Farewell... (soon)

[Oz Linden]

About 11 years ago I was working for a big multinational that had acquired the startup where I'd been for several years, and decided I needed a job with more fun and more job satisfaction. I put out the word on my professional network and got a response from a colleague who was a Linden at the time. I interviewed with several people at the Lab (half my interviews were in-world using an account I'd had for some years), and after much thought I joined the Lab as the Director of Open Source. It turned out to be one of the best career decisions I ever made.

My job evolved over the years, but through it all I got to work with brilliant, passionate, and committed people and got to know many residents. I've never worked anywhere that was as much fun (a Linden who returned to SL after some time away said recently that he'd forgotten how often the SL team laughs in the course of a normal day). More importantly, I got to work on a product users really enjoy using and that makes a big difference in the lives of many of its users - for me there's no greater source of job satisfaction.

Some time ago, I reached the point that I could afford to think about retiring but decided to stay to finish moving SL to its new cloud platform. I can't imagine a better last act in my working life than ensuring that Second Life has this better platform for its future growth. Now that project is done (well, except for a few loose ends), and it's time for me to move on to the next phase of my life. 

I want to emphasize in the strongest possible terms: my decision has nothing at all to do with the change in ownership of the Lab; the timing really is a coincidence. If anything, I regret that I have overlapped with them for only a few weeks; in that time (and in the time leading up to the change) I have come to respect and appreciate the skills and energy they bring to the company.

There aren't many jobs that come with a new nickname; this got me one I'll always cherish, but it's time for me to set aside my Linden last name. I leave Second Life in great hands, and have every confidence that it has a great future. 

  - Oz

PS. My official last day is Feb 26th.
 

[Mollymews]

thank you for everything you did for us. Have a happy retirement

[Skell Dagger]

You'll be missed, Oz. Thank you for everything, and enjoy your retirement

[Bitterthorn]

Thank you for all you've done for SL, Oz!

[Tonya Souther]

Thank you for being there, for advocating for open source, and for understanding even when we didn't agree.

Best of luck wherever you go next, even if it's just a chair by your pond.

[Kimmi Zehetbauer]

I wish you well on your retirement. And if you escape getting hit with a honey-do list --- have fun!

[Scylla Rhiadra]

This is "end of an era" stuff, Oz.

Thank you for everything you've contributed to SL, and to our lives and enjoyment.

Enjoy your next challenge, whatever that may be.

And stop by occasionally, maybe, to say hello.

Edited February 16, 2021 by Scylla Rhiadra

[Coffee Pancake]

Wish you all the best for the future, you're presence at TPV meetings will be sorely missed. Thanks for all the work you've done keeping SL committed to open source development and putting up with all of us ❤️

[polysail]

Aww... Now what am I going to do with my Wednesday mornings?

[Loki Eliot]

Thank you for everything!

[Coyot Linden]

So long and thanks for the fish. It's been great working for you.

[Beq Janus]

Feb 26th is far too soon(tm)

Thank you for all the support that you have given the open source side of Second Life over the years, it is a rare thing to be able to work actively on open-source to help improve a commercial platform you enjoy as we get to do with TPVs. I hope your legacy of open source support continues.

If you want to keep your hand in on coding, we're open to patches, just raise a Jira 😉

All the very best Oz.

Beq

[Cougar Sangria]

Thank you oh great and powerful   for all you have done.  Enjoy your free time off but don't forget to come back and see us.  

 

[Alexa Linden]

And now I'm crying again... Oz, I can't thank you enough for the mentorship, encouragement and friendship over the last 11 years.  I am so fortunate to consider you family and I am a better person for having worked with you.  I wish you all the best in your retirement!

[panterapolnocy]

Thank you for everything good you've done for the platform of Second Life and the residents that use it - making their lives fun and more interesting.

[Jules Catlyn]

Thank you for everything and i hope you will find much joy in the next step in your life ♥ 

[Dakota Linden]

Thank you, Oz, for everything you brought to Second Life and everything you have contributed to the platform. 

Your experience has been an excellent asset to Linden Lab and Second Life and you will be missed by a great many people. 

May your next adventure bring you as much satisfaction as this one has and may you always look back on this time with fond memories as we will remember you with the same. 

Be well, friend. 

 

[Inara Pey]

Oz,

Very sad to hear the news - for the last 11 years you're very much been a pillar of Second Life, and it's always been a pleasure speaking with you, as well as witnessing all you have done for the viewer environment and the platform as a whole - and most of all, in having opportunities to witness and share in your sheer enthusiasm for the platform and the world within it.

That said, I wish you all the very best for the future, and perhaps one day when the world is back to some semblance of normality, I be able to take you upon that offer a coffee and a chat when I'm on your side of the Atlantic!

If  I don't get the chance to chat with you in-world before the 26th, take care of yourself and yours and (again) all the very best for the future.

 

Inara

[Chic Aeon]

You have definitely been a shining star amongst the Lindens and you HAVE been appreciated.  I hope you have as much fun in retirement as you did working :D.    And who knows -- you might not retire at all. That happens too! 

[Rowan Amore]

“Often when you think you're at the end of something, you're at the beginning of something else.” – Fred Rogers

Hoping your something else is wonderful!

[Jessica Lyon]

Oz! It has been a great honor and privilege to have worked with you the past 11 years.

I remember you coming in as a liaison for third party viewers during a time of great chaos in the TPV space. You created order, structure and in doing so, kept the Open Source nature of Second Life alive. You will be missed by many!
Enjoy your retirement! You have earned it.

Jess.

[Clarity Toxx]

SecondLife is something really special, and that's in no small part due to the work of you and the team. I can definitely understand needing to move on, or retire even, but I think with this last push for the cloud integration SL might actually survive long and well into the future. You'll be missed, but we all wish you the best! 

[Wendy Starfall]

Thank you, Oz! 🖖

[Silent Mistwalker]

Thank you Oz. 🤗

Happy retirement! 🥂

Oh and in your letter to your successor be sure to warn them about the Firestorm team.

/me runs before she gets clobbered 🤭

[Vick Forcella]

Dear Oz
I regret to inform you that you are not allowed to leave. You are to stay the nerd you are within Second Life for ever.
You broke things (often), you fixed them, you made things better (sometimes).
So, stay. What do we have to do to make you stay? Break things?
Let us know and we'll do that.
And if there is no other choice, Patch has a few sims (regions) that need new names. Make a list and Patch will (be forced) to use them. We won't hurt Patch.
*sigh*
Does sobbing help make you stay?
Don't be a stranger!
See you soon Oz!