How do you do it?

I like my job, enough to keep returning on a daily basis, enough to say thanks when the pay packet comes in. I like it enough.

I like my direct boss. It's just me and him in this office. I like that. He's pretty good as far as bosses go. Flexible, friendly, down to earth. I like the boss.

He has 5 Managers. I adore 2. Can't stand the other 3. Just can not stand them. When they ring, I wonder how I can get out of speaking with them. I don't - I always answer and I always answer nice and friendly like. But I still wonder how I can get away with avoiding their call.

There are several departments I would like to avoid. And would if I could. Yes, if I could buy that item without dealing with Purchasing I would. Yes, if I could do the mail without seeing certain people along the way, I would.

I have a time in the office that I now detest. It's generally between 8.30 and 9am, and it's when the security guard sticks his head in for a (I'm not kidding) 15 minute chat. Don't get me wrong, I like chatting with the best of them, but I'd really rather avoid these... confrontations. Today I set up the coffee machine while he hung around and watched.

How do you get by, avoiding certain people, without upsetting the order? I like being seen as a nice person, but I can't take this for much longer. I have said this in the past and I'm putting it here: these people are going to be the reason I leave my job.

And yes, I'm quite aware that it could be much worse somewhere else, but seriously, I won't have a predisposed opinion of people in a new workplace. So many years in one workplace are definitely a no-no. Time to move on.