My last day

It was my last day at work yesterday. A place where I have spent the past 5 years. Thought I would be happy. In fact I thought I would be really happy. But it wasnt to be the case. Reminds me of my exams during university. Every year without fail I will always be looking fwd to the last day where I can burn all my notes, go out partying. But again without fail, I will usually feel kinda lost after the last paper. Am I missing my old workplace already?

Oil in Hell?

Ben Graham told a story 40 years ago that illustrates why investment professionals behave as they do:

An oil prospector, moving to his heavenly reward, was met by St. Peter with bad news. “You’re qualified for residence”, said St. Peter, “but, as you can see, the compound reserved for oil men is packed. There’s no way to squeeze you in.”

After thinking a moment, the prospector asked if he might say just four words to the present occupants. That seemed harmless to St. Peter, so the prospector cupped his hands and yelled, “Oil discovered in hell.”

Immediately the gate to the compound opened and all of the oil men marched out to head for the nether regions. Impressed, St. Peter invited the prospector to move in and make himself comfortable.

The prospector paused. “No,” he said, “I think I’ll go along with the rest of the boys. There might be some truth to that rumor after all.”

New ideas

After talking to more people, more and more ideas are popping up on what I can do in the next 3 months!
Now the whole list includes
1) Intern at startup
2) Setup up own E-biz/Blog
3) Short vacations (Taiwan, Bangkok, Krabi and Bali?)
4) Pick up French at alliancefrancais (is there a 3 month crash course?)
5) Learn Wakeboarding
6) Learn Diving
7) Practice Golf (get handicap??); get a personal coach??but really expensive
8) Try my hand at cooking (will be useful in london; Britich council gave me a cooking book; but maybe go sign up some courses? I hope not all of my coursemates are aunties)
9) Read the books in the recommended list of books from LBS
10) Read some novel (I should be doing this; to be more balanced) All the books I read in the past year are finance/selfimprovement related)
10) Learn Excel VBA (related to structuring/useful for spreadsheets): Trying to borrow book from library
11) volunteer (put this off for way too long! must do something abt it)

Best advice came from a new friend. Stop to smell the flowers. Relax and simply enjoy. I have been in such a rush all my life. What am I rushing for? What will happen when I reaches the finishing line?

Resignation

I have resigned.

For the first time in my life, I tendered my resignation. I have stayed in the same firm for half a decade since I graduate. Has it been too long? Maybe I have grown to be too comfortable in my present environment. Way too comfortable.

I will be going to London to pursue a masters in finance in Sept 06 but now I have this 3 month gap in between. I didnt plan this (long story??!!) What should I be doing? A 3 month holiday??? Is that too much? Maybe I help out my ex-colleague in his new setup? Maybe I should set up my own e-company? Maybe I should get an internship? Maybe I can pick up a new language(French, Spanish or Jap)? Learn Excel VBA? Volunteer? Set up a blog? Exercise more? Get a golf handicap (is it possible?) Or just sit back and enjoy the World Cup??

Isnt it quite an irony when people call it "resigned" when I just tendered. Doesnt it mean the opposite i.e. I quit?

I am lost. Arent I?