, or I could leave in early 2008, after qualifying to receive a 10% annual bonus.

Ultimately, I realized if I could meet my savings goal by the earlier time frame, it'd be best to hit the road.

If I continued to stick around, I felt as though there was an increased risk of something occurring to derail my travel plans. S

o far, I've been very happy with my decision.

My employer's new CEO believes in the importance of providing quarterly updates on our company's performance as it relates to the annual bonus.

Updates are based on actual results and projections for the remainder of the year.

I received the 2nd quarter update last week, and was reminded of how much money I'm passing up by leaving the company before 12/31/07!

I've found it somewhat easy to be cavalier about leaving my job, however, it's a lot harder to feel that way when I think about the salary and benefits I'm leaving behind.

After all, I've been working my way up the food chain for the past 5 years. C'est la vie! (aka “That's life!”)

When money is taken freedom is forsaken. — Proverb

Money makes a good servant, but a bad master. — Francis Bacon

Money has never made man happy, nor will it, there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has the more one wants. — Benjamin Franklin

Dave Lee

Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 66 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.