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Rodney · 07-24-2006, 07:55 PM

Even when the space is familiar, it can be interesting.

Almost 20 years ago I worked in a startup that had its own small building in downtown San Francisco, though in a part off the beaten track. They ran out of money and went out of business; one Friday afternoon our venture capitalists came in and laid us all off.

Several months later I was passing by the old place on foot and, for old times sake, tried the door. The outer door opened. The inner door opened. I walked in. Everything seemed just as we'd left it on the last day (well, somebody'd taken out the computers). When I flipped the wall switch, the lights even came on. But no one was there, upstairs or downstairs.

It was so strange, seeing that phantom office where I used to work, lying untouched and unlocked months after the fact. As if it had been completely forgotten by the world even while thousands of cars drove by each day.

I considered nicking one of the swivel chairs, but resisted :-).

No, you're not alone in that fascination.

07-24-2006, 07:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
Rodney Observant Ruminant Location: Rich Wannabe Hippie Town	Even when the space is familiar, it can be interesting. Almost 20 years ago I worked in a startup that had its own small building in downtown San Francisco, though in a part off the beaten track. They ran out of money and went out of business; one Friday afternoon our venture capitalists came in and laid us all off. Several months later I was passing by the old place on foot and, for old times sake, tried the door. The outer door opened. The inner door opened. I walked in. Everything seemed just as we'd left it on the last day (well, somebody'd taken out the computers). When I flipped the wall switch, the lights even came on. But no one was there, upstairs or downstairs. It was so strange, seeing that phantom office where I used to work, lying untouched and unlocked months after the fact. As if it had been completely forgotten by the world even while thousands of cars drove by each day. I considered nicking one of the swivel chairs, but resisted :-). No, you're not alone in that fascination. Last edited by Rodney; 07-24-2006 at 08:01 PM..